COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Texas A&M-Commerce defeated UT Rio Grande Valley 20-17 on Saturday in an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas. Memorial Stadium hosted the contest. The Lions improved to 2-4. The Vaqueros moved to 2-1. The game remained close throughout and was decided by a single score. The home team relied on timely rushing, field goals and a defensive effort that limited UT Rio Grande Valley’s final possessions.

UT Rio Grande Valley scored seven points in the first quarter, three in the second and seven in the third. Texas A&M-Commerce scored seven in the first, three in the second, three in the third and seven in the fourth. UT Rio Grande Valley finished with two touchdowns and one field goal. Texas A&M-Commerce finished with two touchdowns and two field goals. The Vaqueros used a pair of touchdown passes to stay within reach. The Lions combined rushing touchdowns with field goals to preserve the margin. The final quarter proved decisive as Texas A&M-Commerce added the last touchdown. The game’s first score came on M. McBride’s 7-yard rush. McBride added a 4-yard touchdown run. UT Rio Grande Valley answered with Jakobsohn’s 7-yard pass to Lee. Gardner made a 36-yard field goal, and Rigby answered with a 32-yard field goal. Jakobsohn later hit Smith for an 18-yard touchdown.

Aidan Jakobsohn directed the UT Rio Grande Valley offense. The 6-foot, 188-pound quarterback from Ingleside, Texas, completed 17 of 33 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 43 yards. Jakobsohn connected with Kyran Lee on a 7-yard touchdown pass and later found Jaydon Smith for an 18-yard score. Lee, a 5-foot-9, 176-pound receiver, finished with four receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown. Smith caught five passes for 47 yards and one touchdown. Clint Thomas Jr., a 6-foot-1, 180-pound receiver, added two receptions for 41 yards. Braden Baize had three catches for 21 yards. TJ Dement, a 5-foot-8, 190-pound running back, rushed seven times for 23 yards and caught one pass for no gain. Malachi Lane, a 6-foot, 221-pound running back, added one carry for one yard.

Texas A&M-Commerce used Eric Rodriguez and Luke Glass at quarterback. Rodriguez, a 5-foot-9, 196-pound quarterback, completed 6 of 9 passes for 54 yards. Glass, a 6-foot-5, 228-pound quarterback, completed 7 of 14 passes for 69 yards and rushed seven times for 27 yards. Rodriguez and Glass combined for 123 passing yards. The Lions received touchdown runs from M. McBride, who scored on a 7-yard run and a 4-yard run. O. Rigby converted a 32-yard field goal and added extra points. Commerce’s ability to finish drives with McBride and Rigby helped it offset UT Rio Grande Valley’s passing success.

Spencer Rich led the UT Rio Grande Valley defense. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker made 14 tackles and recorded one quarterback hurry. Josh Cashiola, a 6-foot-3, 229-pound defensive lineman, added three tackles. Percy Jackson III recorded three tackles, 1.5 sacks and one quarterback hurry. Nicholas Peace finished with three tackles. Alijah Prosser, a 5-foot-10, 164-pound defensive back, returned one punt for zero yards and made four tackles. Dorian Blackwell and Jackson Waid each posted five tackles. Waid added one quarterback hurry. TJ Neal, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound defensive back, also had five tackles. Jaiden Haygood contributed nine tackles. Jordan Ford led the Vaqueros with 10 tackles and added half a sack. Withchiel Filamar, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end, made three tackles. Nathan Huerta, a 6-foot, 270-pound tackle, recorded five tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Keamonie Archie, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound defensive back, added one tackle.

UT Rio Grande Valley’s special teams also contributed. Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound punter, punted six times for 246 yards. Brysen Gardner, a 5-foot-7, 175-pound kicker, made a 36-yard field goal and converted extra points. Hunter Luke, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound receiver, returned three kickoffs for 29 yards. Keilan Sweeny, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound receiver, returned one punt for minus-1 yard. Other defensive contributors for the Vaqueros included Jaden Wincher, Jaxson Maynard, Abdon Mata, Jack Harwell, Tyler Day, Wes Thompson, Carter Hewitt and Jaden Pettway with one tackle each. Tyler Day is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker. Wes Thompson is a 6-foot-6, 324-pound offensive lineman. Carter Hewitt is a 5-foot-10, 177-pound defensive back. Jaden Pettway is a 6-foot-2, 197-pound defensive back. Seyyid Smith, Connor Carrigan and Landen Gaskamp each made two tackles. Landen Gaskamp is a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker. Marcus Heard Jr., a 5-foot-11, 185-pound safety, added three tackles. DJ Shaw, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound defensive back, appeared in the game but did not record a statistic.

Texas A&M-Commerce’s defense was paced by David Spruiells, who made 10 tackles. Caleb Nuhi-Yandall recorded nine tackles. Roman Kupu, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound linebacker, posted eight tackles and one quarterback hurry. Orion Kupu, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound defensive back, added five tackles. Tramar Gilbert, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker, finished with four tackles. Kemani Wilson, a 5-foot-10, 150-pound defensive back, and Luke Williams, a 5-foot-9, 271-pound linebacker, each had three tackles. Matthew Goldman, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound linebacker, also made three tackles. Micah Simpson caught one pass for three yards and returned three punts for 11 yards. DeColdest Crawford returned two kickoffs for 24 yards. Elias O’Keefe appeared in the game but did not record a statistic. Commerce allowed 17 points.

Interstat’s ELO system projected UT Rio Grande Valley with an 82.7 percent probability to win. Texas A&M-Commerce had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -10.5. The total score of 37 went over the over/under line of 50.5. UT Rio Grande Valley is next scheduled to play at Incarnate Word. Texas A&M-Commerce will visit Houston Christian.