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TAKING DOWN — Daimon LaFrance (35) tackles the Houston Christian quarterback during Saturday's game. LaFrance tallied two tackles in the Lions' 17-13 loss to the Huskies. Submitted Photo
HOUSTON — An interception in the endzone stalled the Texas A&M University- Commerce football team's fourth-quarter rally in a 17-13 loss on Saturday afternoon against Houston Christian at Husky Stadium.
With 13 seconds left in the third quarter, Jaden Rios (Frisco – Lone Star) picked off a pass at the Lion 14-yard line and returned it back for an 86-yard interception return touchdown. The ensuing extra point kick was no good and the Lions entered the fourth quarter, trailing 17-13.
Both teams exchanged punts in the fourth quarter, until the Lions received the ball at their 24-yard line with 6:27 left in the game. On that drive, A&M-Commerce converted three downs, each being 10 yards or longer to keep the drive alive.
The Lions got to the HCU 25-yard line and after two incompletions, Isaiah Cash picked off the pass from Josh Magana (Dinuba, Calif.) in the end zone with 1:57 left in the game.
The Huskies picked up two first downs to force the Lions to burn all three timeouts and then kneeled it out for their first ever win over the Lions, who were 2-0 against HCU coming into this season.
The Lions drop to 1-7 overall and 1-3 in Southland Conference play. The seven losses in a season are the most since 2012. The Huskies are 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference action.
The game started with both teams punting on their first drive. On the next Lion drive, A&M-Commerce went into HCU territory and Emmanuel Adagbon (Mesquite Horn) attempted a 49-yard field goal kick into the strong wind, which was short and wide right.
After another punt by the Huskies, the next Lions' drive was stalled at their own 35-yard line on an interception. HCU capitalized on the turnover to take the lead on a flea-flicker with AJ Wilson, a wide receiver, throwing a 12-yard touchdown to Karl Reynolds on the first play of the second quarter.
The Huskies doubled their lead at the 5:45 mark of the second quarter as Colby Suits connected on a 37-yard touchdown pass to Deuce McMillan.
The Lions answered on the next drive with a 63yard drive. Jordon Hamilton (Frisco) made his first collegiate start as a true freshman and rushed in a one-yard touchdown with 1:17 left in the second quarter.
Receiving the ball at their own 25-yard line, the Huskies marched down to the Lion 33-yard line and Dillon Fedor attempted a 50-yard kick, also into the wind. Fedor's low-hanging kick went through the uprights and gave HCU a 17-7 lead at the half.
Outside of Rios' interception returned for touchdown in the third quarter, all other 24 points were scored in the second quarter.
Magana went 20 for 39 for the Lions at quarterback, throwing for 174 yards and two interceptions. Suits went 21 for 32 on the other side with one touchdown, one interception, and totaled 242 yards.
Hamilton rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown during his first collegiate start, totaling 13 carries. Keith Miller (The Colony) had six catches for 39 yards, while Shamenski Rucker (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had four catches for 36 yards.
Mitchell McGarry (Gregory-Portland) averaged 37.5 yards in his six punts, with four landing inside the 20-yard line.
Kendall Paul (Dallas – Bishop Dunne) led the team with six tackles, while Daryion Taylor (Humble – Atascocita), who also had a tackle for loss, Christian Shaw (Mansfield – Lake Ridge), and Darryle Ware (Charleston, S.C.) had five tackles each. Ware also had 1.5 tackles for loss.
HCU had the 316-312 edge in total yards, but the Lion offense had 71 plays, compared to 61 for the Huskies. The Lions also had the 31:56 to 28:04 advantage in time of possession.
The Lions remain on the road next Saturday, facing Lamar in Beaumont at 3 p.m.