Published: September 15, 2007 02:12 am      

A&M-Commerce gets ready for offensive battle

Tonight’s Lone Star Conference crossover matchup between the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions and the No. 14 West Texas A&M Buffaloes in Canyon, Texas has the chance to be an offensive showcase.

The Lions are averaging 21.7 points per game, while the Buffaloes average a Lone Star Conference best 59 points per outing.

Preparations for the Lions against the well-balanced attack could be difficult.

“First thing we have to do is prepare ourselves to play a team that has won the Lone Star Conference two years in a row, and to realize the level of competition is going to be extremely high as well as, not just what they have done the past two years, it’s how good this years team looks,” said Lions head coach Scotty Conley.

“(It’s) certainly a formidable challenge that’s going to take a great deal of preparation mentally, as well as physically, to go to Canyon and compete with these guys the way they are playing right now.”

West Texas quarterback Keith Null leads the top rated passing attack with 728 yards and eight touchdowns on 55-of-83 passing.

Running back Keithon Flemming gives the Buffaloes offense a balanced attack already rushing for 271 yards and five touchdowns on 25 carries.

“That’s certainly the most noticeable thing, is how productive they are in the running game this year,” said Conley. “We really haven’t had to contend with that for the past couple of seasons.”

The offense has led the Buffaloes in both victories this year beating South Dakota, 55-45, and routing Adams State, 63-20.

A&M-Commerce has shown the ability to put points on the board as well, scoring over 14 points per game, while averaging 301.3 yards per outing.

Starting quarterback Terry Mayo, who missed last weeks game due to ligament damage in is hand, is day-to-day, according to Conley.

If he is unable to play, quarterback Trent Miller, who got the start and the Lions first victory of the season last week, will get the nod.

Miller passed for 225 yards and three touchdowns in the 24-7 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville and earned Co-Lone Star Conference North Division Player of the Week.

“I think last week’s game kind of solidified (him being able to move the ball) with our players and I think they’ve got confidence in him,” said Conley.

The three passing touchdowns by Miller was the first time the Lions had three touchdown passes in a game since Sept. 18, 2004 against Northeastern State.

Defensively, the Lions had their first complete game holding Kingsville to only 129 yards of total offense.

Senior defensive tackle Luis Lujan led the charge in his first collegiate start recording 10 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

The defense will need a repeat performance against West Texas A&M.

“I think this years defense, we have given up some points the first couple of games so we’re not quite as strong defensively as we have been at this point,” said Conley. “I think it’s a group of guys that will be as the season goes on, we’ll be quite a bit stronger.”

In 22 games between the Lions and Buffaloes, A&M-Commerce holds a 13-9 advantage, but have lost the last two.

The Lions fell 19-17 in 2005, but in 2006, the Buffaloes came to Memorial Stadium and handed the Lions a 35-10 loss as the two teams had some heated moments following the game.

“That’s not anything I’m going to bring up,” said Conley. “I regret the game had to end that way. Last year is over with in terms of that. We’ll try to beat them because they are good, they are well coached and they play hard.”

The game can be heard on KETR 88.9 FM at 6 p.m.