Football Prepares for Home Opener This Saturday Against #12 Lions

MONMOUTH, Ore. – After opening the 2019 season in Texas, the Western Oregon University football team returns to McArthur Field this Saturday to face #12 Texas A&M-Commerce with kickoff set for 1:05 p.m. The game will also be the Community Appreciation Game featuring free admission.

WOU held an early 7-3 lead against Angelo State last week before the Rams stormed back to take the 45-20 victory. The numbers were close statistically with each team picking up 22 first downs, WOU rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns, with the Rams gaining 238 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The Wolves passed for 202 yards and a touchdown, with Angelo State throwing for 216 yards and three scores.

On the ground, Omari Land, Ty Currie and Nico Jackson all found success in the running game with Land rushing 21 times for 82 yards and a pair of scores, Currie with 18 carries for 60 yards, while Jackson added 13 rushes for 55 yards.

Currie completed 15-26 for 202 yards and a touchdown, with Tyler Reid catching two passes for 61 yards, Marquis Sampson snagging four passes for 60 yards and Thomas Wright with two catches for 44 yards. Damon Hickok snagged the touchdown pass on a five-yard strike.

On defense, Jaylin Parnell and Joey Sinclair led the way with eight tackles apiece, as Jaylin Parnell made three solo tackles and Sinclair added five solo stops. Curtis Anderson, Nate Proctor, Tyler Wharf and Blayne Burnett all have six tackles. Burnett, Ryan Minniti, Court Hammond and Tyler Cummings all have a half-tackle for loss. Derek Parnell added an interception and Minniti recovered a fumble.

Land, Jackson and Derek Parnell were named Players of the Week against Angelo State.

"Omari, Nico and Derek Parnell were our Players of the Week this past week," Head Coach Arne Ferguson said. "We showed signs throughout the game against Angelo State on what kind of team we could end up being this season. I think the travel started to get to us midway through the game and Angelo State improved a lot since we last faced them last year."

In terms of national rankings, WOU ranks 49^th in the nation in third down conversions (42.9), which leads the GNAC, 34^th nationally and lead the GNAC in fourth down conversions (66.7), tied for first nationally in not allowing a fourth down conversion, 45^th nationally and lead the GNAC in first downs on offense (22), 31^st nationally in fumbles recovered (1), 45^th nationally in passes intercepted (1), 15^th nationally and lead the GNAC in punt return defense (0), 49^th nationally and first in the GNAC in rushing offense per game (197), 10^th nationally and lead the GNAC in time of possession (37:24), 44^th nationally in turnovers gained (2).

Individually, Anderson is 36^th nationally and first in the GNAC in combined kick returns (83) and also is 58^th nationally in kickoff return average (20.8), Currie ranks 72^nd nationally in completion percentage (57.7) and 68^th nationally in completions per game (15), 60^th nationally and leads the GNAC in passing efficiency (135.6), 67^th nationally in passing yards (202), 66^th nationally in passing yards per game (202), 54^th nationally in passing yards per completion (13.47) and 44^th nationally and leads the GNAC in total offense (262). Minniti is tied for sixth nationally with a fumble recovery. Derek Parnell is tied for 11^th nationally with an interception and is tied for seventh in passes defended (3). Land is 71^st nationally in points responsible for (12), 69^th nationally in points responsible for per game (12), 72^nd in rushing yards per game (82), 19^th nationally and leads the GNAC in scoring (12), 21^st nationally and leads the GNAC in total points scored (12) and is 13^th nationally and leads the GNAC in total touchdowns (2). Reid is 26^th nationally and leads the GNAC in yards per reception (30.50).

WOU has gone 12-7 in home openers since 2000 having lost the past three home openers and prior to that won three straight against Dixie State, Central Washington and Simon Fraser. Over the past three seasons, the Wolves have come close against Angelo State last year falling (24-17) and the year before in 2017 going to overtime with Humboldt State before falling just short (49-48).

Texas A&M-Commerce moved up from 13^th in the national polls to 12 after playing Seleccion Nuevo Leon this past weekend and cruised to the 83-0 victory. The Lions dominated in every category as they picked up 14 first down and didn't allow a first down, they rushed 31 times for 303 yards and held Leon to -80 yards rushing in 32 carries and -3 in passing, while the Lions threw for 108 yards holding a 411 to -83 total yards advantage. Miklo Smalls passed for 103 yards completing 4-4, as four caught a pass including Ryan Stokes with a 36-yard reception, Kelan Smith with a 31-yard reception and a touchdown, while Tyler Guice also added a touchdown reception on a 14-yard catch.

"We're looking forward to having our home opener and know that it won't get any easier against another tough Lone Star Conference team in the Lions," Ferguson said. "Getting a game under our belts was good, as we were able to really evaluate where we're at and can work to improve on those areas this week."

Dayne Douglass and Tali Amosa led the defense with five tackles apiece, as Douglass had a half-sack and two tackles for loss. Amosa added five tackles for loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Dylan Davis, David Brazil and Elijah Earls all recorded a sack, while Ramsey and L.A. Dawson each had an interception.

The Lions went 10-3 last year, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs before falling to Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State (34-28). Texas A&M-Commerce went 6-1 away from home last year, as they opened the season with a 27-17 win at William Jewell.

This will be the first meeting between the teams.

Video and stats will be available for the game with live video found here and live stats found here. KWVT will also televise the game locally.

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