Chauncey Harris capped off Midwestern State’s furious second half rally with a four-yard score in overtime to lift the Mustangs over No.22 A&M-Commerce, 40-37, as the Lions suffered their first Lone Star Conference loss and first loss against NCAA Division II competition of the season.
Facing a 17-0 deficit and only 131 yards of total offense at the half, Midwestern State, who entered the game receiving votes in the latest AFCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, outscored the Lions 40-20 in the second half and overtime period to improve to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in LSC play, while No. 22 A&M-Commerce slips to 6-2 on the season and 5-1 in conference play. Overall, the Lions outgained the Mustangs, 524-456, but Midwestern covered more yards in the second half and overtime period, 324-258. The Mustang used a steady rushing attack churning out 284 yards on the ground compared to 137 for the Lions. Conversely, A&M-Commerce’s air raid attack covered 387 yards compared to only 172 yards passing for MSU.
“It was a tough loss, but we just didn’t finish and left a lot out there on all three facets – offense, defense and special teams,” A&M-Commerce head coach Colby Carthel said. “We have to give credit where credit and this is to Midwestern. They played a great game and battled back from being down so congratulations to them on the win.”
It was all A&M-Commerce heading into the half with the Lions capping off scoring drives of 62 yards and 58 yards with touchdowns from Vernon Johnson and Joe Bergeron. Johnson caught a 57-yard bomb from Tyrik Rollison on the third play of the game, and Bergeron plunged into the end zone from a yard out midway through the first quarter. The Lions final score of the first half, a Saul Martinez 33-yard field goal, ended a 14-play 77-yard drive and was the lone score of the second quarter.
MSU’s offense came to life in the second half as the Mustangs stormed down the field against a depleted A&M-Commerce defense in six-plays covering 75-yards. A 25-yard pass from Quade Coward to Breion Evans capped off the drive. All-told, the Mustangs would score on five of their seven drives in the second stanza.
After three-and-outs by both teams, the Lions scored their only touchdown of the 3rd quarter when Rollison found Jordan Jenkins on a fourth and inches play creatively drawn up by offensive staff. Jenkins snuck out of the backfield and ran untouched after the reception for 38-yards for the score to give the Lions a 24-7 lead midway through the third.
However, the Mustangs strung together their most impressive drive of the game, a 12-play, 83-yard march down the field that ate up just over five minutes of time. This time, Coward finished the drive himself with a two-yard run cutting the Lion lead down to 24-14 with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing A&M-Commerce drive, Saul Martinez’s would be career-long 50-yard attempt was blocked when a Mustang rusher came around the end to deflect the kick. Two-plays later, Pablo Vasquez picked off an arrant Coward pass giving the Lions the ball back with a ten-point lead to start the fourth quarter. A&M-Commerce promptly scored six plays later on a Bergeron eight-yard run as the Lions regained a 17-point lead, 31-14, with 12:18 to play in the fourth. It was a lead that quickly evaporated as the Mustangs would outscore the Lions 26-6 over the remaining time in regulation and the overtime period.
The first Mustang score of the fourth quarter came on a Harris 32-yard run, and the second score came 6:47 seconds later when Jake Glover connected with Mark Strange from six-yards out pulling MSU within four points, 31-27. The point after attempt following the Glover to Strange was blocked. The second score was set up following a crucial call that handed MSU the ball back on the A&M-Commerce 25 yard line. Lion wide receiver Ricky Collins came around on a double-reverse pass play. After catching the pitch from fellow receiver Seth Smith, Collins stumbled and went to the turf because of traffic in the backfield. While sitting on the ground after being untouched, the ball came out of Collins’ hands and was controversially ruled a fumble. After a brief official’s meeting the fumble stood and possession stood with MSU, who later capitalize on the costly call.
A&M-Commerce pushed its lead back to seven points, 34-27, on a Martinez 42-yard field goal with four minutes left only to see the Mustangs march down the field and tie the game at 34 on a four-yard run by Harris. The MSU score left A&M-Commerce 1:59 for a chance to remain unbeaten and escape with the road win.
