MANKATO, Minn. – The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team scored the game's final 10 points to pull away from Minnesota State University for a 31-21 victory in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal game at Blakeslee Stadium.
The Lions – ranked eighth in the nation and the region's fifth seed – are the Super Region Four champions and advance to the NCAA Division II Semifinals on Saturday, December 9, with the date and opponent to be announced later.
A&M-Commerce will carry a 12-1 record into the national semifinals, setting a school record for wins in a season. Minnesota State – ranked first in the nation and the region's second seed – sees its season ends with a record of 13-1.
This is the first time the Lions have advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinal in any sport. This is also the first time the Lions have defeated a team ranked No. 1 in the nation in football action.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions gained 360 yards of offense on 69 plays for an average of 5.2 yards per play. A&M-Commerce gained 103 rushing yards on the nation's top rushing defense.
- The Lions' 31 points scored are the most Minnesota State has allowed in the last 18 games.
- Quarterback Luis Perez completed 28-of-41 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown. He was not sacked.
- E.J. Thompson had 14 carries for 70 yards and a 19-yard touchdown carry. Carandal Hale had 10 carries for 41 yards and nine receptions for 52 yards.
- Marquis Wimberly had five catches for 79 yards and a 30-yard touchdown.
- Kristov Martinez was perfect in the kicking game with three field goals of 37, 35, and 48 yards. The 48-yarder in the fourth quarter gave the Lions the lead for good and was his 50th career field goal, setting a new school record.
- Tristan Perry averaged 40.1 yards on seven punts with a long of 49 yards and two inside the Mavericks' 20-yardline.
- Buck Wilson scored an 80-yard touchdown on his first career punt return.
- Linebacker Garrett Blubaugh led all tacklers with 15 stops in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The homestanding Mavericks got on the scoreboard first with a touchdown on their first drive. Ryan Schlichte completed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Ty Dennis to give MSU a 7-0 lead just 2:40 into the game.
After the teams traded punts, the Lions were able to match the Mavericks' score. A&M-Commerce went 76 yards in six plays thanks to long completions to Wilson (16 yards) and D'Arthur Cowan (23 yards). Thompson broke through multiple tackles on the way to a 19-yard touchdown carry, tying the game at 7-7 with 5:56 to play in the first quarter.
On their next drive, the Lions took advantage of solid field position after a punt and took the 10-7 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Martinez with 1L56 left in the opening quarter.
Minnesota State responded in kind, as a long drive only resulted in a 25-yard Casey Bednarski field goal. The game was tied 10-10 with 11:50 left in the half.
Both teams punted twice before the tie was broken again. The Lions went 41 yards in eight plays, and a 35-yard field goal by Martinez put the guests ahead 13-10 with 1:45 to go.
The Lions held MSU to a punt, but the return was fumbled at the Lion 26-yardline, giving the hosts new life before the break. Three plays later, Schlichte found Dennis over the top for a 24-yard touchdown pass. A substitution penalty brought the ball a yard closer to the goal line, and the Mavericks converted on the two-point attempt to put MSU up by an 18-13 count at the halftime break.
The even game saw MSU outgain the Lions by only seven yards, 219-212, at halftime.
A&M-Commerce flipped the game on its head after the second possession of the third quarter. Bednarski boomed a 46-yard punt. Wilson fielded it at the 20-yardline and broke multiple tackles on the way to an 80-yard touchdown. Hale carried in the two-point conversion to put the Lions up 21-18.
The teams traded punts through the third quarter. The Mavericks were driving deep into Lion territory before A&M-Commerce sacked Schlichte on third down to force a field goal attempt. Bednarski hit the 40-yarder to tie the game with 13:09 to play.
The Lions set up the next score on a 59-yard kickoff return by Reggie Kincade. The Lion drive resulted in a field goal attempt. Martinez drilled a career-long 48-yarder to give the Lions the 24-21 lead with 11:29 to play. The kick was his 50th career field goal, setting a new school record.
After holding the Mavericks to a three-and-out, the Lions manufactured a seven-play, 67-yard drive that would seal the game. Perez completed a short pass to Wimberly, who made a defender miss, then darted towards the endzone and dove for the pylon. His 30-yard touchdown catch-and-run put the Lions up 31-21 with 6:47 to play.
Bednarski missed a 51-yard field goal attempt on the Mavericks' next drive and the Lions were able to run the clock down to 1:54. Perry's punt was downed at the MSU 1-yardline, forcing the longest possible drive for the Mavericks.
The hosts were able to move downfield, but Huckaby's interception at the Lion 15-yardline put the result beyond doubt and set off the celebrations on the Lion side.
