Combined Blog Post from Commerce Game

We decided to delete the individual posts that we did throughout Saturday's football game with Texas A&M-Commerce.

However, below is each individual post in descending order:

The gap is not closing

Is there any doubt that the gap between the top teams in the LSC North and the LSC South isn't closing, but getting larger?

Today's game at Shotwell Stadium featured the two teams picked to win their respective division titles in ACU (LSC South) and Commerce (LSC North). It was never a contest.

The Lions had played pretty well on defense in their first two games, but they faced an entirely different animal in the Wildcat offense. ACU could have scored almost 60 if not for two Billy Malone interceptions in the end zone.

In its first two games, the Wildcats have posted 516 yards (vs. NW Missouri State) and 560 yards (with 55 seconds left in the game), an average of 538 yards per game. The offense purred along today to the tune of 45 points with Bernard Scott topping the 100-yard mark both rushing and receiving.

Next up for the Wildcats: next Saturday night in Durant, Okla., against the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Everybody's in today

Lots of faces have gotten on the field for the Wildcats today, including Abilene native Lane Miller, former Graham standout Chance McCoy, all of the backups on the offensive line and redshirt freshman Austin Kessler at wide receiver.

Ryan Boles was in on a kickoff and Alan Jay Copeland from Sweetwater was in on a couple of offensive plays. When it's all said and done, almost every Wildcat that suited up today will have played.

Lions on the move again ...

Texas A&M-Commerce backup quarterback Trent Miller has the Lions on the move again ... and he just threw a touchdown pass to Willie Thornton from 11 yards out to cut the Wildcat lead to 45-14 with 5:51 left in the game. Miller has completed 10 of 13 passes for 88 yards and one touchdown in the second half. Nice outing by the backup, who came into the game with his team trailing 35-0 at the half.

Terry Mayo was hammered by Bryson Lewis on a sack near the end of the first half (the play resulted in a return touchdown for Aston Whiteside), and he never played in the second half.

Considering he was 7 for 19 for 78 yards and one interception, perhaps the Lions should re-think their quarterback depth chart.

Cooper High School native in at quarterback

It appears Billy Malone's day is done with 390 yards through the air. He finished 24-39 for 390 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Zach Stewart, the former Cooper Cougar made his Wildcat debut late in the third quarter and completed his first collegiate pass to Taber Minner with 1:01 remaining.

ACU 42 Commerce 7 0:15 in the third quarter


Another record for Malone

Billy Malone just hooked up with Bernard Scott on a 26 yard pass in the flat. That placed Malone over 300 yards for the day and gave him 15 for his career. That helped him pass former ACU quarterback Jim Lindsey (1968-70) for the most career games with at least 300 yards through the air.

Malone has only passed for 400 yards one other time in his career (Nov. 4, 2006 vs. Kingsville, 404).

Backup quarterback ends ACU's shutout

Bernard Scott scored again to open the second half for ACU and the Wildcats went up 42-0. With several substitutions on ACU's defensive end, the Lions marched 57 yards for their first touchdown of the game scored by backup quarterback Trent Miller who scored on a zone read, faking a handoff and running it in untouched from the 5-yard line.

At 42-7 with 7:05 left in the third quarter, the Wildcats could be on pace to break last year's largest margin of victory. ACU defeated Northeastern 58-7 last season at home.


Halftime Stat notes

Once again, Billy Malone will need just one touchdown pass to hurdle Rex Lamberti for the ACU and LSC all-time lead for career touchdown passes after he threw his 84th career touchdown strike to Chris Morris in the second quarter. Malone may play only a couple of series in the second half if the Wildcats continue their dominance.

Bernard Scott had never had a 100-yard receiving game in his career, however, in the first half he caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown whiile gaining 85 yards with a score on the ground.

Malone had 290 yards in the air with two touchdowns and one interception when a deflected pass was intercepted in the end zone.

ACU had 376 yards of offense compared to the Lions' 106.


Defense trying to keep up with offense

Bryson Lewis leveled Commerce's Terry Mayo from behind forcing another fumble in which Aston Whiteside picked up and ran in from 29-yards out. Since the score is 35-0 in favor of ACU, maybe we should keep the ACU offense and defensive score. So right now, it's ACU Offense 21 ACU Defense 14.

By the way, there were only 12 seconds on the clock when Mayo fumbled; a simple kneel down or run play could've left the Lions down just 28-0 at half, however, Commerce will have to settle for a 35-point deficit in the locker room.


Commerce broke double digits

Commerce is on a decent drive with 4:13 left on ACU's 33-yard line. The Lions just broke 100-yards of total offense for the day, and the Wildcats have 317 to this point. The home stands are basically full with the exception of the section to the north of the Big Purple band.

Brian Haywood just stuffed Maurice DuPont on a fourth-dwon and one from the Wildcat 28-yard line ending the threat of the Lions' first score...

28-0

I jinxed the offense in a good way. After three drives with empty handed results, Malone found Chris Morris who broke two tackles after catching the ball at the 12-yard line and scampered in for ACU's fourth touchdown of the day.

For Malone, it was his 84th career touchdown pass tying him with former ACU Wildcat quarterback Rex Lamberti for the school's all-time career lead in touchdown passes. More importantly, Lamberti was the Lone Star Conference career record holder, so all Malone has to do is throw one more to hlod both the school and LSC record for career touchdown passes.

at a stand still

After a quick start, ACU's luck going into the now 25 MPH in to the N wind, it's still 21-0. ACU's had two punts and a missed field goal. Luckily the defense hasn't alllowed any productivity from Commerce's offense ...

Pouring it on, Wildcats go up 21-0

Tony Metoyer forced a fumble and Mike Kearn scooped and scored from 35-yards out to help the Wildcats extend its first quarter lead to 21 points over nationally-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce.

ACU 21 Commerce 0 3:53 left in the first quarter

Great Scott! Wildcats up 14-0

Bernard Scott scored on a 45-yard run after a 3-and-out by TAMC's offense. 3-play 54 yard drive, 1:27 off the clock. ACU 14 Commerce 0 8:55 remaining in the first. Scott already has 94 yards of all-purpose offense. It began to rain shortly, however, the sun is peaking out of the clouds right now as Comerce takes the field on offense.

Four Minutes til Kickoff

It's hot in the press box but pleasant on the field ... NW wind around 15 MPH, 82 degrees and overcast ... the band just got through playing Grandioso, the fight song, the school song and the national anthem ... Captains are going for the coin toss at midfield. The home stands are about 60 percent full while Commerce has maybe 50 fans on the visitor's side ... ACU wins the toss and will defer to the second half. Commerce will receive and ACU will defend the north end of the field ... ACU in purple jerseys, black pants, purple helmets ... The Wildcats' coaching staff is wearing white polos, khaki pants and tennis shoes ... Commerce looks much like the old Los Angeles Rams on the road with white jerseys, navy numerals, gold pants, however, they're featuring a new helmet with Commerce's new Lions logo ... more later after the starting lineups

DON'T FORGET TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO GRANT, CHUCK & BRANDON STOVER at acusports@gmail.com!