Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas

Versus

 

# 1 Texas A&M-Commerce Lions

When: Thursday, August 30, 7 PM

Where: Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium, Commerce, Texas

TV: ESPN3 or WatchESPN.com

Radio: 88.9 KETR (Commerce) Charlie Chitwood (Play By Play), Brock Calloway (Color Commentary)

Live Stream: KETR.org (Radio)

Live Stats: Lionathletics.com

Projected Starters:

QB-Kane Wilson, 6’4 225 LBS, Junior, Placentia, CA

RB-Carandal Hale, 5’11 190 LBS, R-SOPH, Greenville, TX

WR-Darrion Landry, 6’3 200 LBS, Senior, Baytown, TX

WR-Marquis Wimberly 6’2 205 LBS, Senior, Upland, CA

WR-Kelan Smith, 6’1 170 LBS, SOPH, Dallas, TX

TE-Vincent Hobbs, 6’3, 255 LBS, Senior, Mesquite, TX

OL-Jonah Brown, 6’5, 315 LBS, Junior, Waco, TX

OL-Malik Ellis, 6’6 280 LBS, Senior, Dangerfield, TX

OL- Ken Holmes, 6’4, 275 LBS, Junior, Tyler, TX

OL-Abdul Shamma, 6’5, 310 LBS, RS-Junior, San Antonio, TX

OL-Jordan Smith, 6’4, 315 LBS, SR, Mansfield, TX

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE-Peyton Searcy, 6’0, 275 LBS, SR, Killeen, TX

DE-Michael Onuoha, 6’5, 255 LBS, SR, Edmond, OK

NT-D.D. Fletcher, 6’1, 240 LBS, JR, Arlington, TX

LB-Brucks Saathoff, 6’0 195 LBS, SR, San Antonio, TX

LB-Garrett Bluebaugh, 6’2, 220 LBS, RS-JR, Keller, TX

LB-Neema Behbahani, 6’1, 220 LBS, JR, Plano, TX

LB-Mark Westbrook, 5’11, 195 LBS, JR, Schertz, TX

FS-Alex Shillow, 5’10, 185 LBS, RS-SOPH, Pflugerville, TX

LCB-Danny Huckaby, 6’1, 180 LBS, SR, Mexia, TX

SS-Chris Smith, 6’1, 170 LBS, SR, Mansfield, TX

RCB-D.J. White, 6’1, 160 LBS, SR, Houston, TX

Special Teams:

PK-Kristov Martinez, 5’8, 165 LBS, Senior, Edinburg, TX

Punter-Tristan Perry, 6’1 200 LBS, SOPH, Mineral Wells, TX

Place Holder-Preston Wheeler, 6’3, 181, R-JR, Austin, TX

Storylines: Every year since 2012, The Texas A&M-Commerce Lions have beaten their rivals from down south. That is 6 straight against the Hoggies, two shy of tying and 3 short of breaking the streak for the Longest win streak against in this series. From 1992-1999, the Hogs had their way with the Lions, most of those game being close, but some of them being not so close. The all time record is 35-28-1, so evening the series would require another 7 years of beating Kingsville. That being said, before Guy Morriss’s improbable win over the Hogs in 2012 and then the arrival of Colby Carthel, the Javelinas record was 35-22-1 against the Lions. This one looks a lot better, no doubt. The 64th edition of the Lone Star Conference’s most storied rivalry will be played in front of an expected sellout on National TV. If you are not excited, I do not know what will do the trick.

For both teams, it will be a test to see where the unknowns are. Kane Wilson is projected to start, and likely Koy Detmer Jr for the Hogs, both former Division I guys and sons of former NFL Quarterbacks. The Hogs also get a running back that is back from injury that ran over the Lions in 2016, and the new defensive scheme that our new defensive coordinator will be something to watch. As always, I will be live blogging at the game and enjoying the night with my Dad at the game to start Labor Day weekend, and hopefully it starts well for the Lion Nation.

Staff Predictions:

Russ: “Lions, 34-10. I think there will be some early fits and starts on both sides of the ball, but the Lions are far too talented for the Piggies. ”

B.Minor: “ET 31-20…Kingsville gets a late score to make it look closer than it actually was.”

Brian: “31-17 Lions. We get some explosives all night, but Kingsville grinds it out and looks more efficient on offense that we expect but they turn it over, and we score via explosive plays.”

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