STEPHENVILLE – After falling behind 23-0 in the first half, Tarleton came out over the next 30 minutes and outscored the No. 8 Lions 21-10 in the second half but a fourth-down touchdown in the final minute ended Tarleton's valiant rally in a 33-21 loss.
Tarleton closes out the regular season with a 6-5 record to mark its first winning regular season since 2013 and is expected to accept an invitation to an NCAA Division II Bowl Game at a press conference in Wisdom Gym Monday at 11 a.m.
After the Lions scored the first 23 points of the night to take a 23-0 lead into halftime, Tarleton struck first in the second half when Adam Berryman broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown to get the Texans on the board and cut the deficit to 23-7. Commerce would answer with a 35-yard field goal to start the scoring in the fourth to push the score to 26-7.
On the ensuing Tarleton possession,
Zed Woerner capped off a five-play, 75-yard drive with a 26-yard hookup to Jeff Thomas in the corner of the endzone for a Texan touchdown to pull Tarleton within 12. The Tarleton defense answered on the next possession with a three-and-out, giving the offense a chance to inch closer with nine minutes left.
Woerner and company responded with an 11-play, 90-yard drive to pay dirt – capped off by some fourth-down magic from Berryman.
Tarleton was facing fourth-and-13 from their own 46-yard line when Woerner was under pressure and found Berryman on the check-down. The junior running back sprinted away from three defenders, ducked under one, and broke another one before he was off for six. The Sroka PAT brought Tarleton within five at 26-21.
The defense had Commerce at fourth-and five but the Lions converted for a touchdown to pull away for the final score of the game at 33-21.
Woerner was 13-26 through the air for 149 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Thomas and Berryman led the receiving corps with 54 yards each – Thomas on four catches and Berryman on one – while Berryman ran the ball 15 times for 105 yards and a score.
Defensively, Andrew Blackshire led the team with nine tackles while Basil Jackson recorded eight before being forced to exit the game early on a penalty.
Tarleton will await their bowl fate, which is expected to be announced early next week. Stay tuned to TarletonSports.com for more details.
