Commerce holds off Atlanta

11/27/99

Dallas Morning News

TEXARKANA, Texas - Ryan Sienty scored four touchdowns and added a 27-yard field goal to lead third-ranked Commerce to a 29-21 win over eighth-ranked Atlanta in the Class 3A Division II Region II semifinals.

Commerce (13-0) advances to play the winner of Saturday's Alvarado-Hooks game.

Sienty, who also added a pair of point-after kicks to account for all of the Commerce points, opened the scoring with a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter. He scored on runs of 4 and 9 yards in the second period and added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns on runs of 9 and 1 yard. Sienty led all rushers with 156 yards on 24 carries.

DeCori Birmingham's 49-yard run in the opening minute of the second half closed the gap to 17-7. He finished the game with 123 yards on 16 carries.

Atlanta's second score came on a 50-yard pass to Jamey Harper from Mitchell Hearne on a fake punt. Atlanta's final touchdown came on a 70-yard kickoff return by Adrian Oliver with 5:36 to play.