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Lions collar Greyhounds, 48-32

In 2014, Ricky Collins had six two-TD games, including a 48-32 defeat of Eastern New Mexico on Sept. 27 in Portales, N.M.
Joshua Lucero/Portales News-Tribune
/
pntonline.com
Ricky Collins scored two touchdowns during the Lions' 48-32 victory over Eastern New Mexico.

Highlighted by 31 first half points and 370 yards with five touchdowns through the air, A&M-Commerce knocked off the defending Lone Star Conference Champions, Eastern New Mexico, 48-32, on the road at Greyhound Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Lions, who entered Saturday’s game ranked second in the NCAA Division II in total offense at 574.7 yards per game, fifth in passing offense at 372.0 yards per game and second in scoring offense at 56.7 points per game, continued their offensive prowess churning out 394 total yards and 48 points against a Greyhound defense ranked in the top third in the NCAA in most defensive categories.

“It is fantastic to get the win on the road here in Blackwater Draw,” head coach Colby Carthel said. “We played really well for most of the game but had a few miscues.  All in all, we played well enough to win, and I think the better team won today. We are glad to get out of here with the victory.”

Two Lion quarterbacks combined to throw for team’s 370 yards with Tyrik Rollison completing 18 of his 24 attempts for 256 yards and three touchdowns and Deric Davis, who came on mid-way through the third quarter, connecting on nine of his 14 attempts for 105 yards and two scores.  Davis completed his first seven passes in relief.  The two distributed the football to 10 different Lions receiving, the highest mark for the Lions in the first four games of the season, led by Ricky Collins and his six receptions for 93 yards and two TDs.  Vernon Johnson hauled in five passes for 78 yards and two scores as well.

The Lions received the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in nine plays scoring on a four-yard TD pass from Davis to Collins to open the scoring in the game.  Facing a 4th and 10 with the ball on their own 42 yard line, Eastern New Mexico lined up to punt the football away only to have A&M-Commerce’s Davarus Shores break through the protection and block the punt – the third block punt of the season for the Lions and Shores’ second block kick.  Richard Cooper scooped up the football and scampered 40 yards for the score pushing the Lion lead out 14-0.

Eastern New Mexico opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 29-yard field goal by Mitchell Cox, but on the ensuing possession A&M-Commerce answered with a career-long 48 yarder of the leg of Saul Martinez keeping the lead at 14 points, 17-3.

On the ensuing Greyhound possession the Lion defense came up with a stop, but the punt hit a Lions’ gunner and was recovered by ENMU at the A&M-Commerce 32 yard line. The Hounds went for the end zone on the first play completing a 32-yard pass from Jeremy Buurma to Jacob Johnson cutting the lead down to 17-10

However, the Lions scored twice over the final 9:31 of the half to take a 31-10 lead into the locker rooms.  A 41-yard screen pass from Rollison to running back Joe Bergeron caught the Hound defense on a third down place and capped off a five-play 60-yard drive.  The second score came on a 32-yard strike from Rollison to Johnson that ended another 60-yard drive -- this time in only three plays and with 19 seconds before the half.

A botched second half kickoff that was recovered by Shores and the Lions on the Greyhound’s 11 yard line.  Three plays later, Rollison lofted a pass four-yards to Johnson in the back of the end zone for the duo’s second scoring connection.  The Lions pushed the margin out to a comfortable 35-points, 45-10, with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter, when Davis found Collins over the middle for a 37-yard TD strike.  The pass capped off the team’s third 60-yard scoring drive this time only four plays.

Over the final 21:26, the Greyhounds outscored the Lions 22-3 including a 14-play, 68-yard drive that chewed up 5:59 of clock time.  The Lions only score was a Martinez 22 yard field goal.

Defensively, Charles Woods led A&M-Commerce with 14 tackles including eight solo tackles and two tackles for loss.  Woods, who has led the team in tackles in each of the first four games, has accumulated an incredible 49 total tackles with 26 solo tackles.  Cole Pitts followed with a career-high 11 tackles.

“The defense played great today,” added Carthel.  “We got brutalized against the option last year by Eastern New Mexico and Harding, but we improved our team speed and our athleticism, and we made some adjustments with our option packages this offseason. It was great to see them have the success the way they did today. In my mind, they held the Hounds to three points in the first half, and you do not do that against a great team like that.”

The Lions held the nation’s sixth ranked rushing offense at 315.7 yards per game to their second lowest total of the season, 248 yards on 66 attempts.

A&M-Commerce returns to the friend confines Memorial Stadium for the first time since the season opener way back on September 4 as they welcome Tarleton State with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.   A&M-Commerce is 10-11 in 21 previous meetings against Tarleton State including a 5-5 record in home contest.

Fans can follow all the action from the 2014-15 season on www.LionAthletics.com<http://www.LionAthletics.com>, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics<http://www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics>.

Eastern New Mexico Game 4 Notes

- With a punt block in the first quarter, the Lions have blocked four kicks on the season ... Davarus Shores, who blocked the punt Saturday, leads the team with two blocked kicks ... All told the Lions have three blocked punts on the year.

- Senior kicker Saul Martinez connected on a career-long 48-yard field goal with 13:04 in the second quarter ... Two Lion kickers have combined for career-highs in each of the first four games ... Martinez with kicks of 41 yards against ETBU, 43 yards against Kingsville and 48-yards Saturday at Eastern New Mexico ... Junior Chase Thrasher hit a career-long 41-yard at Stephen F. Austin.

- Senior running Joe Bergeron scored on 41-yard screen pass with 3:13 showing before the half ... It was Bergeron’s longest pass reception and scoring play on the season ... It was his second longest play from scrimmage on the season ... He had a 42-yard rush against ETBU in the opener.

- Senior wide receiver Vernon Johnson’s 32-yard touchdown reception with 17 seconds before the half was only his second reception over 30-yards on the season.

- Deric Davis, who came on in relief of Tyrik Rollison, threw two touchdown passes matching his career-high for passing TDs in a game ... He threw two TDs against Texas A&M-Kingsville on September 28, 2012 and at UT-San Antonio on September 8, 2012.

- Senior receiver Ricky Collins matched his career-high with two TD receptions ... Collins hauled in a 4-yard TD pass from Davis in the first quarter and caught a 37-yard scoring pass in the third quarter ... Collins has caught a pass in three of the first four games in 2014.

- Junior linebacker Cole Pitts set a new career-high with 11 total tackles, seven solo tackles and four tackle assists ... His previous career-mark was nine at Tarleton State on October 26, 2013.

- Pablo Vasquez picked off a pass in the end zone with 4:38 to play in the game ... The INT ended a potential ENMU scoring drive ... It was his second INT of his career and first of the season for the senior defensive back ... His first career INT came on October 13, 2012 against Tarleton State.

- Senior defensive back Ronald Fields matched his career-high with nine tackles including seven solo tackles and two tackle assists ... Fields also matched his career-high with one tackle for loss helping in run support against the option.