LSC - Texas A&M Commerce (10-1) vs. Grand Valley State (11-0), 12 pm CST

[Joe Price]

By Joe Price
Lone Star Conference Blogger


SR4 NCAA Playoffs Round 2 - Preview and Prediction:


#7 Texas A&M Commerce (10-1) vs. #2 Grand Valley State (11-0), 12 p.m. CST Kickoff
(ESPN 3)

Allendale, Michigan



Grand Valley State Notable Loss - None





Season Statistics for Grand Valley State and Texas A&M Commerce:

Offense	GVSU	TAMC
Points per Game	39.7	40.45
Yards per Game	483.4	450.1
Yards per Play	7.6	6.9
Passing Yards per Game	256.8	297.91
Passing Efficiency	172.3	164.12
Completion Percentage	61.00%	64.15%
Average per Rush	5.9	4.9
Rushing Yards per Game	226.5	152.2
Time of Possession per Game	28:29	27:49
Punting Average	36.3	38.47
Field Goals	10-Jul	17-23
Defense	GVSU	TAMC
Points per Game	17.8	18.64
Yards per Game	347.4	393.1
Yards per Play	5	5.5
Passing Yards per Game	222.5	254.27
Completion Percentage	60.10%	64.05%
Passing Efficiency	121.6	125.47
Rushing Yards per Game	124.9	138.8
Sacks	38	20
INTs	16 (2 TDs)	22 (3 TDs)
Turnover Margin	plus 12	plus 25
Special Teams	GVSU	TAMC
Punt Return Average	8.3 (1 TD)	16.96 (4 TDs)
Kickoff Return Average	22.4	21.03

Scouting Grand Valley State National Rankings

GVSU Offense: 5^th in Passing Efficiency (172.35); #6 in Passing Yards per Completion (16.72); 15^th in Total Offense (483.4 yards per game); 16^th in TFLs allowed (4.64 avg.); 19^th in Scoring Offense (39.7 pts per game); 20^th in Rushing Offense (226.5 yards per game)
GVSU Defense: 5^th in Red Zone Defense (60.6%); 10^th in Turnover Margin (plus 12); 14^th in Scoring Defense (17.8); 15^th in Sacks (3.45 avg.); #26 in INTs (16)
RB Marty Carter: 3rd in rushing yards (1,590) and rushing yards per game (144.5); 8^th in rushing TDs (18 TDs); 10^th in Total TDs (19); and 13^th in Scoring (10.4 pts per game)

QB Bart Williams: 4^th in passing yards per completion (16.75); 5^th in Passing Efficiency (172.7) and 22^nd in passing TDs (26 TDs)
WR Urston Smith: 8^th in yards per reception (23.26 avg.)
DL Sydney Omameh: 17^th in Sacks (10.5 sacks)

https://youtu.be/O2rDrFDjHAk

GVSU v. Ferris Highlights: https://youtu.be/UBOzdIBEuUE



Players to Watch:
Texas A&M Commerce Lions










Grand Valley State Lakers





#51 OL Aaron Cox






Grand Valley State comes into this game with some key injuries that plagued them through the second half of the season. They grilled out some close wins in games that they would have been more in control with their full arsenal of starters. I will note that their leading Wide Receiver Matt Williams missed their last game with Wayne State and he is a big factor in this offense. Ultimately, GVSU needs to get some people healthy to have a good chance at making an impact in the playoffs. We will see if the BYE week helped get some key players back or not. Those will be game time decisions. Texas A&M Commerce also has several players banged-up but appears to be in a little better shape than GVSU but not by much.

Grand Valley State Offense versus Texas A&M Commerce Defense: These two units should put on an excellent game. The Grand Valley State offense will try to jump out early as they garner most of their points in the 1^st quarter (12.8 points average) and have only given up a total of 14 points all season in the 1^st quarter; thus, the 1^st



Texas A&M Commerce Offense versus Grand Valley State Defense:


Game Analysis:^nd





Prediction: Texas A&M Commerce 31 Grand Valley 30

[Joe Price]

Wish I could have made it! Thanks for the invite though.

[ccchhhrrriiisss]

Grand Valley State looked really good today despite a fantastic effort by Commerce. Hopefully, the LSC can eventually break through that playoff wall. I was at the GVSU at Texas A&M-Kingsville semifinal game in 2003. The Javs scored first but they never scored again against Brian Kelly's Lakers. It was especially painful because I had good friends on the team and we really believed that they would win it all.

Joe, my wife and I will continue to remember you and your family in our prayers.

[Joe Price]

Thanks for the prayers Chris. I hope you are well my friend. The LSC still is lacking in the defense department and passing the ball too much plays a large part in the conference woes. Bob Eblen really said it well about why the LSC does not go deeper in the playoffs. I completely agree, "It's 2 things that the LSC playoff teams don't go deep in the playoffs: They are not physical enough on defense and the wide open style of play on the offense is not conducive to winning in the postseason."