# 2018 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team

The 2018 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team represented Texas A&M University–Commerce in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by head coach Colby Carthel, who was in his sixth season at Texas A&M–Commerce. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference.
The Lions finished the regular season with a record of 9–2 and second place in the conference. The team made the NCAA Division II playoffs, losing in the regional semifinal to Tarleton State.

## Schedule

The schedule consisted of six home games and five away games in the regular season.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 30 | 7:00 p.m | Texas A&M–Kingsville | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (Chennault Cup) | ESPN3 | W 37–36 $^{2OT}$ | 7,141 |
| September 8 | 12:00 p.m. | at William Jewell* | No. 1 | Greene StadiumLiberty, MO | | W 27–17 | 650 |
| September 15 | 8:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico | No. 1 | Greyhound StadiumPortales, NM | | W 21–11 | 1,601 |
| September 22 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 22 CSU Pueblo* | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | | L 13–23 | 6,737 |
| September 29 | 6:00 p.m. | Lock Haven* | No. 9 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | | W 68–6 | 8,488 |
| October 7 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 4 Midwestern State | No. 9 | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | | W 20–19 | 8,122 |
| October 13 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 16 Tarleton State | No. 7 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (President's Cup) | | L 21–47 | 6,875 |
| October 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Western New Mexico | No. 18 | Ben Altamirano FieldSilver City, NM | | W 55–7 | 0 |
| October 27 | 4:00 p.m. | West Texas A&M | No. 18 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (East Texas vs. West Texas) | | W 41–16 | 9,168 |
| November 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at Texas–Permian Basin | No. 16 | Ratliff StadiumOdessa, TX | | W 20–17 | 3,958 |
| November 10 | 4:00 p.m. | Angelo State | No. 14 | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | | W 41–13 | 6,887 |
| November 17 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 5 Minnesota–Duluth* | No. 15 | Griggs Field at James S. Malosky StadiumDuluth, MN (Regional Quarterfinal) | | W 33–17 | 1,029 |
| November 24 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Tarleton State* | No. 15 | Memorial StadiumStephenville, TX (Regional semifinal) | | L 28–34 | 5,231 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from American Football Coaches Association Poll released prior to the game ||||||||
* ↑ Kickoff was at 7:00 p.m. the night before at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, TX. The game was suspended at halftime tied 10–10 due to inclement weather. The second half of the game resumed the following day at the neutral site of Apogee Stadium in Denton.

## Game summaries
### Texas A&M–Kingsville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| Javelinas | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 36 |
| No. 1 Lions | 0 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 37 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUK | TAMUC |
| First downs | 20 | 24 |
| Total yards | 414 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 94 | 94 |
| Passing yards | 320 | 302 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 35:05 | 24:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Koy Detmer, Jr. | 33/46, 320 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Rushing | Jeff Carr | 9 rushes, 33 yards |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Receiving | Ty Chisum | 5 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Preston Wheeler | 23/48, 302 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Ovie Urevbu | 14 rushes, 62 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Marquis Wimberly | 8 receptions, 99 yards, TD |

### At William Jewell

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Lions | 14 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUC | WJC |
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 346 | 249 |
| Rushing yards | 122 | 93 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 156 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:10 | 33:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Preston Wheeler | 25/31, 181 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Carandal Hale | 16 rushes, 81 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Chance Cooper | 8 receptions, 103 yards |
| William Jewell | Passing | Will Schneider | 19/33, 156 yards, TD |
| William Jewell | Rushing | Will Schneider | 20 rushes, 79 yards, TD |
| William Jewell | Receiving | Bulla Graft | 7 receptions, 69 yards, TD |

### At Eastern New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Lions | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Greyhounds | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUC | ENMU |
| First downs | 14 | 14 |
| Total yards | 289 | 215 |
| Rushing yards | 186 | 209 |
| Passing yards | 103 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 22:42 | 37:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Preston Wheeler | 11/30, 103 yards, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Carandal Hale | 14 rushes, 101 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Marquis Wimberly | 1 reception, 30 yards |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Wyatt Strand | 2/7, 6 yards, INT |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing | Paul Terry | 24 rushes, 88 yards, TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving | Russell Montoya | 1 reception, 4 yards |

### Colorado State–Pueblo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 ThunderWolves | 0 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 23 |
| No. 1 Lions | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Statistics
| Statistics | CSUP | TAMUC |
| First downs | 15 | 9 |
| Total yards | 299 | 179 |
| Rushing yards | 215 | 40 |
| Passing yards | 84 | 139 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 36:30 | 23:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State–Pueblo | Passing | Brandon Edwards | 11/28, 84 yards |
| Colorado State–Pueblo | Rushing | Marche Dennard | 17 rushes, 72 yards |
| Colorado State–Pueblo | Receiving | John Todd | 3 receptions, 29 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 7/15, 108 yards, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | E.J. Thompson | 15 rushes, 48 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ryan Stokes | 4 receptions, 60 yards |

### Lock Haven

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bald Eagles | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| No. 9 Lions | 14 | 24 | 16 | 14 | 68 |
Statistics
| Statistics | LHU | TAMUC |
| First downs | 12 | 26 |
| Total yards | 268 | 612 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 491 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:16 | 28:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Lock Haven | Passing | Cameron Tobias | 22/42, 205 yards, TD |
| Lock Haven | Rushing | Chantz Swartz | 9 rushes, 19 yards |
| Lock Haven | Receiving | Jalen Jackson | 9 receptions, 81 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 20/31, 373 yards, 4 TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Nate Davis | 4 rushes, 62 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Marquis Wimberly | 9 receptions, 195 yards, 2 TD |

