Who:

Versus

When: Saturday, 6 PM,

Where: Five Star Stadium, Mercer, GA

Weather: Cloudy and 84 Degrees at Kickoff

Watch/Listen/Stats-

TV-ESPN

Radio-88.9 KETR (Commerce) Charlie Chitwood, (Play by Play), Brock Callaway (Color/Analysis)

Stats-https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=672795&vislive=tame

Streaming-ww.KETR.org

Overall-

This has been a crazy week in FCS football so far, especially in the Southland. NAIA Louisiana Christian defeated Northwestern State, Houston Christian went into Hammond and shocked Southeastern. Expect more of this. For the Lions, it is a time to gird up their loins and take on a very good Mercer team that was 9-3 last year and went to the FCS playoffs and is a top 15 team in the FCS level. East Texas has a lot more to prove, having only won 7 games in the past 3 seasons and 12 total in the entire DI era.

Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Clint Dolezel is hoping that with a coaching staff that has been completley made over, a roster that has 19 new starters, and some established specialists along with new sponsorships and the things that will fuel the need for cash in the DI era will change fortunes in Commerce. He faces a tough road to hoe in his first game, in primetime, on national TV, on the first weekend of college football.

Eric Rodriguez has been reportedly penciled in as the starter at Quarterback. He fended off some competition from a Quarterback room that has been more full that gave him yet another challenge, but for a guy who has been starting since 2022 and has battled injuries and competition, he seems to be the last man standing, and this seems to be his team to start for his offense to run. He has to make sure that he does not turn the ball over and also that will be incumbent on how well his offensive line plays. The Lions seem to have more downfield threats with Sean Sallis and Reid Thornberry at tight ends, while Randy Reece and Micah Simpson will be on the outside. EJ Oakmon will carry the load, but the two most important things on offense will be to protect Rodriguez and give him time and not turn the ball over.

Defense/Special Teams-

The Lion defense picked up some major improvements over the offeseason, but there wasnt that much of a bar to hit when the Lions defense was south of awful last year, especially against passing offenses. Mercer averaged a whopping 485 yards per game on offense, with most of that coming from passing, but also rushed for 167 yards per game. They did lose their starting quarterback from last season to the transfer portal who is now at Orgeon State, but if the secondary plays well, and the must to stay in this game, it matches up well for the Lions. DC Jesse Thompson brings a 4-3 defensive strategy that is a departure from the 4-2-5 nickel package from the previous years. Mercer’s explosive passing attack last year is something that they will try to feature, but the defensive line must put constant pressure to keep the Bears from getting into a rythm.

Special teams could very well play a big role in this. Ben Mehan and Ozlo Rigby have to bring their A game and if they do, that will be a critical component of keeping Mercer out of the end zone or putting points on the board if the Lion offense struggles. Coverage on kickoffs and punts has to be solid and disiplined.

The Lion football team has a completely new look both in the program and outside. It has been a long 4 years, but with a new staff with almost a century of DI experience, 50 plus new players, and experience where it matters, this could be where the turnaround starts. Maybe, or maybe not, but that is why they play the game. A lot to be gained by playing this game.