Who:

When: Saturday, August 30, 8 PM

Where: Gerald J Ford Stadium, University Park, TX

Weather: 78 and drizzle at Kickoff. 86 % Humidity, Wind NW @ 5 MPH

Watch/Listen/Stats

LIVE AUDIO: Lion Sports Network – KETR 88.9 FM (http://www.ketr.org)

Charlie Chitwood (Play by Play) Brock Callaway (Color/Stats)
LIVE VIDEO: ACC Network | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/4b3f0531-0f4d-4117-9d84-0ccec35ac2f5
LIVE STATS: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=605049&vislive=tame

Starters-

Offense-Spread

QB-Ron Peace, 6’2, 210 LBS, SR, Malakoff, TX

RB-KJ Shankle 5’10, 206 LBS, SR, Richmond, TX

WR-Christian Jourdain, 5’10, 178 LBS, SR, New Orleans, LA

WR-Paul Odidi, 6’4, 175 LBS, SR, Mansfield, TX

WR-Dayan Bilbo, 5’10, 170 LBS, SR, VanCleave, MS

TE-Preston Kilgore, 6’4, 228 LBS, SOPH, Terrell, TX

OL-Romello Watson, 6’2, 326 LBS, JR, Arlington, TX

OL-Chandler Donoway 6’3, 283 LBS, JR, Klein, TX

OL-Billy Thursland, 6’0, 294 LBS, SR, Houston, TX

OL-Ike Ojukwou, 6’5, 349 LBS, SR, Allen, TX

OL-Jadin Jones, 6’3, 325 LBS, SR, Killeen, TX

Defense-3-5-3

DL-Devante Keys, 6’4, 262 LBS, SR, Houston, TX

DL-Jacory Brown, 6’1, 301 LBS, SR, Garland, TX

DL-Micah Owens, 6’1, 307 LBS, SR, Forney, TX

JACK- Dorian Gates-6’4, 224 LBS, JR, Spring, TX

MIKE-Kyree Anderson-5’11, 230 LBS, SR, Cypress, TX

ROVER-Tramar Gilbert, 6’2, 226, SOPH, Peaster, TX

WILL-Koby-Sebasyan King, 6’1, 230 LBS, SR, Houston, TX

STAR-Cinque Williams, 5’11, 187 LBS, SR, Southlake, TX

DB-Lavon Williams, 5’11, 195 LBS, JR, San Antonio, TX

DB-Javon Gillespie 5’11, 180 LBS, SOPH, Camden, NJ

DB-Kaleb Miles 5’11, 190 LBS, SOPH, Prosper, TX

Specialists-

Placekicker-Ozlo Rigby, 6’0, 190 LBS, JR Panama City, FL

Punter-Ben Mehan, 6’0, 196 LBS, FRESH, Downington, PA

Long Snapper-Kory Garcia, 6’0 225 LBS, FRESH, San Antonio, TX

Storylines-It seems like the beginning of a new era for East Texas A&M Football. The jerseys are here that proudly say EAST TEXAS on them, the golden Lion silouhette appears on blue helmets, and Lion Nation is expected to be fully on hand for the Lions first ever matchup against a Power 5 opponent in the SMU Mustangs. The Lion roster had a complete overhaul and now without any restrictions of being a University in transition from Division II to Division I, how much of a fight this team will put up against a team that is expected to compete for the ACC Championship and possibly return to the College Football Playoffs is the grand mark of what could be in looking at the future. The Lions offense has to be able to put up points and if Ron Peace has improved and taken the lead like reports say he has, it might give ET a passer’s chance. On defense, the Lions have to be able to use guys the poached from the transfer portal that added a lot of speed to counter a powerful group on offense for SMU. With upsets that have abounded in the Southland Conference in the first week, its time to see what this squad is made of and how far Coach Clint Dolezel and his crew have come.