# 2014 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team

The 2014 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team represented Texas A&M University–Commerce in the 2014 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by head coach Colby Carthel, who was in his second season at Texas A&M–Commerce. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). With a 9–3 record, the Lions were outright Lone Star champions for the first time since 1990. They were selected to participate in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, where they defeated East Central in their first postseason win since the 1991 NCAA Division II playoffs.

## Preseason
### LSC media poll

The LSC preseason prediction poll was released in late July. The Lions were predicted to finish sixth in the conference.
LSC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Tarleton State | 139 (8) |
| 2 | West Texas A&M | 127 (4) |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico | 115 (5) |
| 4 | Midwestern State | 111 (2) |
| 5 | Angelo State | 99 (1) |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 95 (1) |
| 7 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 49 |
| 8 | McMurry | 21 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | East Texas Baptist* | | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | W 98–20 | 6,327 |
| September 13 | 6:00 p.m. | Stephen F. Austin* | | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | L 17–38 | 7,821 |
| September 20 | 10:00 a.m. | vs. Texas A&M–Kingsville | | AT&T StadiumArlington, TX (Chennault Cup) | W 55–20 | 13,024 |
| September 27 | 4:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico | | Greyhound StadiumPortales, NM | W 48–32 | 2,347 |
| October 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Tarleton State | | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (President's Cup) | W 53–25 | 6,103 |
| October 11 | 7:00 p.m. | at Angelo State | | LeGrand Sports ComplexSan Angelo, TX | W 41–40 | 4,863 |
| October 18 | 7:00 p.m. | West Texas A&M | No. 23 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (East Texas vs. West Texas) | W 48–21 | 7,048 |
| October 25 | 7:00 p.m. | at Midwestern State | No. 22 | Memorial StadiumWichita Falls, TX | L 37–40 $^{OT}$ | 8,521 |
| November 1 | 4:00 p.m. | McMurry | | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | W 91–13 | 9,496 |
| November 8 | 4:00 p.m. | Tarleton State* | | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (LSC Playoffs) | W 56–49 | 4,556 |
| November 15 | 4:00 p.m. | Angelo State* | No. 24 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (LSC Playoffs) | L 33–35 | 3,227 |
| December 6 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. East Central* | No. 24 | Bulldawg StadiumCopperas Cove, TX (C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl) | W 72–21 | 17,21 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### West Texas A&M

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 23 Lions | 9 | 14 | 25 | 0 | 48 |
| Statistics | WTAMU | TAMUC |
| First downs | 24 | 21 |
| Total yards | 398 | 495 |
| Rushing yards | 245 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 153 | 382 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:23 | 31:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 17/38, 153 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 28 rushes, 160 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Anthony Johnson | 5 receptions, 58 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Tyrik Rollison | 24/33, 355 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Richard Cooper | 16 rushes, 81 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ricky Collins | 9 receptions, 153 yards, 2 TD |

### McMurry

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| War Hawks | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Lions | 21 | 28 | 21 | 21 | 91 |
| Statistics | MCM | TAMUC |
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Total yards | 318 | 582 |
| Rushing yards | 18 | 263 |
| Passing yards | 300 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 38:04 | 21:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| McMurry | Passing | Cy Ward | 10/17, 116 yards, 2 INT |
| McMurry | Rushing | Chris Simpson Jr. | 11 rushes, 41 yards |
| McMurry | Receiving | Jeret Smith | 6 receptions, 195 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Tyrik Rollison | 7/10, 203 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Joe Bergeron | 9 rushes, 86 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Vernon Johnson | 3 receptions, 118 yards, TD |

## Postseason awards
### All-Americans

* Ricky Collins, First Team Receiver
* Vernon Johnson, First Team Receiver
* Saul Martinez, Second Team Placekicer
* Toni Pulu, Third Team Defensive Line

### LSC Superlatives

* Defensive Player of the Year: Toni Pulu
* Receiver of The Year: Vernon Johnson

### LSC First Team

* Ricky Collins, Wide Receiver
* Ron Fields, Cornerback
* Vernon Johnson, Wide Receiver
* Saul Martinez, Kicker
* Toni Pulu, Defensive End
* Charlie Tuaau, Defensive Tackle

### LSC Second Team

* Steven Baker, Safety
* Joe Bergeron, Running Back
* Elwood Clement, Offensive Tackle
* Izzy Eziakor, Safety
* Tyrik Rollison, Quarterback
* Davarus Shores, Linebacker
* Seth Smith, Wide Receiver
* Charles Woods, Linebacker

### LSC Honorable Mention

* Tyree Barton, Linebacker
* Michael Boyefio, Center
* Jordan DeCorte, Offensive Guard
* Ashton Dorsey, Defensive End
* Rumzee Fakhouri, Offensive Tackle
* Shawn Hooks, Return Specialist
* Traven Johnson, Cornerback
* Taylor Peasha, Tight End
* Cole Pitts, Linebacker
* Cameron Rogers, Deep Snapper
* Shane Thompson, Offensive Guard
* Chase Thrasher, Punter