KINGSVILLE, Texas (Football) – Jordan Thomas put on a show offensively for the hometown crowd wearing blue, finishing with a career best 173 yards in a near upset by Texas A&M University-Kingsville (1-2, 0-1 LSC), but No. 22/22 Texas A&M University-Commerce (2-1, 1-0 LSC) ended a tie in the second half to earn a 37-17 victory on Saturday evening in Javelina Stadium.
Thomas' eight-catch, 173-yard performance was the most yards by a wide receiver since
Robert Armstrong posted the 166-yard total in a two-touchdown senior day game versus Valdosta State University on Nov. 16, 2013.
Braedon Robinson also showed his athleticism, returning a recovered fumble for a touchdown, his first in a Javelina uniform. It was a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown after
Alex Kuyinu, who registered two sacks, forced the Lion fumble.
Lamont Hills added a 14-yard tackle for a loss and
DeMarcus Spurlock and
AA Vaaulu recorded seven tackles apiece.
Brandon Jones finished with six tackles and a nine-yard sack.
Myles Carr concluded his third start 22-of-34 with a touchdown and two interceptions and
Shawn Vasquez added 52 rushing yards to lead the way for the Hogs.
"The score was not indicative of the type of effort this team put forth," said head coach
Daren Wilkinson. "The thing that killed us was that we were 1-of-2 in the red zone and the one was a field goal. Our defense kept us in the football game and made big plays. We have to learn on offense to put a team away when we are on the six-yard line. We need to be able to convert and limit the penalties."
The Lions took a quick 14-0 lead as the offense struggled to muster together a drive.
After taking over with great field position, the Lions needed just four plays to find the end zone and take a 7-0 lead. An interception added six for TAMUC as the first quarter came to a close with the Hogs trailing by 14.
Julio De la Garza connected on a 22-yard field goal with 9:46 remaining in the first half for his first career field goal. Prior to the field goal, Carr found an open Thomas for 53 yards, a career-long for the redshirt junior.
A&M-Commerce added a field goal on their own with 3:45 left in the second and with just under 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Kuyinu forced a fumble that was recovered by Robinson for his first-ever touchdown, making it a 17-10 ballgame at the half.
The offense clicked on the second drive of the second half after Carr found Thomas for a 25-yard reception and nine yards, respectively, to enter Commerce territory. Thomas rushed for 17 to put the Hogs inside the Lion red zone, and three plays later,
Torrey Thomas stepped on the Javelina blue in the Stadium with his first career touchdown – a 26-yard catch. The De la Garza PAT tied the contest at 17 with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter.
A&M-Commerce took a seven-point lead after scoring its third TD of the conference battle with 5:04 left in the third. The Lions tacked on another TD in the closing seconds of the third to make it a two-possession game.
The Javelinas threatened with a march down to the Lion red zone but an interception all but sealed the victory for A&M-Commerce. TAMUC added a late touchdown in the fourth.
With the win, the Lions have retained the Chennault Cup and defeated the Hogs for four consecutive seasons.
For TAMUC, the run game was the bread and butter as Richard Cooper rushed for 158 yards (28 carries) and Theo Wofford added 121. Quarterback Harrison Stewart went 11-of-22 with three touchdowns, two to Derrick Macon. Defensively, the Lions collected five sacks.
The Javelinas conclude their homestand next week when they step away from nonconference play and host the University of West Alabama on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
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