Commerce, Texas

Ben Birmingham broke up the middle for two touchdown runs including a 13-yard scamper in overtime to lead Central Oklahoma to a 21-20 win over host Texas A&M University-Commerce on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. But, it was an extra point by Alex Weaver that proved to be the difference in the game.

A&M-Commerce (1-5, 0-1 LSC North) quarterback Trent Miller came off the bench in the second possession of the second half in relief of starter Terry Mayo. In the Lions' first possession of overtime, on the second play, Miller found a streaking Meldrick Grice for a 24-yard touchdown strike. However, the Lions missed the ensuing extra point which proved to be the difference in the game.

Birmingham finished the contest with 30 carries for a career-high 198 yards in the win for the Bronchos, who raise their record to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the Lone Star Conference North Division. His A&M-Commerce counterpart, Nabil El-Amin rushed 24 times for 80 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions defense held UCO to 240 yards total offense and did not a third-down conversion on 13 attempts. But, it was a fourth down conversion in overtime that extended the drive for the visiting Bronchos that led to the decisive scoring drive. A&M-Commerce senior linebacker Garnet Smith and junior defensive lineman A.J. Johnson anchored the defense with a season-high 15 and 12 tackles, respectively.

A&M-Commerce saw its first drive of the contest end when T.J. Shaw stepped in front of a Mayo pass for the first of two interceptions. On the Lions next possession, A&M-Commerce went 11 plays and 52 yards that culminated with a two-yard touchdown run by El-Amin. It is the first career touchdown for the Rochester, N.Y. native and he is the ninth-different Lion to score in 2007.

With a 7-0 lead and forcing a three-and-out of the UCO offense, the Lions marched down the field with back-to-back first downs on a Mayo completion to Darr Nieuwoudt and an 11-yard run by El-Amin. A&M-Commerce would get as far as the UCO 24 before Chris Quirogra attempted a season-long 40 yard kick that sailed wide left.

The Lions defense came right back and junior defensive back Courtney Edmond picked off his second pass of the season; however, the Lions were unable to do anything with the Bronchos turnover.

Later in the second quarter, Central Oklahoma capitalized on the second interception by Shaw, going four plays and 35 yards to tie the contest at 7. On the second play of the drive, quarterback Colin Clancy completed a pass with Rick Montgomery, who sandwiched between two Lions safeties to make a grab to set up first and goal for UCO. Three plays later, Maurice Little went around the right side for the game-tying touchdown.

Birmingham broke loose on the first play of the second half for a record-setting 92 yard touchdown run. The 92-yard run broke a Memorial Stadium record of 87 yards that was held by Johnie Hurndon of Texas A&M-Kingsville, who set the mark in 1988.

A&M-Commerce came right back and El-Amin took the ensuing kickoff and went 97 yards for a touchdown. The return ties a Memorial Stadium record, equaling the mark that was set by Danieal Manning from Abilene Christian on November 1, 2003.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Lions got a 56-yard pass completion from Trent Miller to Orlando Hernandez to set up a first and goal. Two plays later, the Bronchos forced the third A&M-Commerce fumble of the contest.

The Lions return to the road for their next game against Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant with a 2 p.m.