Every week the Lone Star Conference gives out Player of the Week awards for each sport. So far the Texas A&M Commerce Lions have had three football players that have received these honors.

Punter Kristov Martinez (Kicker), Richard Cooper (Running Back), Hector Dominguez (Punter), who has won the award twice, have all represented the Lions by performing at an exceptional level through the season in Division II football. This is a prime representation of how well the Lions have played this season and the talent they have at every position.

“It’s an honor more than anything,” Cooper said. “My offensive line is great and creates opportunities for me to be able to run the ball.”

Cooper had rushed for 754 yards on 113 attempts and have scored six touchdowns so far through the season. The week that Cooper won Offensive Player of The Week was against A&M Kingsville where he rushed for 224 yards on 19 carries with 2 touchdowns, the 11th most yards in Lion history.

Dominguez received the Special Team Player of The Week award also against A&M Kingsville where he punted the ball seven times including one punt that landed inside the 1-yard line forcing Kingsville to take on a 99-yard drive. So far through the season Dominguez has punted the ball 23 times with ten of those punts landing inside of the 20-yard line. None of those punts have been blocked. Dominguez would win Special Team Player of The Week just two weeks later against Eastern New Mexico where he had four punts for an average of 60.2 yards. He is the only punter in all four Divisions to average over 60 yards per punt with more than two punts in a game this season.

Martinez received the Special Teams Player of The Week against Delta State where he went 4-4 on PAT’s and 2-2 on field goal attempts from 35-yards and 38-yards out. Martinez has made 70% of his field goals so far through the season.

Although these players have received these awards, there are plenty of players who play just as an important role as the three players mentioned. The Lions have pieces all over the field and that’s primarily the reason why the Lions have a 6-1 overall record, and also the reason why the Lions are the current back to back Lone Star Conference champions.

“We work very hard day in and day out,” Cooper said. “We have the potential to do something really special this year.”