No. 1 seed Texas A&M University-Commerce host No. 2 seed Angelo State with both teams playing for passage into the NCAA Playoffs in the championship game of the Lone Star Conference Playoffs Saturday at 4 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.
A&M-Commerce, featuring the number one scoring offense in the NCAA DII, narrowly survived Angelo State in the first meeting between the two teams, 41-40, on October 11 in San Angelo.
The Rams, who escaped No. 3 seed Midwestern State 41-36 in their last game, bring a four-game winning streak into the meeting with their last loss coming at the hands of the Lions. The Lions are coming off of a 56-49 win over No. 4 seed Tarleton State on a goal line stand in the first round of the playoffs.
The winner will be crowned the Lone Star Conference Playoff Champion and be the lone representative from the LSC selected into the NCAA playoffs.
1st and 10
- A&M-Commerce is coming off a 56-49 win over Tarleton State ... The Lions sealed the win with a goal line stand after surrendering a 20-point, 48-28, lead in the third quarter.
- The Lions routed McMurry 91-13 prior to the TSU game ... The Lions were the only team at any level in the NCAA to score over 90 points after beating ETBU 98-20, in the opening game of the season, but have now accomplished the feat twice.
- At 6-1 in LSC play, the Lions were the outright conference champions for the 15th time ... The 21st overall and first since 1990 -- the first under the name of A&M-Commerce.
- The Lions are ranked No. 24 in the AFCA Top 25 ... The Lions entered the poll at No. 23 then spent one week at No. 22 ... First time since 2001 the Lions have been ranked during the season.
- The Lions are ranked eighth in the NCAA regional rankings.
- The Lions are the NCAA's best scoring offense averaging 54.4 points per game ... No team at the FBS or FCS level averages more points per game than the Lions ... Only one NCAA team, a DIII team, averages more points than A&M-Commerce.
- A&M-Commerce is also ranked first in passing efficiency, second in total offense with 532.6 yards third in passing offense at 370.0 yards per game ... On the defensive side, the team is second in the NCAA in team tackles for a loss and first in punt blocks ... Saul Martinez leads the NCAA in field goals per game and is fourth in scoring.
- In the McMurry game, Martinez made all 13 of his PATs setting a new LSC and A&M-Commerce record for attempts and makes ... Tre'von Taylor recorded 5.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks ... He broke the school record for sacks and matched the record for TFL.
- In the win over ETBU, the Lions shattered NCAA, LSC and school records ... The 986 yards of total offense set a new NCAA record.
- Following the ETBU game, the Lions were featured on ESPN's SportsCenter, College GameDay, NBC Sports, Fox Sports1 and numerous local and regional news outlets.
A&M-Commerce Record Check
- The Lions have seen 18 different NCAA, Lone Star Conference, and school records fall this season and are on the verge of more.
- Tyrik Rollison alone has snapped eight records.
About the Series against the Rams
- The two teams meet for the 45th time Saturday with Angelo State holding a 26-16-2 advantage in the series.
- A&M-Commerce won the first meeting 41-40 on a last second missed Ram field goal ... Prior to the game, ASU won its last five meetings ... It was the first road win for the Lions since 2006.
- A&M-Commerce is 9-12 in home games against the Rams ... The last home win for the Lions came in 2008, a 13-10 decision.
- The Rams edged out a 25-20 win in Memorial Stadium in 2013... ASU scored with 1:30 left in the game to earn the win.
- The last three games have been decided by five points or less ... In 2012, ASU won 17-16 with the Rams scoring late again to claim the win.
- Linking the two programs is Lion head coach Colby Carthel, who played LB for the Rams from 1996-99 ... Carthel is credited with three career kick returns and one interception from available records.
About Angelo State
- The Rams enter the game after a 41-36 win over No. 3 seeded Midwestern State ... The Rams stopped a 4th and 16 with 39 seconds left to preserve the win.
- Quarterback Kyle Washington has thrown for 2,380 yards for an average of 264.4 yards per game with 25 TDs through the air ... Washington is 190-of-300 passing attempts with six INTs ... He is also the rams leading rusher with 869 total yards on 124 attempts for an average of 6.5 yards per carry ... He averages 89.1 yards per game on the ground ... All told, Washington has averaged 353.3 yards of offense through 2014.
- Ryan Byrd is the second leading rusher averaging 66.7 yards per game.
- Dakaral Peclkonis has hauled in 38 catches for 557 yards and seven TDs ... He averages 61.9 yards per game.