Who:

Lamar Cardinals

Versus

Texas A&M-Commerce Lions

When: Saturday, October 19, 3:30 PM

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

Weather: Sunny and 78 Degrees at Kickoff, Humidity at 26%, Wind NNW @ 8 MPH

Watch/Listen/Stats-

LIVE AUDIO: Lion Sports Network – KETR 88.9 FM, Commerce (http://www.ketr.org) – Charlie Chitwood (Play by Play) Brock Callaway (Color/Analysis)

LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/89e0c754-8cd5-4728-ad59-c74ed85df739
LIVE STATS: https://statb.us/v/tame/530610
TICKETS: https://vivenu.com/seller/texas-am-university-commerce-v6v3

Projected Starters-

Offense-Shotgun Spread (Multiple)

QB-Ron Peace, 6’2, RS-JR, Malakoff, TX (Malakoff HS)

RB-B.K. Jackson, 5’11 RS-JR, Missouri City, TX (Ridge Point HS)

WR-Nick Johnson, 5’10 JR, Rancho Cucamungo, CA (The Webb School)

WR-Brooks Rigney, 6’0 JR, McKinney, TX (Boyd HS)

WR-Christian Jourdain, 6’0 SR, New Orleans, LA (Archbishop Shaw HS)

TE-Sean Sallis, 6’5, RS-Soph, Carrollton, TX (Creekview HS)

OL-Khris Love, 6’3 SR, Miami Gardens, FL (American Heritage HS)

OL-Billy Thursland, 6’1 RS-JR, Houston, TX (Heights HS)

OL-Javirea Moore, 6’4 RS-JR, Lancaster, TX (Lancaster HS)

OL-Jaidyn Jones, 6’5 JR, Glendora, CA (Los Osos HS)

OL-Jadin Jones, 6’5 RS-JR, Killeen, TX (Killeen HS)

Defense-4-2-5 Nickel

DL-Leon Young, 6’0 SR, Dallas, TX (Cedar Hill HS)

DL-Clifford Funderburk, 6’3 RS Senior, Forney, TX (North Forney HS)

DL-Anthony Gray, 6’1 RS-Soph, Duncanville, TX (Duncanville HS)

DL-Warren Robinson, 6’3 RS-SR, Houston, TX (Fort Bend Marshall HS)

LB-Brandon Tucker, 5’10 RS-Soph, DeSoto, TX (DeSoto HS)

DB-Jaden Rios, 6’0 RS JR, Frisco, TX (Lonestar HS)

DB-Max Epps, 5’11 RS-SR, Spring, TX (DeKaney HS)

DB-Kyree Anderson, 5’11, RS-JR, Cypress, TX (Cy-Lakes HS)

DB-Kendall Paul, 5’9 SR, Dallas, TX (Bishop Dunne HS)

DB-Christian Shaw, 5’10 RS-JR, Mansfield, TX (Lake Ridge HS)

DB-Lavon Williams, 5’8 RS-Soph, San Antonio, TX (Roosevelt HS)

Specialists-

Deep Snapper-Josiah Kennard, 6’2 RS-JR, Manvel, TX (Manvel, HS)

Place Holder-Brock Nellor, 6’2 SR, Mount Vernon, TX (Mount Vernon HS)

Kickoffs-Aidan Martin, 6’1 RS-JR, Houston, TX (Klein Cain HS)

Extra Points/Field Goals-Luke Jackson, 5’8 JR, Bensalme, PA (Conwall-Egan Catholic HS)

Punter-Mitchell McGarry, 6’4 RS-SR, Tannum Sands, Australia, (Gregory-Portland HS)

Storylines: The Lions picked up perhaps the most important win in recent memory, mainly due to the in the way they won and how necessary it was. After another game in which they should have won, they finally broke through and won in a very convincing manner. On offense, the Lions looked like a team that has finally found their personnel and their best plan of attack. Ron Peace was exceptional last week in terms of efficiency and making the routing play. Aside from a blindside hit while trying to make a throw outside the pocket, Peace was great and made tremendous throws and kept the chains moving. You also have to give huge credit to Clint Dolezel for his play calling, which was in attack mode the entire game.

With Lamar, the Cardinals come into the game 3-3 but given the mutual opponents and the strenghts of both teams, the Lions could very well take this game in front of a Homecoming crowd in Commerce. The Lion defense was fantastic, dare I say Championship level against Northwestern State last week and with the exception of Sacramento State, have not had the ball moved on them with consistency against anyone else, keeping them in the games that the offense let them down in previously, but now with a firmly entrenched Quarterback and set of play calls, in addition to a much improved offensive line and a running game that is indeed a key factor, this could be a huge win and put the Lions square in the Southland mix so long as they used the formula they used last week. Don’t turn the ball over, be patient on offense, attack on defense, and execute by making the routine play. If those things happen, don’t be surprised if the Lions win this one, especially in light of last year’s embarrassing loss to these Cardinals down in Southeast Texas.