CANYON, Texas – A career-high 177 yards rushing and three total touchdowns from West Texas A&M senior running back Devon Paye helped the Buffs to a thrilling 35-27 victory over fourth-ranked Midwestern State Saturday evening at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.  With the win, the Buffs improved to 5-3 on the year and 4-2 in Lone Star Conference play, while MSU suffered its first defeat of the season falling to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in Lone Star Conference play.

Paye had 30 carries for 177 yards and two scores on the ground, while he had a team-high six catches for 19 yards and a score.  Sophomore quarterback Ben Arbuckle made his second career start and improved to 2-0 as he went 22 of 29 for 178 yards and two scores. 

As a team, the Buffs tallied 396 yards of offense on a season-high 218 yards on the ground on 45 carries and 178 yards passing.  The Buffs were 8 of 15 on third down and 1 of 1 on fourth down.  MSU had 192 yards on the ground with 146 through the air as the Mustangs were 7 of 18 on third down and 2 of 4 on fourth down.  Both teams had one turnover in the game. 

MSU quarterback Quade Coward went 14 of 32 for 141 yards and a score.  He also ran for two scores in the game on 11 carries for 60 yards.  Breion Evans had four receptions for 77 yards, while Deandre Black had two punt returns for 104 yards and four catches for 30 yards and a score.

With the win, WT broke a 3-3 tie in the Highway 287 Challenge as the Buffs have wins in football (2 points), volleyball (2 points) and women's soccer (1 point).  MSU has wins in women's cross country (2 points) and men's soccer (1 point).  WT and MSU will play the second women's soccer matchup in Canyon Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. at the Pitch for Senior Day.  WT won the first two Highway 287 Challenges in 2013-14 and 2014-15, while MSU won last season.

Like in most games between the two teams, it came down to the wire as WT regained the lead with a 74-yard run from Paye late in the third quarter after MSU took its first lead of the game moments before.  MSU led for exactly 27 seconds in the game from the 57-second mark of the third quarter to the 30-second mark as WT led 28-24 through three quarters.

MSU kicker Tanner Graeber hit a 26-yard field goal midway through the fourth and then the Buffs had a fourth and four at the MSU 49 with 7:26 left on their ensuing possession.  The Buffs decided to go for it and Arbuckle found junior wide receiver Junior Pome'e for his second catch of the game and a ten yard gain and a first down.  Redshirt freshman Trent Canion went up the middle 26-yards for a touchdown and a 35-27 lead with 5:11 left in the fourth. 

The Mustangs converted a long third down and then had a fourth and nine from the WT 39 with 3:05 left.  Coward's pass was broken up by senior Will Toliver over the middle as the Mustangs turned it over on downs. 

On third and nine for the Buffs from their 40, Arbuckle ran out of bounds with 2:11 left stopping the clock and forcing the Buffs to punt.  Arbuckle hit a 58-yard punt, but it went into the end zone for a touchback with 1:46 left. 

Coward found Evans for a 32-yard pass putting MSU at the WT 48 with 1:34 left.  On a third and six from the WT 44, Coward hit Black for eight yards and a first down at the WT 36.  Senior Tevin Creeks made a great breakup forcing fourth down at the WT 41 with 49 seconds left for the Mustangs.  Coward's pass was broken up by junior Colton McDonald as the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs. 

Following a three-and-out by the Mustangs, the Buffs marched right down the field, converting three third downs as Paye scored from one yard out for a 7-0 lead with 9:11 left in the first quarter.  Arbuckle, who made his second consecutive start, picked up the first third down conversion early in the drive with an 11-yard scamper and Paye carried eight times for 39 yards on the drive.  WT entered the game first in the LSC in third down conversions and 25^th nationally at 0.471 percent.

Both teams punted on their next possessions, and on the ensuing WT drive, Arbuckle threw one up on a 3^rd and 11 to junior Eppy Henriques.   He came up with a great leaping catch between two defenders for a 44-yard gain keeping the drive alive as the Buffs improved to 4 for 5 on third down to that point.  The Buffs continued the drive as Arbuckle found Paye out of the backfield for a 13-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead with 15 seconds left in the quarter. 

Early in the second quarter, Coward passed to Vincent Johnson, who was hit by junior Carter James as Johnson coughed up the ball at the Mustangs' 40.  The Buffs recovered the fumble setting up in MSU territory.  It was just the 11^th turnover by the Mustangs this season as they entered ranked 37^th nationally and second in the LSC in turnovers lost.

Following the miscue, the Buffs marched inside the Mustang ten converting two more third downs in the process.  From there, Arbuckle threw his second touchdown of the game as he found Pome'e for a seven-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 10:38 left in the half.  WT opened the game scoring on three of its first four games.

Penalties spoiled the Mustangs' next drive as a long pass was nullified as was a long first down run as MSU had to punt once again.  The Buffs, on their possession following the punt, Arbuckle threw a pass to Paye which was incomplete, but the officials ruled a backward pass as MSU recovered.  The Mustangs moved to the WT 15, courtesy of a tripping penalty on WT.  On a third and three, MSU was stopped short of the line to gain for a fourth and one at the 15.  MSU fell to 0 for 5 on third down to that point.  Following a WT timeout, Coward ran in for the 15-yard touchdown as the Mustangs got on the board. 

The Mustangs forced WT into a punt and Black returned the punt 59 yards to the WT seven with less than 90 seconds left in the half.  On a third and seven from the WT seven, Coward ran into the end zone for his second rushing score of the half and trimmed the WT lead to 21-14 with 1:08 left in the half.  MSU scored two touchdowns in 54 seconds to get back into the game late in the second quarter.

WT went three-and-out on its first possession of the second half and an illegal man downfield nullified the second touchdown by the Mustangs on their first possession.  On a third and a 11 from the WT 42, a sack by redshirt freshman Gerred Johnson and junior Solomon Perdue forced the Mustangs to punt.  WT began at its own five following the punt.

MSU marched down to the WT 12 and had a third and nine, but Coward found Black on a slant for a 12-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21 with 2:51 left in the third.  The Mustangs went 13 plays for 67 yards using 4:42 with a steady of Johnson on the ground during the drive.  MSU erased the 21-0 WT lead from late second quarter in a span of 15:17 of game time. 

Following a WT punt, Black had another great return of 51 yards down to the WT 20 with 2:12 left in the third. To that point MSU had two punt returns for 104 yards both by Black.  The Buffs stopped MSU as Tanner Graeber hit a 35-yard field goal for the Mustang's first lead of the game at 24-21 with 57 seconds left in the third.

WT returns to the road next weekend and will need to win out to keep its NCAA playoff hopes alive at No. 9 Texas A&M-Commerce at 4 p.m. in Commerce, Texas.  The game will be broadcast on 98.7 KPRF Jack FM with Lucas Kinsey and Brice Sheets having the call.  Check back with www.gobuffsgo.com for links to live stats, audio/video streaming and ticket links.