The Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions put on a valiant effort Saturday afternoon but were handed a heartbreaking 29-20 homecoming loss by the Lamar Cardinals in front of a spirited crowd at Ernest Hawkins Field. The Lions, down by as much as 14 points, showed resilience throughout the game but couldn’t pull off the victory in the final seconds.
With under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Luke Jackson delivered a clutch 52-yard field goal to tie the game at 20, sparking hope for the Lions faithful. However, Lamar's kicker, Ben Woodard, returned the favor with a 51-yard field goal of his own just moments later, regaining the Cardinals' lead with only 11 seconds left on the clock. The final blow came when a chaotic last-chance lateral play by the Lions ended in a fumble, scooped up by Lamar's Jaymond Jackson for a defensive touchdown, cementing the 29-20 final score.
This defeat drops the Lions to 1-6 on the season and 1-2 in Southland Conference play, while Lamar, receiving votes in national polls, improves to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The loss also marked the second straight homecoming defeat for the Lions, ending a streak of eight consecutive homecoming wins.
The game began as a defensive battle, with both teams trading field goals in the first quarter. Woodard struck first for Lamar with a 46-yard field goal, followed by Jackson's 30-yard reply, leaving the game tied 3-3 after one quarter. Lamar gained momentum in the second quarter, with Robert Coleman rushing for a 10-yard touchdown, and later connecting on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Devin Gibbs, extending their lead to 17-3.
However, the Lions fought back late in the first half, as Ron Peace found Christian Jourdain for a nine-yard touchdown with under a minute remaining before halftime, trimming the deficit to 17-10. The momentum carried into the third quarter, where Peace linked up with Jaden Proctor on a six-yard score, tying the game at 17-17.
Both defenses tightened in the fourth quarter, with Woodard putting Lamar back in the lead on a 37-yard field goal before Jackson’s game-tying heroics. Unfortunately for the Lions, they couldn’t hold off Lamar’s final drive, and the blocked field goal earlier in the quarter proved costly.
Quarterback Ron Peace finished the game with 237 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Jourdain led all receivers with 136 yards on eight catches. Defensively, Kyree Anderson recorded a team-high 14 tackles, while Brandon Tucker contributed 12.
Texas A&M-Commerce will look to regroup as they head on the road next week to take on Prairie View A&M, aiming to snap their losing streak and turn the tide on what’s been a tough season.
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