PUEBLO, Colo. – The West Texas A&M Buffalo football defense and special teams came to play on Saturday evening as the Buffs posted a 26-10 victory at No. 19/20 Colorado State-Pueblo evening their record at 1-1 on the year.

"I thought on both sides of the ball and special teams we played pretty well tonight," head coach Mike Nesbitt said.  "There are some things we need to clean up for sure, but overall we played well tonight."

The Buffs, blocked two kicks, tallied three interceptions which led to 13 points and had a pick-six en route to the upset win as WT ended a 28-game home winning streak by the ThunderWolves (0-2, 0-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference).  It was the 100^th game in CSUP history since restarting the football program in 2008.  The first win in the 28-game winning streak at home for CSUP came against New Mexico Highlands on Oct. 30, 2010.  The win by the Buffs also gave CSUP its third-straight loss for the first time since 2009. 

The win evened the all-time series with CSUP at 3-3 and gave WT a 34-10 record all-time against current members of the RMAC.  It gave Nesbitt his 20^th win at WT (20-13) and was the 499^th win in program history at WT (499-496-22).  It also marked the 29^th win against a ranked team since 2005 (29-27) as marked the fifth-straight season WT has defeated a ranked team.

WT senior Davontae Merriweather paced the Buffalo "D" with eight total tackles, an interception – his first of the season and fourth of his career – two pass breakups, one blocked kick and one quarterback hurry.  Junior Austin Williams came up with a pick-six in the third quarter stretching the WT lead to 20-3 on the 16-yard return as it marked the first pick-six by the Buffs since former Buff John Sheehy returned on 65-yards at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 24, 2015.  Senior Rashawn DuPree also had an interception and almost scored going 53 yards on the return for his fourth interception of his career.  Williams finished with seven total tackles and the INT.

"I was able to get a straight line in an open lane and got in there for the block," Merriweather said.  "When I saw the quarterback drop back and I went up and got it and I thought I had the score but my boy (Warren Witherspoon) got in my way," speaking on his INT.    

The defense held CSUP to just 92 yards passing as it marked the second-straight week the Buffs have held the opposition under 100 yards passing, while CSUP ran for 229 yards on 40 carries and tallied 321 total yards – outgaining WT by 23 yards (298).  The Buffs had 102 yards rushing with 100 from senior Devon Paye on 19 carries, while junior quarterback Ethan Brinkley went 24 of 33 for 196 yards and a touchdown, while also running for a score.  WT had four sacks for 12 yards and seven tackles for loss for 18 yards in the game, while allowing just one sack and turning it over once leading to no points.

"We were working hard all week and everyone was getting their plays down and we are glad to come away with the win," Paye said.  "Everyone knew who to block and where to go tonight and Coach Spotted Wolf was telling our linemen where to go in practice and it all come together tonight."

CSUP's Bernard McDondle had 139 yards rushing on 19 carries, while AJ Thompson, who got the start behind center, went 4 of 8 with two interceptions and 17 yards.  Rex Dausin went 7 of 16 with an interception and 75 yards.  CSUP also had two blocked kicks in the contest in an extra-point and a punt.

In a game WT never trailed, the Buffs jumped on the board in the first quarter with a 43-yard field goal from senior Conner Hollabaugh with 4:52 left in the frame.  On the drive, redshirt freshman Trent Canion had a great 11-yard rush on a 3^rd and nine to keep the drive alive.  CSUP came right back and tied it with a field goal late in the quarter from 44-yards out.

Following a punt by WT and a 48-yard missed field goal from CSUP, the Buffs took over at their 31 and put together a nice drive of nine plays on 62 yards capped with the first passing touchdown of the season.  Brinkley found junior Eppy Henriques deep for acrobatic 33-yard catch for a 10-3 lead with 6:06 left in the half. 

"It was man coverage and Eppy had the vertical route and I knew I had to give him a ball where he could go up and make a catch," Brinkley said.  "I thought we had a good first half with the O-line making good blocks and it gave us a lot of momentum."

Merriweather's blocked punt and 48-yard return on the ensuing CSUP possession, set the Buffs up at the CSUP 14.  Hollabaugh kicked his second field goal of the half for a 13-3 lead at intermission. 

Following a punt by WT on its first possession of the second half, Thompson then threw his second INT of the game and was benched following the pick.  Williams picked off the errant throw and returned it for six and a 20-3 lead with 10:15 left in the third. 

The ThunderWolves missed another field goal and a punt by WT followed.  Merriweather came up with his pick of Dausin setting up the Buffs' final touchdown beginning at the CSUP 43.  Paye had three great rushes for 19 yards setting up a first and goal at the four.  From there, Brinkley faked to him and scored himself for a 26-3 lead and 23 unanswered points. 

CSUP wouldn't go away quietly, however, as Dausin marched the ThunderWolves down the field early in the fourth as he found Osha Washington on a broken 3^rd and six for 34 yards to the WT 17 keeping the drive alive as Dausin was almost sacked in the backfield as he scrambled for his life.  Fradlet Dort rushed for five yards for the score bringing CSUP within 26-10 with 11:27 left.

The Buffs were forced to punt, but Josh Johnson blocked the junior John Cummings kick setting the ThunderWolves up at the WT 29.  Two big tackles from senior LaPear Willrich on the CSUP drive, including a sack of Dausin, forced CSUP into a field goal and it was blocked by Willrich keeping CSUP off the board and a 16-point cushion. 

WT came up with a big 3^rd and 2 with a pass to Paye keeping the clock moving.  On a 4^th and seven following the first timeout by CSUP of the half at the 3:46 mark, Brinkley booted a perfect punt of 42 yards in his first collegiate attempt to the CSUP four. 

CSUP couldn't move the ball with three incomplete passes and a punt.  WT took over and, on a 4^th and five from the CSUP 46, Brinkley found sophomore Warren Witherspoon out of the backfield for a five-yard completion which was good for a first down by mere inches to seal the game.

The Buffs conclude their three-game road trip next weekend opening Lone Star Conference play at UT Permian Basin at 7 p.m. in Ratliff Stadium in Odessa.  It'll be the inaugural LSC game for UTPB and tickets for the game are going fast.  WT fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance as the link to purchase tickets is on the WT football schedule page at www.gobuffsgo.com.