Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The Lone Star Conference did some representing in this year’s Division II college football competition.
In the final American Football Coaches Association Division II poll, released Monday, Texas A&M-Commerce finished No. 1. The Lions were the only team to receive any first-place votes, garnering 33.
This came two days after they won the NCAA Division II National Championship by defeating West Florida 37-27 in Kansas City, Missouri. It marked the first NCAA Division II title in Texas A&M-Commerce history; the Lions won the NAIA National Championship in 1972.
Saturday’s outcome made A&M-Commerce the second Lone Star Conference team to win it all; Southwest Texas captured the title in 1981 and ’82. Saturday’s victory also allowed Texas A&M Commerce to rocket up the polls from No. 8 to No. 1, and concluded the Lions’ season at 14-1.
They finished second in the LSC standings, however, to Midwestern State, by virtue of a 47-42 loss to the Mustangs on Oct. 7. A&M-Commerce was 7-1 in conference play, Midwestern State 8-0.
Midwestern State finished 10-1 overall, and placed 11th in the final AFCA poll.
Eastern New Mexico recorded one of its best seasons ever, finishing 8-2 overall and third in the LSC at 6-2. The Greyhounds, who found themselves in the national top 20 in early November, were not ranked in the final AFCA poll, but were one of 10 teams to receive votes, getting 25. Also receiving votes were: Ouachita Baptist, 79; Humboldt State, 59; West Chester, 52; Colorado Mesa, 37; California (Pa), 31; Central Missouri, 27; Minnesota Duluth, 19; Azusa Pacific, 9; Catawba, 4; and Grand Valley State, 2.
ENMU’s only two losses were to eventual national champion Texas A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State, who won the conference title by defeating Eastern 56-43 on Nov. 12.
