Tackling Texas A&M University-Commerce junior running back Nabil El-Amin was a difficult chore for the East Central defense on Saturday afternoon. The Rochester, New York native ran the ball 24 times for 138 yards and four total touchdowns in a 43-21 win for the Lions. Three of the touchdowns came on the ground and he also ran back the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. It is the fourth-straight 100-yard game by El-Amin.

The Lions (5-5, 4-1 LSC North) extend its winning streak to four games. The last time that A&M-Commerce won four straight games was when they won five straight in 1995. The offense for the Lions was a very balanced attack -- rushing for 184 yards and passing for 178 more. It is the first time since 1996 that A&M-Commerce has posted 40-plus points in two-or-more games. The loss drops East Central to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in the LSC North.

After East Central scored on its first two possessions but A&M -Commerce came back with 22 unanswered points to end the first half on the strength of El-Amin and a stifling defense that allowed only 53 yards.

Trailing 6-0, on the Lions first possession of the game, El-Amin ran 40 yards for a touchdown and a Chris Quiroga extra point put A&M-Commerce in front 7-6. The Tigers came right back down the field to take a 13-7 lead. After A&M-Commerce was forced to punt on its next possession, junior punter Daniel Swaim nailed a punt that was downed at the one-yard line. Two plays later, the Tigers' Larry Carter caught a screen pass; however, A&M-Commerce sophomore defensive back Mark Fisher greeted the receiver in the end zone for the safety to trim the ECU lead to 13-9.

After Mayo was intercepted, the Lions forced their first of three turnovers when A&M-Commerce safety Derek McKenzie hit an ECU ball carrier and Chad Washington recovered. The Lions continued to call on El-Amin on the ground and Mayo completed a 3rd and 16 pass play to Meldrick Grice for a crucial first down. Three plays later, El-Amin scored his second touchdown from 10 yards out to give the Lions a 15-13 advantage.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers fumbled the Quiroga kickoff and junior Alex Contreras collapsed on the ball. Three plays later, Mayo scored on a seven-yard touchdown run to take a 22-13 lead. After the kickoff, the Lions forced another ECU turnover when Andree Smith got his first of three sacks and forced a fumble and the Lions' Carl Crawford recovered. With the short field, again, A&M-Commerce capitalized on the turnover when El-Amin scored his third touchdown of the half from four yards out to put the Lions in front 29-13.

El-Amin started the second half where he ended the first half - in the endzone. He took the opening kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown to extend the margin to 36-13. After fumbling on a reception early in the half, senior wide receiver JaMichael Palmer got redemption on a 33-yard touchdown reception from Mayo. The Tigers got back on the board on a one-yard touchdown run to culminate an 11 play, 64-yard drive for the final margin.

The Lions will have next week off before traveling to Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. in Weatherford, Oklahoma.