COMMERCE, Texas – It looked like the Texas A&M-Kingsville football team was just seconds away from snapping a two-game losing streak, but with under 10 seconds left Texas A&M-Commerce quarterback Deric Davis scored from the one on fourth down to force overtime.
On the first possession in overtime, Jamar Mosley pulled in a 16-yard pass from Davis. The point after was good for a 21-14 lead in overtime. The Javelinas struggled as Bryan Ehrlich was sacked on the first play of the ensuing overtime possession. Despite a total of 11 yards on the next two plays on a pair of runs by Anthony Washington, Kingsville was unable to pick up a first down as Ehrlich’s pass on fourth down fell incomplete as Commerce won 21-14.
With the loss, the Javelinas fall to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in the Lone Star, while Commerce is now 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the LSC. The Lions claimed the Lt. General Claire Lee Chennault Trophy for just the fourth time in the 20 meetings the cup has been on the line.
Early in the fourth quarter junior wide receiver Robert Armstrong snared an Ehrlich pass and fell into the end zone despite a defender draped all over him breaking a 7-7 tie. The Matt Stoll PAT with 11:24 remaining made the score 14-7.
After the teams traded possessions, Commerce took over for its final possession of regulation at its own 28 with 3:57 left.
A&M-Kingsville appeared to have the Lions stymied at their 37 but on fourth-and-six, Davis hit Mosley for eight yards and a first down. Later in the drive, Davis hit Garrett Smith for a 26-yard completion to the Javelina one with 25 seconds left.
The Javelinas knotted the score at 7 early in the third quarter as Trevor Pesek recovered a fumble in the end zone after a poor snap.
A&M-Commerce took the lead at 7-0 late in the first half. Davis hit Tevin Godfrey from 16 yards out for a TD. The scoring drive was set up after Randall Toney fumbled at the Javelina 16 at 5-yard reception.
Toney carried the ball 16 times for a season-high 81 yards, while Johnson had 12 carries for 72. Kingsville outrushed the Lions 198-62 but fumbled the ball away three times. The Lions had three fumbles but lost just one.
Ehrlich was 11-of-18 passing with an interception for 116 yards. Davis was 17-of-38 for 214 for the hosts.
Armstrong led the Javs with 65 yards on four catches.
Kingsville returns home for two straight games beginning this Saturday. North Alabama of the Gulf South Conference comes to town this Saturday (Oct. 6) as part of Family Fiesta for a 7 p.m. contest. Incarnate Word comes to town the following Saturday (Oct. 13) for the final time as a member of the Lone Star Conference.