Facing a third and 12 on their own 23-yard line, the Lions picked up a huge play, a 45-yard pass from Rollison to Collins down to the MSU 32 yard line. After milking the clock and moving inside the MSU 20, the Lions trotted Martinez for a game-winning 32-yard field goal. The kick narrowly sailed wide left sending the two teams grid locked at 34 into overtime.
The Lions opened overtime with the ball and moved down to the MSU two yard line before having to settle for a Martinez 19-yard field goal giving A&M-Commerce the 37-34 lead. MSU needed just six plays, all runs, to eek out the 40-37 win. Harris, who carried the ball five times on the drive, went airborne and cleared the pylon with the game-winning four-yard run.
Rollison finished with 387 yards passing and two touchdowns completing 26 of his 42 passes for his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season. Johnson hauled in a career-high 11 receptions for a career-high 180 yards and a touchdown. Collins also tallied 100 receiving yards finish right at the century mark on seven catches. Bergeron led the Lions on ground churning out 103 yards and two scores, while Richard Cooper covered 81 yards on 20 carries.
Harris led the Mustang attack dashing for 169 yards on 25 carries with three TDs, while Orlanda Haymon added another 70 yards on eight carries for MSU. Coward finished with 113 yards through the air completing seven of his 17 passes with one Interception and one touchdown.
Defensively, the reigning LSC Defensive Player of the Week, Cole Pitts, tied for the team-high in tackles with Charles Woods. The duo had eight tackles apiece. Kevin Mederlas finished with six tackles and his first career interception that came in the second quarter.
“We have to focus on the next one,” Carthel said. “They always get bigger and this one will be a little bit bigger now with the chance to win it (the LSC championship) outright and with playoff implications. It will be interesting to see how we respond, but I feel good about those guys in the locker room. Some times a stumble along the way ends up being a blessing. We’ll regroup, and I think we’ll be fine.”
A&M-Commerce still has a chance to win the LSC title outright with a win over McMurry. Kickoff for the Homecoming competition is slated for 4 p.m. Under the name, A&M-Commerce, the Lions have never won a LSC Championship. The last time the Lions were crowned champions in 1990, the school was under the name of East Texas State University.
At Midwestern Game 8 Notes
- A&M-Commerce suffered its first Lone Star Conference loss of the 2014 season, but can still win the outright LSC title with a win over McMurry on Saturday, November 4 with kickoff set for 4 p.m.
- Tyrik Rollison’s 57-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Johnson on the third play of the game was the duo’s longest play from scrimmage this season … It is also Johnson longest pass reception of the season surpassing his previous long was only 44 yards against West Texas A&M.
- Kevin Mederlas’ interception in the second quarter that stopped a potential MSU scoring drive was his first career interception.
- Midwestern’s touchdown drive to open the third quarter was the longest an A&M-Commerce opponent had gone to start a game without a score… Prior to Saturday, A&M-Commerce previous longest scoreless streak to open a game was 9:19 into the second quarter against West Texas.
- Pablo Vasquez had his second interception of the season with a pick in the third quarter.
- Vernon Johnson caught 11 passes for a 180 yards … His 11 receptions and 180 receiving yards were both career-highs for the Johnson playing against his former team.
- Joe Bergeron ran for 103 yards … It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and the Lions fourth of the season.
- Tyrik Rollison threw for over 300 yards for the fourth time this season … He finished with 387 yards … It was the fifth time the Lions had a quarterback surpass the with Deric Davis throwing for 324 yards against Tarleton State in relief of Rollison.
- A&M-Commerce played its first overtime game since September 29, 2012 against Kingsville … The Lions won that contest 21-14 … It was A&M-Commerce’s first road overtime game since October 6, 2007 at Southeastern … A&M-Commerce won that game 41-39.
- Midwestern State’s 284 rushing yards were the highest total on the ground given up by the Lions.