COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Prairie View defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 30-19 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Attendance was 2,685. The Panthers improved to 4-5, while the Lions fell to 2-6. Prairie View built its win with a productive first half and a strong third quarter, then held off Texas A&M-Commerce’s late passing attack. The Panthers finished with enough balance on offense and enough timely stops on defense to leave Commerce with the victory. Prairie View entered the game having won its previous contest against Alcorn State, while Texas A&M-Commerce came in after a loss at Houston Christian.

Texas A&M-Commerce quarterback Reese Mooney produced the game’s most prolific passing line, completing 31 of 52 attempts for 333 yards and two touchdowns. Micah Simpson was his top target with 10 receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown. Tanner Harrison added six catches for 68 yards, Kaden Taylor had five for 45, and Andrez Lewis finished with three receptions for 41 yards and a score. Rayshawn Glover had two catches for 23 yards, Tyler Stewart had two for 22 and Austin Iglesias had one for 18. Quay Middlebrooks rushed 10 times for 36 yards, caught one pass for 8 yards and returned four kickoffs for 93 yards. EJ Oakmon ran seven times for 27 yards and caught one pass for 18 yards, while Major McBride added 16 rushing yards on four carries. The Lions’ passing attack moved the ball consistently, but Commerce could not turn all of that production into enough points.

Prairie View’s top star was Tevin Carter, who completed 19 of 25 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns and added 25 rushing yards on eight carries. Rodny Ojo caught four passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Chaney Fitzgerald added two receptions for 31 yards, Toric Goins Jr. had a 35-yard catch, and Kheagian Heckaman, Travon Jones and Ethan John each contributed a reception. Heckaman finished with 17 yards, Jones had 14 and John had 7. Ethan Eddins made a 45-yard field goal and handled the extra-point duties. Marley Minerds punted three times for 105 yards, helping the Panthers manage field position. Carter’s efficiency through the air complemented a rushing attack that produced a key long score.

The Panthers defense spread its production across the lineup. Rondell Carter, Tyler Morehead and Malachi Williams each made six tackles. Jace Ward, Nahamani Harris and Eric Zachery added five tackles apiece. Immanuel Hawkins recorded four tackles and a sack, while Bruce Uperesa had one tackle and two quarterback hits. Prairie View’s defensive pressure helped disrupt the Lions at key moments, and the Panthers limited Texas A&M-Commerce enough to protect their lead down the stretch. The Panthers also got a lift from their special teams, with Minerds averaging 35 yards per punt.

Orion Kupu led Texas A&M-Commerce with 12 tackles and a sack. Carmaro Mayo, Colin Douglas and Luke Williams each made six tackles. Tramar Gilbert added five stops, Roman Kupu and Zachary Weaver had four apiece, and Dakari Harris, X’Avion Brice and Jamari Mosley each finished with three. Anthony Gray recorded a sack. David Spruiells, Sonny Vitale and Caleb Nuhi-Yandall each made two tackles, while Elias O’Keefe, Cameron Ross, Adam Dweh and Jai Trawick each had one. Ben Mehan punted three times for 132 yards for the Lions. Ozlo Rigby handled kicking duties and made field goals of 27 and 26 yards, though he missed a 40-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.

Texas A&M-Commerce struck first on Rigby’s 27-yard field goal and added a 26-yarder later in the opening quarter. Prairie View answered with C. Bingmon’s 2-yard touchdown run and took the lead on Carter’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Ojo before halftime. Eddins connected on a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Carter found Ojo again for a 6-yard score early in the fourth. The Lions rallied behind Mooney, who threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Simpson and a 24-yard scoring strike to Lewis. Bingmon then broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run to help Prairie View seal the result. Rigby’s missed 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter stalled one Commerce drive, and the Panthers’ defense held on late. Prairie View will next host Alabama A&M, while Texas A&M-Commerce will next host Southeastern Louisiana.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Prairie View 51, Texas A&M-Commerce 32. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Prairie View with a 53.6 percent probability to win.