The 2016 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team represented Texas A&M University–Commerce as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Colby Carthel, the Lions compiled an overall record of 11–2 with a mark of 8–1 in conference play, winning the LSC title for the third consecutive season. Texas A&M–Commerce advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs for the fifth time in program history. In the first round, the Lions defeated , 34–23, for the program's first playoff win since 1991, but lost to the Grand Valley State, 55–32, in the second round. The Lions were ranked No. 9 in the final AFCA poll.

Texas A&M–Commerce finished with both the top offense and top defense in the conference. The Lions scored a total of 477 points (39.8 per game) while only allowing 260 (21.7 per game). On offense, the team was led by junior quarterback Luis Perez, who finished the season throwing for 3,326 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium on the university's campus in Commerce, Texas.

Preseason LSC media poll The LSC media poll was released on August 8, 2016. The Lions were predicted to finish first, receiving 19 of the 28 first place votes.

Schedule

Personnel

Game summaries

University of Faith (FL)

Statistics Statistics FAITHTAMUC First downs 9 25 Total yards 123 422 Rushing yards 9 238 Passing yards 114 184 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 34:31 25:29 Team Category Player StatisticsUniversity of Faith Passing D. J. Grant 8/20, 75 yards Rushing Shaq Speights 6 rushes, 19 yards Receiving Lidell Golden 3 receptions, 30 yardsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Jared Cate 4/7, 92 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tristen Slaughter 14 rushes, 113 yards, 3 TD Receiving Justice Luce 3 receptions, 72 yards, TD

At Delta State

Statistics Statistics TAMUCDSU First downs 22 20 Total yards 471 397 Rushing yards 149 122 Passing yards 322 275 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 30:35 29:25 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 17/23, 322 yards, 2 TD Rushing Richard Cooper 22 rushes, 87 yards, 2 TD Receiving Lance Evans 4 receptions, 123 yards, TDDelta State Passing Tyler Sullivan 30/37, 221 yards, 3 INT Rushing Chris Robinson 16 rushes, 64 yards, 2 TD Receiving K'Shun Davis 7 receptions, 52 yards

At Eastern New Mexico

Statistics Statistics TAMUCENMU First downs 25 19 Total yards 479 287 Rushing yards 101 227 Passing yards 378 60 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 24:50 35:10 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 24/31, 342 yards, 5 TD Rushing Richard Cooper 11 rushes, 64 yards, TD Receiving D'Arthur Cowan 6 receptions, 82 yards, TDEastern New Mexico Passing Adam Lucero 6/9, 63 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kamal Cass 21 rushes, 62 yards Receiving Aaron Johnson 2 receptions, 32 yards

Texas A&M–Kingsville

Statistics Statistics TAMUKTAMUC First downs 25 11 Total yards 564 350 Rushing yards 188 217 Passing yards 376 133 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 37:00 23:00 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Kingsville Passing Myles Carr 25/40, 376 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nick Pelrean 20 rushes, 75 yards Receiving Jordan Thomas 5 receptions, 152 yards, TDTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 10/19, 133 yards, TD Rushing Richard Cooper 19 rushes, 224 yards, 2 TD Receiving Darby Smith 4 receptions, 91 yards, TD

At Oklahoma Panhandle State

Statistics Statistics TAMUCOPSU First downs 24 16 Total yards 561 262 Rushing yards 134 54 Passing yards 427 208 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 28:37 31:23 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 34/48, 396 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ovie Urevbu 4 rushes, 64 yards Receiving Lance Evans 7 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TDOklahoma Panhandle State Passing Shane Truelove 19/27, 161 yards, INT Rushing Rod Moore 18 rushes, 60 yards, TD Receiving Devyn Williams 5 receptions, 55 yards

No. 7 Midwestern State

Statistics Statistics MSUTAMUC First downs 24 21 Total yards 484 405 Rushing yards 211 162 Passing yards 273 243 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 28:22 31:38 Team Category Player StatisticsMidwestern State Passing Quade Coward 17/25, 273 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Vincent Johnson 14 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TD Receiving Breion Evans 4 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TDTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 18/34, 243 yards, 2 TD Rushing Richard Cooper 26 rushes, 128 yards Receiving Darby Smith 6 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD

