STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE (2-2) VS. TEXAS A&M - COMMERCE (0-3)
WHEN: Sept. 30, 2023 (Sat.) 6:00 P.M.
WHERE: Nacogdoches, Texas (Homer Bryce Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
SERIES
Texas A&M - Commerce (East Texas State University) leads the series 43-13-1
These two schools have playerd each off and on since 1924 with the last two meetings going the way of the Lumberjack 48-21 in 2000 and 38-17 in 2014 (When our very own Colby Carthel was their head coach).
The Lions of Texas A&M - Commerce will make the short trip to the Nac. on Saturday, to face their old adversary, for what could very well be called the Battle of East Texas.
TAMUC has had a brutal schedule this season playing two top 20 FCS programs in (#16 UC Davis, #8 Sac State) and one FBS one with Old Dominion on the road.
Last Saturday the Lions gave Old Dominion all they could handle in a defensive showdown in Virginia (both teams were scoreless at the half) until TAMUC scoried on a field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the 3rd quarter, before ODU answered, eventually building up their own lead of 10-3 in the 4th.
Commerce scored a late TD with 28 seconds remaining in the game and decided to go for the win but failed on the 2-point conversion, that lead to the Monarchs' 10-9 victory.
To say that the Lions offense is struggling would be an understatement, as they have manage just 8 points a game while giving up 31. As a team Commerce averages 134 yards on the ground and 113 through the air, while surrendering 458 total yards a game on defense.
The starting QB is junior transfer #2 Peter Parrish 6-1; 192 a former 4-star recruit that signed with LSU out of high school. For the season he has completed 25 passes for 212 yards with no TD's and 4 INT's, while rushing for 73 yards and a score. Parrish has been known to be pulled momentarily this season for QB #1 Josh Magana 6-1; 203 who has completed 13 passes for 132 yards and 2 TDs and no INT's. The team actually has 10 QB's listed on their roster, including last season's starter, Eric Rodriguez.
Commerce likes to run multiple running backs (up to 3 get the bulk of the load) and they have combined for 323 yards (3.3 average) and 1 score.
The secondary is the strength of their defense and is lead by senior DB #0 Daryion Taylor 5-10; 160 who has 26 TKL's; 1 for a loss, 1 INT, and sophomore DB #10 Jordan Polk 6-0; 182 with his 2 TFL's and 2 sacks with an INT.
After a real head shaker against Austin Peay, the Jacks are already in a hole, in this young 2023 season. There are no more games to give after this one, and the climb begins now, to rid ourselves of that bad taste of defeat and to replace it with the sweet taste of victory, which will come at the expense of the final non-conference foe this Saturday at Homer Bryce Stadium, as it is now our turn to chase the Lion.
Axe'Em
