A&M-Commerce place kicker Saul Martinez becomes the fourth Lion to be recognized the by the Lone Star Conference as the senior claimed LSC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Martinez connected on his first attempt in the second quarter, a 30-yard boot, to give the Lions a 17-16 lead. Little did he know at the time that the Lions would go down by as many as 13 points, 30-17, only to rally and provide Martinez with the opportunity for the game-winning kick and another one point lead. After missing a 39-yard kick at the halftime buzzer, Martinez would go until the 2:04 mark in the fourth quarter before he would get another chance.
This time from 37-yards out Martinez kicked it true as the claimed the 41-40 win over ASU. Martinez’ kick kept the Lions unbeaten in LSC, which has vaulted the Lions to the top of the conference and into the American Football Coaches Association’s Top 25 Poll.
A&M-Commerce enters the poll at No. 23. It is the first time the Lions have been ranked during the season since 2001 when the Lions spent two weeks ranked at No. 24.
“We feel about the same way we did when we were picked to finish sixth in the LSC this year,” head coach Colby Carthel said. “Polls don’t mean a lot to coaches or players, as you just stay focused on the game at hand. Right now our attention is focused squarely on the Buffaloes.”