At Western New Mexico

Statistics Statistics TAMUCWNMU First downs 27 28 Total yards 521 486 Rushing yards 202 74 Passing yards 319 412 Turnovers 3 4 Time of possession 30:01 29:59 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 22/35, 319 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Richard Cooper 24 rushes, 182 yards Receiving Darby Smith 5 receptions, 120 yards, TDWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 31/50, 412 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing DeAndre Williams 11 rushes, 46 yards, TD Receiving Xavier Ayers 12 receptions, 123 yards

At Angelo State

Statistics Statistics TAMUCASU First downs 24 16 Total yards 435 368 Rushing yards 156 163 Passing yards 279 175 Turnovers 1 6 Time of possession 30:25 29:35 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 20/33, 270 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ovie Urevbu 17 rushes, 105 yards Receiving Justice Luce 8 receptions, 125 yards, TDAngelo State Passing Carsen Cook 11/18, 167 yards, TD, INT Rushing Josh Stevens 20 rushes, 89 yards Receiving Mark Munson 5 receptions, 109 yards, TD

West Texas A&M

Statistics Statistics WTTAMUC First downs 12 19 Total yards 284 358 Rushing yards 43 124 Passing yards 241 234 Turnovers 6 1 Time of possession 25:51 34:09 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Ben Arbuckle 26/39, 241 yards, 4 INT Rushing Trent Canion 4 rushes, 18 yards Receiving Devon Paye 10 receptions, 73 yardsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 17/23, 230 yards, TD Rushing Richard Cooper 26 rushes, 105 yards, TD Receiving Darby Smith 3 receptions, 84 yards

At Texas–Permian Basin

Statistics Statistics TAMUCUTPB First downs 24 15 Total yards 591 344 Rushing yards 133 66 Passing yards 458 278 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 19:54 25:06 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 18/25, 273 yards, 5 TD Rushing Ovie Urevbu 8 rushes, 85 yards, TD Receiving Chris Chumley 5 receptions, 92 yardsUT Permian Basin Passing Kameron Mathis 18/35, 278 yards, TD, INT Rushing Marquis Simmons 13 rushes, 30 yards, TD Receiving Mitchell Leonard 5 receptions, 111 yards, TD

Tarleton State

Statistics Statistics TSUTAMUC First downs 17 17 Total yards 335 444 Rushing yards 132 166 Passing yards 203 278 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 31:25 28:35 Team Category Player StatisticsTarleton State Passing Zed Woerner 14/22, 203 yards, 2 INT Rushing Joseph Sadler 19 rushes, 102 yards, TD Receiving Brant Bailey 2 receptions, 46 yardsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 22/35, 274 yards, TD Rushing Ovie Urevbu 13 rushes, 106 yards Receiving Vincent Hobbs 3 receptions, 81 yards, TD

No. 25 Colorado Mesa (NCAA Division II playoffs first round)

Statistics Statistics CMUTAMUC First downs 29 17 Total yards 513 336 Rushing yards 217 130 Passing yards 296 206 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 35:47 24:13 Team Category Player StatisticsColorado Mesa Passing Sean Rubalcaba 30/43, 296 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jonathan Beverly 8 rushes, 84 yards Receiving Peter Anderson 12 receptions, 99 yardsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 17/33, 205 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ovie Urevbu 19 rushes, 108 yards Receiving Darby Smith 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD

At No. 2 Grand Valley State (Regional semifinals)

Statistics Statistics TAMUCGV First downs 16 30 Total yards 417 598 Rushing yards 97 287 Passing yards 320 311 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 23:30 36:30 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 25/50, 318 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Richard Cooper 8 rushes, 69 yards Receiving Buck Wilson 4 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDGrand Valley State Passing Bart Williams 17/26, 311 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Marty Carter 33 rushes, 217 yards, TD Receiving Brandon Bean 6 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD

Rankings

Statistics

Scoring Scores against non-conference opponents

Scores against the Lonestar Conference

Scores against all opponents

References