Mustangs Head to Commerce to Face No. 11 Lions

COMMERCE, Texas – Coming off of their first win of the season, the Western New Mexico University football team will hit the road this Saturday when they will play at No. 11 Texas A&M-Commerce with kickoff set for 4 p.m. Central Time.

The WNMU (1-5, 1-3 LSC) defense was solid throughout the game against Tarleton State, as the Mustangs recorded six sacks and limited the Texans to just three points through the first three quarters. Redshirt senior Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) had a big game with 14 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. For his efforts, he was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week, while junior Collin Grady (Glendora, CA/Glendora) took home both LSC Special Teams Player of the Week and D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 42 yards on six punts, with four inside the 20 and two that traveled over 50 yards. He also went 5-5 on extra points and connected on a 34-yard field goal.
Redshirt senior Javia Hall (Dallas, TX/Skyline) has completed 170-299 for 2,164 yards and 17 touchdowns. He continues to lead the nation in passing yards and passing yards per game (360.7), while coming in third in both completions per game (28.33) and total offense per game (367.2). He ranks in the top-10 in two other categories including sixth in passing touchdowns and seventh in points responsible for (114).

Despite being out the past two weeks, redshirt senior receiver D'Angelo Bowie (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) continues to lead the team with 43 receptions for 622 yards and six touchdowns. He is 15^th nationally and first in the conference in receiving yards and 17^th nationally and first in the conference in receiving touchdowns. Freshman Elijah Jones (Gilbert, AZ/Campo Verde) has moved into second on the team in both receptions (24) and receiving yards (395), to go along with three touchdowns. Senior Evan Beebe (Chula Vista, CA/Mater Dei Catholic) has also missed the past two games, but is third on the team in both receptions (22) and receiving yards (314), while hauling in two for scores. Jones is fourth in the conference in both receiving yards and receiving yards per game (65.8). Freshman Sean North (Corona, CA/Santiago) is second on the team with five touchdown receptions, which ranks him 37^th nationally and second in the conference. His kickoff returns have also begun to pile up as he has 14 returns for 414 yards, with his long last week of 83 yards. North ranks 16^th nationally and second in the conference in kickoff return yards per game (29.6).

The rushing attack has taken shape over the past few weeks as senior Justin Harris (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) has now rushed for 400 yards on 84 carries and three touchdowns. Sophomore DeAndre Williams (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet) adds 35 carries for 103 yards, while Hall has 44 yards and a touchdown on 43 attempts. Harris is fifth in the conference in rushing yards, sixth in rushing yards per game (65.8) and seventh in rushing touchdowns.

Barry leads the defense with 66 tackles, 21 solo, along with eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries. He is 60^th nationally and fourth in the conference in tackles for loss per game (1.3) and 15^th nationally and third in the conference in tackles per game (10.7). Senior Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) is second on the team with 46 tackles and a team-high 26 solo stops which ranks him seventh in the conference. Junior Joe Tito (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron-Memorial) is tied with Barry for the sacks lead at 2.5, while senior Kyle Foote (Hayward, CA/Hayward), redshirt junior Isaiah Edwards (Jamul, CA/Valhalla) and junior AJ Smith (San Diego, CA/Point Loma) all have an interception.

Grady has been key this season in special teams as he is averaging 39.50 on punts this year, with a long of 72 yards, eight inside the 20 and five that have traveled over 50 yards. He has also made a pair of field goals this year with his long of 34 coming last week.

As a team, WNMU ranks in the top-five in the LSC in several categories including fourth in third down conversion percentage (37.5), second and 22^nd nationally in third down conversion defense (30.4), fifth in fourth down conversion percentage (44.0), fifth in completion percentage (56.6), second and 25^th nationally in defensive touchdowns (2), first and 13^th nationally in first downs (144), third and 46^th nationally in kickoff return defense (19.07), second and 27^th nationally in kickoff return average (23.58), fourth and 27^th nationally in net punting (36.95), first in the nation in passing offense per game (361.7), fourth in passing yards allowed (215.7), fifth in passing yards per completion (12.69), second and 32^nd nationally in punt return defense (4.67), fifth in rushing defense (147.8), fifth in sacks allowed (2.33), fifth in scoring offense per game (28.2), fourth in tackles for loss allowed (7.50), fourth in team passing efficiency (130.03), third in time of possession (31:31) and third in total offense per game (446.7).

WNMU will play their second nationally-ranked team in the past three weeks when they matchup with the Lions, who are currently 11^th nationally in the latest AFCA Coaches' Poll. They are 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference after falling this past weekend at Midwestern State (47-42). Prior to that game they won a pair of LSC games over Eastern New Mexico (51-22) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (38-7).

Quarterback Luis Perez has completed 130-177 for 1,528 yards and 17 touchdowns. He spreads the ball around with seven players catching at least 11 passes. Buck Wilson has a team-high 23 receptions for 251 yards and five touchdowns, while Vincent Hobbs leads in receiving yards hauling in 19 passes for 268 yards and a score. D'Arthur Cowan and Darrion Landry each have four TD catches this year.

Carandal Hale leads the ground attack picking up 212 yards on 41 carries and three touchdowns. E.J. Thompson is second with 26 carries for 124 yards and two scores. On defense, Brucks Saathoff has 30 tackles, with 15 coming solo, along with two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries. Eleven players have a share of a sack this season, with Michael Onuoha, Peyton Searcy and Saathoff leading the team with 1.5 sacks apiece. They have six interceptions this year led by Yusef Sterling-Lowe's two.

Last year's game, WNMU was tied with the Lions at 14 late in the second quarter before Texas A&M-Commerce took a 21-14 lead into halftime. The Mustangs made a late run in the third quarter getting back to within seven at 31-24 before a final touchdown sealed the win for the Lions at 38-24.

Live video and stats will be available for the game.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Dominic Barry: LB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior

#8 Evan Beebe: WR; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#1 D'Angelo Bowie: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

#23 Ian Davis: S; 6' 3"; Senior

#11 Isaiah Edwards: DB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#26 Kyle Foote: DB; 6' 0"; Senior

#20 Collin Grady: DB; 5' 10"; Junior

#25 Justin Harris: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#82 Elijah Jones: WR/DB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#7 AJ Smith: DB; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#9 Dominic Barry
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior
: LB

#8 Evan Beebe
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#1 D'Angelo Bowie
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#23 Ian Davis
: 6' 3"; Senior
: S

#11 Isaiah Edwards
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: DB

#26 Kyle Foote
: 6' 0"; Senior
: DB

#20 Collin Grady
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DB

#25 Justin Harris
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: RB

#82 Elijah Jones
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR/DB

#7 AJ Smith
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DB