COMMERCE – Playing its final home game of the season on Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium, the East Texas A&M University football team picked up a 37-32 win over the Houston Christian Huskies on Saturday evening, which was also Senior Day for the Lions.
The win avoided the first season without a win in Commerce for the Lions since 2003. East Texas A&M is now 3-8 overall and 3-4 in Southland Conference action, matching the overall win total from last season with one game to play.
The Huskies fall to 1-4 against the Lions, including 0-3 in Commerce. This season, HCU holds a record of 2-8 overall and 1-6 in Southland play.
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the game, the Lions honored their graduating seniors. The full list can be found below.
Kyree Anderson, Dayan Bilbo, Jacory Brown, Patrick Brown, Jr., Tyler Daniels, Dylan Domel, Hymond Drinkard, Emery Floyd, CJ Garnett, Nick Johnson, Jadin Jones
Christian Jourdain, Devante Keys, Koby-Sebasyen King, Sean-Krystoff King, Will Madonna, JaiSean McMillian, Paul Odidi, Ike Ojukwu, Micah Owens, Ron Peace, Jaden Proctor, KJ Shankle, Billy Thursland, Romello Watson
Aided by a fumble recovery, the Huskies opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run by Xai’Shaun Edwards, but the Huskies missed the extra-point attempt.
Devin Matthews (Seguin) scored first of his two touchdowns of the day to put the Lions in front with 4:55 left in the first quarter, catching a 14-yard pass from Eric Rodriguez (Fort Bend Travis).
Edwards scored another two-yard touchdown run for the Huskies, but the Lions put together a 10-play 81-yard drive in just one minute and 49 seconds to take a 14-12 lead going into halftime as Paul Odidi (Mansfield Timberview) caught a seven-yard touchdown pass.
In the second half, Joshua Pikl (Salem, Ore.) caught a three-yard touchdown from Rodriguez and then Tramar Gilbert (Peaster) recorded a safety, while EJ Oakmon (Pflugerville) rushed in a one-yard touchdown to a cap off a stretch of 23 unanswered points for the Lions.
HCU took advantage of a fumble by the Lions as Jayven Anderson ran it back for a 7o-yard touchdown. Matthews hauled in a 33-yard pass in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown of the day and put the Lions ahead by 19.
The Huskies scored 14 points in the final 2:21 of the game with Maddox Kopp throwing an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Koontz and then a seven-yard touchdown pass to Keith Wheeler.
HCU had the slight 417-411 edge in total yards, with the Huskies committing one turnover, while the Lions committed two.
Rodriguez went 21 for 31 behind center for 233 yards and four touchdowns, also throwing one interception. Jourdain (New Orleans) was the leading Lion receiver, totaling 69 yards on four catches. Matthews had 65 yards on four catches, including two touchdowns.
Defensively for the Lions, Kyree Anderson (Cy-Lakes) led the way with 12 tackles, including one for a loss. Cinque Williams (Southlake Carroll) forced one fumble, which was returned by Gilbert for 36 yards.
UP NEXT
The Lions end the season at UTRGV next Saturday at 5 p.m.
Article source and photo credit: East Texas A&M University Athletics
