Box Score

Season Stats

THE BASICS:
 

• Score: Eastern New Mexico 28, West Texas A&M 14

 

• Records: Eastern New Mexico 4-1 (3-1 LSC), West Texas A&M 2-3 (1-2 LSC)

 

• Location: Canyon, Texas (Kimbrough Memorial Stadium)

 

• The Lead: Eastern New Mexico scored 28-straight points in the second half en route to a 28-14 victory Saturday evening in the 30^th Wagon Wheel Game over West Texas A&M. 

 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Buffs punted on their first possession of the game as senior John Cummings pinned the Greyhounds at their own one with a 56-yard punt.
• ENMU made one first down and then punted as Nicholas Little's punt was blocked by junior Chazz Slatinsky and recovered by senior Ja'Quarius Daniels at the ENMU nine.  It was Slatinsky's first career block.
• From there, redshirt freshman Justin Houghtaling threw his first career touchdown pass as Daniels climbed the ladder in the back of the end zone for the score and a 7-0 lead with 7:53 left in the first quarter.
• Following the first allowed conversion on fourth down by the Buffs this season, senior linebacker Trevor Myklebust stopped ENMU at its own 38 on fourth down.  WT was unable to score, but Cummings again pinned the Greyhounds deep with a 38-yard boot to the six.
• ENMU converted three third downs on the ensuing possession starting the drive with 6:13 left in the half as the Greyhounds marched down field to the WT nine as quarterback threw a great pass to Tandon Jones in the end zone, but junior defensive back Keith Blank got his hand on the ball for the incomplete pass.
• With eight seconds left, Strand tried to hit Warren Washington at the end zone, but was broken up by sophomore defensive back Isaiah Barnett as time expired in the half.
• ENMU had the ball offensively from the end of the second quarter and the first drive of the third quarter for 11:50, but came away with nothing as kicker Bailey missed a 60-yard field goal with 9:16 left in the third quarter. 
• Following a pair of punts, Houghtaling threw an interception on a 3^rd and eight from the WT 28 to Brad Hardin as he returned it 26 yards to the WT six.  Cass scored from six yards out tying the game with 2:29 left in the third.
• Another solid punt from Cummings set the Greyhounds up deep in their own territory, but Strand scrambled for 50 yards on the first play from scrimmage and D'Maujeric Tucker scored from two yards out for a 14-7 ENMU lead early in the fourth.
• Strand scored from one-yard out on the ensuing ENMU possession and then scored after a WT fumble on a kickoff for a 28-7 lead with 1:32 left.
• WT marched down the field as sophomore Avery Lewis caught a 38-yard pass and senior Junior Pome'e scored on a nice pass from Houghtaling from 24-yards out for a 28-14 score.

 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• WT really struggled offensively in the first half with just two first downs and 50 total yards on 18 plays.  ENMU had 11 first downs and 177 total yards on 44 plays.  WT had 10 rushes for 17 yards and 33 yards passing.
• ENMU running back Kamal Cass had 62 yards rushing on 15 carries, while Strand was six-of-11 for 46 yards. 
• Houghtaling was five-of-eight for 33 yards and a score. 
• The Buffs had the ball for just 8:47 in the first half, while ENMU consumed the ball for 21:13. 
• Cummings had three big punts for 147 yards and a 49.0 average with two inside the 20 and a long of 56 helping the Buffs with the field position game.
• ENMU tallied 25 first downs to just seven for WT, while outgaining the Buffs 447-154 with 84 plays for the Greyhounds to just 42 for WT.  ENMU had 362 yards on the ground.
• The Buffs didn't have 100 yards of offense until the last drive of the game, while WT had just 38 yards rushing on 22 rushes. 
• Houghtaling was 12 for 20 with one interception, with 116 yards and two touchdowns.  Kass has 28 rushes for 138 yards and a score, while Strand had 98 yards rushing on 16 carries with two scores.
• Senior Trevor Myklebust led the Buffs in tackles with 13, while senior Carter James had 11 and senior Daelin  Young had 10. 
• The blocked punt by the Buffs was the first since former Buff Davontae Merriweather had one at Colorado State-Pueblo on Sept. 10, 2016.
• WT and ENMU are all-square in the Wagon Wheel at 15-15 and all even at 16-16 overall.  ENMU has won five of the past six overall and four of the past five in the Wagon Wheel Game.

 
 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Buffs return to the road at Texas A&M-Kingsville next Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in Kingsville, Texas.  Lucas Kinsey, Brice Sheets and Kent Johnson will have the call of the game on 98.7 Lonestar FM throughout the Texas Panhandle.
• Fans can access live stats and audio/video streaming of the game at www.gobuffsgo.com on the football schedule page. 

 
 
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