Published: October 18, 2009 12:46 am      

A&M-Commerce rallies for LSC North win

ADA, Okla. — Texas A&M University-Commerce scored 17 straight second half points in a 31-28 come-from-behind win over host East Central in a Lone Star Conference North Division football on Saturday.

A&M-Commerce (3-5, 3-0 LSC N) found itself behind 28-14 early in the third quarter when the Tigers scored twice in the final three minutes of the opening half and on their second possession of the third quarter. Making his first appearance in four games, senior Alex Contreras led the Lions defense with 10 tackles. Also making 10 stops was junior Cory Whitfield.

Quarterback Adam Farkes completed 19 of 35 passes for two touchdowns and ran for another.

East Central (0-8, 0-2 LSC N) was victimized by two fumbles and held to 252 yards of total offense.

With his team down 28-14 early in the third quarter, Contreras forced the ECU quarterback to fumble and also recovered the ball for the Lions. Following back-to-back completions by Farkes, the Lions went to the ground and running back Marcus Graham. The sophomore from Round Rock Stony Point broke off a run of 11 yards and followed that up with a 16-yard run into the end zone to cut the ECU lead to 28-21.

The Lions defense then came up with its second straight turnover as Anthony DeGrate forced a fumble and Michael Cleveland recovered. A&M-Commerce took advantage immediately when Farkes connected with Adam Jones, who made a spectacular one-hand catch in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 28.

After both teams exchanged punts as the contest entered the fourth quarter, the Lions took advantage of a short field to move down the field for the eventual game-winning field goal. Farkes completed a pair of key passes to Jones for 16 yards and Reid Herchenbach for 20 yards. The Lions were able to come away with a field goal by Ahmed Abo-Mahmood from 38 yards out that proved to be the difference in the game.

A&M-Commerce took the opening kickoff and marched six plays and 58 yards, culminating with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Farkes to Herchenbach. During the drive, the Lions took advantage of three offside calls on the ECU defense and a crucial third down conversion with Farkes finding Blake Patton for a 15-yard reception.

The Tigers scored on their first two possessions. ECU began the game with a 26-yard field goal to cut the A&M-Commerce lead. On their next possession, they took advantage of an A&M-Commerce errant snap with a 38-yard field goal after a seven play, 18-yard drive to trim the Lions’ lead to 7-6.

After missing a 32-yard field goal, the Lions got back on the board on a 1-yard plunge on fourth down by Farkes. Graham ran 44 yards to set up first and goal. Prior to that, A&M-Commerce took advantage of a roughing-the-passer call on a third and 22.

The Lions will be idle next weekend before closing out the season with contests at Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma.