Published: October 29, 2009 12:51 am      

A&M-Commerce heads into LSC North showdown

Texas A&M University-Commerce’s Lions have had an extra week to prepare for their Lone Star Conference North Division showdown with Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

The battle for first place kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Paul Laird Field in Durant, Okla. The two teams are tied for first place in the LSC North at 3-0.

While the Lions were taking Saturday off with an open date, the Savage Storm was beating Northeastern State 45-36 at Tahlequah, Okla. Quarterback Justin Pitrucha had a big game for the Savage Storm, throwing for 362 yards and six touchdowns. Pitrucha, a 6-1, 195-pound junior from Hebron, was 29-of-38 with one interception.

Daniel Nichols was Pitrucha’s favorite target, catching 14 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Goodlow caught five for 44 yards and two scores and Baylen Laury snagged four passes for 76 yards and two TDs. Laury, a 5-10, 185-pound junior from Forney, also led the Savage storm with 72 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Pitrucha ranks eighth in the LSC in passing, averaging 215.7 yards per game. He’s 142-of-270 for 1,510 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. Pitrucha is second to Midwestern State’s Zack Eskridge in pass efficiency with a rating of 147.4.

A&M-Commerce quarterback Adam Farkes is ranked ninth, having completing 142 of 270 for 1,591 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for an average of 198.9 ypg.

Nichols, a 6-3, 200-pound senior from Cooper, ranks third in the league in pass receptions with 60 for 832 yards and 11 scores.

Both teams are very efficient in the red zone, ranking first and second in the conference. A&M-Commerce has scored on 19-of-22 possessions inside the opponent’s 20-yard line with 14 touchdowns. Southeastern is 23-of-27 with 17 TDs.

It’s been a very closely contested series that is currently tied at 6-6-1. Six of the last seven games have been decided by four points or less.

Southeastern won 28-24 last year in Commerce. A&M-Commerce won 40-37 in three overtimes in 2007 in Durant.

Southeastern nipped the Lions 15-14 in 1997, 21-20 in 1998 and 24-23 in 2005. The Lions won 14-13 in 2006 and 23-3 in 2002.

It’s a big game for Southeastern placekicker Cole Jones, a senior from Greenville. Jones is 8-of-11 on field goals and 30-of-35 on extra points. His uncle Billy Watkins holds the career record for points as a placekicker at A&M-Commerce with 218 during the seasons from 1990-93.



Lone Star Conference

2009 Football Standings

NORTH DIVISION

Division Overall PF PA

Southeastern Okla. 3-0 6-3 301 272

Texas A&M-Commerce 3-0 3-5 203 256

Northeastern State 2-2 2-7 160 260

Central Okla. 1-2 2-7 198 305

Southwestern Okla. 1-3 1-8 105 355

East Central 0-3 0-9 92 300



SOUTH DIVISION

Division Overall PF PA

Tarleton State 3-1 8-1 287 126

Texas A&M-Kingsville 3-1 8-1 281 195

West Texas A&M 3-2 4-5 236 224

Abilene Christian 2-2 7-2 282 150

Midwestern State 2-2 7-2 333 109

Angelo State 2-2 6-3 271 225

Eastern N.M. 0-5 2-7 322 333



CONFERENCE

W L

Tarleton State 6-1

A&M-Kingsville 6-1

Abilene Christian 5-2

Midwestern State 5-2

Angelo State 5-2

Southeastern Okla. 4-3

West Texas A&M 4-3

A&M-Commerce 3-4

Central Okla. 2-5

Northeastern State 2-5

Eastern N.M. 2-6

Southwestern Okla. 1-7

East Central 0-7



LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Southeastern Okla. 45, Northeastern State 35

Tarleton State 13, Abilene Christian 6

West Texas A&M 43, Angelo State 15

Southwestern Okla. 14, East Central 13

Midwestern State 43, Central Okla. 16

A&M-Kingsville 38, Eastern N.M. 31



SATURDAY’S GAMES

A&M-Commerce at Southeastern Okla., 2 p.m.

A&M-Kingsville at Abilene Christian, 2 p.m.

Oklahoma Panhandle at Southwestern Okla., 2 p.m.

Tarleton State at Angelo State, 6 p.m.

Central Okla. at East Central, 6 p.m.

West Texas A&M at Northeastern State, 7 p.m.

Midwestern State at Eastern N.M., 8 p.m.