Ty Currie
Back Light Productions
34
Winner Tex. A&M-Commerce TAMUC 2-0
27
Western Ore. WOU 0-2
Winner
Tex. A&M-Commerce TAMUC
2-0
34
Final
27
Western Ore. WOU
0-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TAMUC Tex. A&M-Commerce 3 7 10 14 34
WOU Western Ore. 0 13 0 14 27

Game Recap: Football | | Brian Kortz

Football Pushes #12 Lions to the Limit in Exciting Home Opener

MONMOUTH, Ore. -- Behind a near capacity crowd, the game went right down to the wire. After #12 Texas A&M-Commerce took a late lead, the Western Oregon University football team nearly answered back before coming up just short as the Lions escaped with the 34-27 win Saturday at McArthur Field.

After Texas A&M-Commerce (2-0) jumped out to a 10-0 lead over the first 16 minutes of the game, Western Oregon University (0-2) began to work their way back into the game.

"Our kids really battled our there against a very talented team," Head Coach Arne Ferguson said. "We did some really good things and when you go against the No. 12 team in the nation and to have it come down to a couple of plays, we were right there."

Near the midway point of the second quarter, the Wolves began to march on their first scoring drive of the day. It didn't take long to set the offense up in a good spot when Ty Currie hit a streaking Tyler Reid wide open in the middle of the field for a 51-yard strike down to the four of the Lions. Following three plays that netted just one yard, fourth-and-goal from the three arrived and Currie called his own number getting loose for the three-yard touchdown run to trim the deficit to four at 10-6 at the 9:07 mark of the first half. The extra point try failed leaving it a four-point deficit.

"Our offense was able to pick up a couple of crucial fourth downs to prolong drives," Ferguson said. "The biggest thing is right at the end of the game we had the ball in our hands to try and tie or win the game."

The defense forced a quick three-and-out and following a short punt, WOU took over out near midfield. Currie found Luis Vicino, Jr. and Damon Hickok for a total of 14 yards on a pair of completions outside of a six-yard run by Currie and a pass interference penalty had the ball at the Lions 16. Faced with a fourth-and-10 at the A&M-Commerce 16, Currie found Jarren Ford down to the one-yard line to set up a first-and-goal. On the next snap, Omari Land took the carry one-yard into the end zone to give the Wolves a 13-10 lead with 2:27 to go before the half.

"We played hard as a TEAM. We had each other's back and it allowed us to be there at the end, now we just have to finish!" Currie said. "We will continue to work hard throughout the week and will be ready for Azusa Pacific when next Saturday comes around!"

The WOU defense again kept the Lions from moving very far on their next possession and the game went into halftime with WOU holding the 13-10 lead.

"The goal is always to win, and it's unfortunate that we fell just short of that goal, but the way my brothers battled from top to bottom, I couldn't be more proud of each and every one of the players on this team," Curtis Anderson said. "We haven't played our best football yet, but games like this only work to bring a group like ours closer together and better. On to Azusa Pacific and on to GNAC play."

Texas A&M-Commerce took the first possession of the second half and went 74 yards on 12 plays and chewed up over seven minutes off the clock before settling for a 20-yard field goal from Jake Viquez to tie the game at 13.

"We were a few plays away from winning," Derek Parnell said. "I'm proud of our guys for fighting. We will come back better from this."

After holding the Wolves, the Lions embarked on another lengthy drive, this time a 10 play, 79-yard drive that took over four minutes and ended with an unbelievable touchdown catch on third-and-13 by Chance Cooper on a pass from Miklo Smalls to move the Lions to a 20-13 lead late in the third quarter.

The Wolves didn't go away, as WOU fought right back starting a lengthy drive late in the third quarter that carried over into the fourth quarter. Near midfield, the Wolves again went for it on fourth down and Currie found Thomas Wright for the five-yard quick out to move the chains. Faced with another fourth down, this time at the Lions 22 for a fourth-and-two, Currie's pass was incomplete, but on the play pass interference was called moving the ball to the Lions seven for first-and-goal.

After an incompletion and a Currie run down to the one, Nico Jackson took the carry up the middle for a one-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20 early in the fourth quarter.

It was another quick defensive stop by the Wolves to get the ball right back to the offense as they forced a three-and-out, only allowing five yards. Starting from their 26, it only took one play for WOU to jump in front when Currie hit Wright streaking down the far sideline and he was able to avoid one defender and go 74 yards for the score and a 27-20 WOU lead.

Texas A&M-Commerce nearly answered in the same fashion when a big pass play set them up at the one and two plays later, a rushing score for E.J. Thompson tied the game at 27.

The Lions took advantage of an interception on the next WOU possession that had them at the WOU 35. Five plays later, Texas A&M-Commerce regained the lead at 34-27 with 5:54 to play in the game.

WOU refused to go away as the Wolves looked to answer right back. After a completion to Marquis Sampson had the ball out near midfield, Land took a pair of carries down to the Lions 28. A pass to Kaleo Garrigan for 14 yards moved the Wolves into the red zone with still over a minute to play.

Faced with a fourth-and-12 at the Lions 16 with under a minute to play, Currie tried to hit Ford in the back of the end zone, but his pass just missed turning the ball over on downs.

The Lions then took a knee on the next snap to run out the remainder of the clock.

Texas A&M-Commerce held a 22-13 advantage on first downs and 369-301 edge on total yards. Passing yardage was close with the Lions holding a slight 235-226 edge while time of possession heavily favored Texas A&M-Commerce at 35:22-24:38. 

Currie completed 16-32 for 226 yards along with a touchdown. Wright caught five passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Reid added one catch for 51 yards. Nine different receivers caught a pass for the Wolves with four catching at least two balls. 

Tyler Wharf led the defense with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops. Nate Proctor, Jr., had eight tackles, including two for loss. Curtis Anderson had seven tackles, with four solo. Derek Parnell was tough in the secondary with four passes broken up along with six solo tackles.
Blayne Burnett and Tyrell Cummings each had a sack.

Smalls completed 23-31 for 235 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lions. Ryan Stokes caught four passes for 60 yards and Jeremiah Bridges added four for 55 yards. E.J. Thompson rushed 17 times for 81 yards and had three touchdowns.

On defense, Jalon Edwards-Cooper and Neema Behbahani each had five tackles. The WOU offense line kept Currie protected all game allowing just one sack and just a few quarterback hurries.

WOU will return to action this coming Saturday when they will open GNAC play at Azusa Pacific with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. in Azusa, Calif.
 
 
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