A&M-Commerce Upends RiverHawks

COMMERCE, TEXAS - Texas A&M-Commerce took advantage of  Northeastern State mistakes for 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 27-12 Lone Star Conference North Division victory Saturday night at a rainy Memorial Stadium.

The RiverHawks are now 1-5 for the season and fall to 1-1 in North Division play. The Lions are  2-4 and 2-0 in division play.

Northeastern State held a 12-10 advantage after three quarters, but the Lions took the lead for good when Ahmed Abo-Mahmo booted a  29-yard field goal with 13:15 left in the game.

The Lions then put the game away when Cory Whitfield return a fumble 25 yards to the end zone followed by a 65-yard interception by Israel Hushes of a Kenny Davis pass for a score and the 27-12 final.

The RiverHawks offense was held to 183 yards in total offense on 77 plays, 60 on the ground and 123 in the air. Texas A&M-Commerce had 220 yards in offense, just 31 on the ground and 189 in the air.

Northeastern State quarterback Kenny Davis playing for the injured Woody Wilson, connected on 9-of-38 passes for 123 yards with two interceptions.

Josh Lewis, who just returned to the RiverHawks after attending the funeral of his brother Ryan, who died suddenly last weekend, led Northeastern State's rushing with 43 yards on 12 carries.

A&M-Commerce's Adam Frakes connected on 15-of-32 passes for 136 yards and an interception for the Lions. Marcus Graham was the Lions leading grounder with 36 yards on 19 carries.

A&M-Commerce took an early 7-0 lead when Marcus Graham scored on a 3-yard run with 11:43 left in the first quarter. The drive covered 52 yards and four plays. Abo-Mahmo added the point after.

The RiverHawks made it 7-2 when Nick Dobler recorded a safety inn the end zone with 9:49 left in the period. Three-minutes later Jared Homer booted a 30-yard field goal cutting the Lions lead to 7-5 6:54 left in the first quarter.

Northeastern State then took its only lead of the night when the RiverHawks' Troy Adams intercepted, his first of two  Frakes passes and returned it 40-yards into the end zone, giving the RiverHawks a 12-7 lead at 10:42 of the second quarter, after Homer added the point-after.

A&M-Commerce cut the lead when Abo-Mahmo kicked a 29-yard field goal with 2:01 left in the half for making it 12-10. The field goal caped a 13-play 68-yard drive.

Northeastern State returns home next week to play Southwestern State at Doc Wadley Stadium at Gable Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m.