The Lions went 11-2 last season and won their third consecutive LSC championship with an 8-1 league record. A&M-Commerce hosted NCAA Division II playoff action for the first time in 25 years, defeating Colorado Mesa in the first round. The Lions had a final ranking of No. 9 from the AFCA.
The Lions picked up 21 of 26 first place votes with 229 points, a margin of 37 points over Midwestern State in second place.
Perez, a senior from Chula Vista, Calif., was named the first team all-Lone Star Conference quarterback following the completion of the 2016 season. He was a nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy and named as an honorable mention All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.
Perez became the third Lion trigger man with 3,000 passing yards in a season and threw a school record 32 touchdown passes in 2016. His 3,326 passing yards in a season ranks second in A&M-Commerce history and ranks 11th in A&M-Commerce history for passing yards in a career. He was exceptional in terms of interceptions, throwing only five picks during the 2016 season. He had eight games of over 250 yards passing and five games of over 300 yards passing, with a season-best 396 yards at Panhandle State. He had five touchdown passes in wins at Eastern New Mexico and UT Permian Basin.
Perez has also earned multiple awards in 2017 prior to the season. He has been named a preseason All-American by Lindy's college football preview magazine and in July, Perez was named as a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
The back-to-back-to-back LSC champion Lions kick off the 2017 season on Thursday, August 31, at North Alabama. The home schedule starts on Saturday, September 9, against William Jewell. Tickets are available online at WeAreLionsTix, by visiting Lion Sales & Service at the box office in the Field House during normal business hours, or by calling (903) 468-8756.
2017 LSC Football Preseason Poll
|
No. |
Team |
1st |
Total |
|
1 |
A&M-Commerce |
21 |
229 |
|
2 |
Midwestern State |
2 |
192 |
|
3 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
1 |
177 |
|
4 |
Eastern New Mexico |
136 | |
|
5 |
Tarleton State |
1 |
135 |
|
6 |
Angelo State |
114 | |
|
7 |
West Texas A&M |
97 | |
|
8 |
Western New Mexico |
45 | |
|
UT Permian Basin |
1 |
45 |