### Vs. Midwestern State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 9 Lions | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| No. 4 Mustangs | 7 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 19 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUC | MSU |
| First downs | 24 | 27 |
| Total yards | 420 | 426 |
| Rushing yards | 190 | 192 |
| Passing yards | 230 | 234 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:32 | 30:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 17/28, 230 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | E.J. Thompson | 26 rushes, 150 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ryan Stokes | 7 receptions, 93 yards, TD |
| Midwestern State | Passing | Layton Rabb | 22/47, 234 yards, INT |
| Midwestern State | Rushing | Vincent Johnson | 17 rushes, 108 yards, TD |
| Midwestern State | Receiving | Juwan Johnson | 6 receptions, 106 yards |

### Tarleton State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Texans | 10 | 14 | 3 | 20 | 47 |
| No. 7 Lions | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TSU | TAMUC |
| First downs | 28 | 17 |
| Total yards | 485 | 363 |
| Rushing yards | 282 | 131 |
| Passing yards | 203 | 232 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:20 | 30:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tarleton State | Passing | Ben Holmes | 16/31, 203 yards, 3 TD |
| Tarleton State | Rushing | Xavier Turner | 26 rushes, 166 yards, 2 TD |
| Tarleton State | Receiving | Savon Rollison | 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 18/31, 232 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Carandal Hale | 13 rushes, 61 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ryan Stokes | 3 receptions, 73 yards |

### At Western New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 18 Lions | 0 | 34 | 14 | 7 | 55 |
| Mustangs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUC | WNMU |
| First downs | 20 | 14 |
| Total yards | 349 | 263 |
| Rushing yards | 143 | 157 |
| Passing yards | 206 | 106 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 26:54 | 33:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 12/21, 136 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Nate Davis | 14 rushes, 55 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Marquis Wimberly | 6 receptions, 97 yards, 2 TD |
| Western New Mexico | Passing | Gabriel Tomaszewski | 6/15, 56 yards, 2 INT |
| Western New Mexico | Rushing | Arkemus Baskerville | 10 rushes, 74 yards |
| Western New Mexico | Receiving | Kourde Roberts | 3 receptions, 41 yards |

### West Texas A&M

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| No. 18 Lions | 7 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 41 |
| Statistics | WT | TAMUC |
| First downs | 12 | 16 |
| Total yards | 286 | 375 |
| Rushing yards | 22 | 244 |
| Passing yards | 264 | 131 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:46 | 32:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 21/32, 264 yards, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Marshawn Brown | 5 rushes, 29 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Payton Gonzales | 4 receptions, 79 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 12/15, 131 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Ovie Urevbu | 20 rushes, 118 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ryan Stokes | 3 receptions, 85 yards |

### At Texas–Permian Basin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Lions | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Falcons | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUC | UTPB |
| First downs | 18 | 10 |
| Total yards | 400 | 137 |
| Rushing yards | 195 | -69 |
| Passing yards | 205 | 206 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:56 | 25:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 19/29, 205 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Ovie Urevbu | 27 rushes, 195 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Kelan Smith | 8 receptions, 93 yards |
| Texas–Permian Basin | Passing | Taylor Null | 18/34, 179 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas–Permian Basin | Rushing | Leroy Giles | 4 rushes, 4 yards |
| Texas–Permian Basin | Receiving | Kristian Brown | 4 receptions, 86 yards, TD |

### Angelo State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 14 Lions | 14 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 41 |
Statistics
| Statistics | ASU | TAMUC |
| First downs | 8 | 21 |
| Total yards | 243 | 451 |
| Rushing yards | 80 | 230 |
| Passing yards | 163 | 221 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 25:40 | 34:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Angelo State | Passing | Payne Sullins | 14/37, 163 yards, INT |
| Angelo State | Rushing | Tony Jones | 7 receptions, 42 yards |
| Angelo State | Receiving | Lawson Ayo | 5 receptions, 83 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 16/28, 221 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Ovie Urevbu | 30 rushes, 184 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Vincent Hobbs | 3 receptions, 63 yards, TD |

### At Minnesota–Dululth (Regional Quarterfinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 15 Lions | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 33 |
| No. 5 Bulldogs | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUC | UMD |
| First downs | 13 | 13 |
| Total yards | 276 | 188 |
| Rushing yards | 63 | 42 |
| Passing yards | 213 | 146 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:43 | 31:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 14/31, 213 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Ovie Urevbu | 27 rushes, 65 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ryan Stokes | 5 receptions, 100 yards |
| Minnesota–Duluth | Passing | Ben Everhart | 10/20, 79 yards, INT |
| Minnesota–Duluth | Rushing | Mike Rybarczyk | 12 rushes, 21 yards |
| Minnesota–Duluth | Receiving | Obi Ibeneme | 3 receptions, 48 yards |

### At Tarleton State (Regional semifinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 15 Lions | 3 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 28 |
| No. 6 Texans | 0 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
Statistics
| Statistics | TAMUC | TSU |
| First downs | 21 | 19 |
| Total yards | 386 | 556 |
| Rushing yards | -2 | 350 |
| Passing yards | 388 | 206 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 30:30 | 29:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 25/60, 388 yards, TD, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Ovie Urevbu | 9 rushes, 15 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Marquis Wimberly | 7 receptions, 139 yards |
| Tarleton State | Passing | Ben Holmes | 10/21, 206 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Tarleton State | Rushing | Daniel McCants | 19 rushes, 181 yards, 2 TD |
| Tarleton State | Receiving | DeShun Qualls | 3 receptions, 91 yards, TD |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| AFCA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 9 |