The Commerce Lions are now 4-0 after a hard-fought 38-36 victory over Texas A&M Kingsville Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. The Lions were able to block a potential game winning kick as time expired late in the fourth. Senior running back Richard Cooper carried the ball 19 times and posted a career high 224 yards along with two touchdowns. Darby Smith also added a touchdown of his own along with 152 receiving yards.

Cooper scored his first touchdown of the night off of a 34-yard run that gave the Lions a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, and midway through the second quarter, Kingsville quarterback Myles Carr threw a short touchdown pass giving Kingsville a 13-10 lead. Cooper then scored a 50-yard touchdown right before halftime to give the Lions the lead 17-10.

Gabriel Rodrigues scored a touchdown coming out of halftime that was set up by a 61-yard carry by Cooper giving the Lions a 24-16 lead. But again, Carr would throw a 34-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead down to 24-23. Entering the fourth quarter, Kingsville would score again off of 2-yard run to take a 30-24 lead.

Early in the fourth, Darby Smith caught a 52-yard touchdown pass giving the Lions a 31-30 lead. After a few scoreless possessions, Kingsville snapped the ball over their punter’s head and was recovered by Lions’ Danny Huckaby in the end zone to extend the lead to 38-30 with little over four minutes left to play in the game.

Kingsville started its next drive at the 1-yard line and would score an 89-yard touchdown from receiver Jordan Thomas, cutting the lead to 38-36. After a failed 2-point conversion, Kingsville would try an onside kick that the Lions recovered. The Lions tried to take a knee, but a botched snap led to a Kingsville recovery. It came down to a field goal in an attempt to give Kingsville the lead, but it would be blocked by Hatari Byrd which sealed a 38-36 win for the Lions.

Now the Lions focus their attention on Panhandle State who they will go play October 1 in Goodwell, Oklahoma. Game time is set for 1 p.m.