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Undefeated Conference Showdown: #2 Texas A&M-Commerce Clash Against #10 Midwestern State

Lion Athletics

Gameday Preview

#2 Texas A&M University-Commerce vs #10 Midwestern State

7PM-Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls

TAMUC 4-0 (2-0) & MSU 3-0 (2-0)

KETR 88.9FM Lions Sports Network

All eyes will be on Wichita Falls this Saturday as undefeated Lone Star Conference foes, #2 Texas A&M-Commerce takes on #10 Midwestern State.The Lions have now reached their highest AFCA ranking since the poll was introduced in 2000 and the highest ranked team in the newly configured Super Region Four. It has four ranked teams in the nation’s top ten. The Lions are coming off a bye week, previously winning 38-7 over Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Defense

TAMUC rank fifth nationally in scoring defense, while MSU ranks 11th nationally in the same category. The Lions have the 13th-best total defense in DII, allowing a stingy 269.8 yards a game and only seven points or fewer in three of its four games.

TAMUC ranks sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game. The Lions have allowed only 91.8 yards rushing per game, including a game against the third-ranked rushing offense in the nation.

MSU ranks 16th nationally and second in conference, averaging 243.7 rushing yards per game. The Mustangs boasts the LSC's No. 2 scoring defense while ranking 11th in NCAA Division II allowing 14.3 points per game.

Offense

Midwestern State boasts the top scoring offense in conference averaging 41 points per game which ranks 12th nationally. The Mustangs slipped to No. 2 in total offense in conference and are 15th in NCAA Division II at 474.7 yards per game. MSU possesses the No. 2 rushing attack in conference with 243.7 yards per game.

Special Team

A&M-Commerce leads the nation in kickoff return average at 35.0 yards per return.

The Lions also lead the conference and rank third in the nation in kickoff return coverage, allowing only 13.0 yards per return.

MSU ranks second in NCAA Division II and is first in the LSC in net punting at 43.0 yards per punt which is second only to Ouachita Baptist (43.56).

#24Strong

Robert Grays, sophomore cornerback, suffered a severe neck injury with 3:24 to play in MSU's 31-13 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sept. 16th and passed away on Sept. 19th in his hometown of Houston. A&M-Commerce safety and captain Chris Smith will wear No. 29 instead of regular No. 24. In addition, the Lions will wear helmet decals to honor the memory of Grays.

The Lions and Mustangs are meeting for the 23rd time in a series that dates back to 1947. TAMUC own the series with a 12-10 lead. A Lion win would be the first in Wichita Falls since 1998. MSU has a 4-3 lead in the series on its home turf.

Tune into the Lions Sports Network KETR 88.9 FM at 7PM.