Published: October 12, 2008 12:35 am      

A&M-Kingsville rolls to 35-0 win over A&M-Commerce

KINGSVILLE — Running back Billy Martin scored three touchdowns and the Texas A&M-Kingsville defense held Texas A&M University-Commerce scoreless to take a 35-0 victory over the Lions on Saturday night in Kingsville.

The Javelinas jumped to 5-2 overall, while the Lions dropped to 3-4 for the season.

After both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter, A&M-Kingsville built a 21-0 lead with the help of two touchdowns from Martin and another from wide receiver Jareko Taylor in the second.

On the Javelinas’ first possession of the second quarter, Martin took a handoff and darted 28 yards down the right sideline for the score to give A&M-Kingsville the early 7-0 lead. Martin then capped a seven-play, 66-yard drive with his second touchdown on a 16-yard reception from quarterback Billy Garza with 4:41 remaining in the half.

A&M-Kingsville then capitalized on an A&M-Commerce fumble when Garza connected with Taylor in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown. The Lions tried to respond quickly getting down to the Javelina 26, but time ran out in the half as a pass fell incomplete in the end zone.

Martin helped A&M-Kingsville extend its lead in the third quarter, taking a handoff up the gut and racing 66 yards to give the Javelinas a 28-0 lead at the 9:13 mark in the third. Martin finished the game with 161 yards rushing and two touchdowns and his lone reception went for a score as well.

The Lions weren’t without opportunities, as the defense recorded four sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Courtney Edmond paced the Lions with 11 tackles. Cory Whitfield followed with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Andrew Gamboa contributed seven tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

The Javelina defense held the Lions to just 115 total yards of offense and collected one interception and a fumble recovery.

Nabil El-Amin led the A&M-Commerce offense with 69 yards on 15 carries.

The Lions will look to bounce back on Saturday in the Harvey Martin Classic against East Central at 2 p.m. at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.