at Central Washington - September 29
LIVE STATS | VIDEO | AUDIO

GAME NOTES

CANYON, Texas – The Buffaloes of West Texas A&M will take a break from Lone Star Conference play and head to Ellensburg, Washington for a game against #14 Central Washington on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Tomlinson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT.

FIVE KEY STORYLINES
Saturday's game against #14 Central Washington will be the Buffs first trip to the Evergreen State since the two teams played on Sept. 12 2009. It will mark the first time in program history WT has played two regular season away games in the Pacific Time Zone after opening the season at Azusa Pacific. It is also the first time since 1990 WT has played two schools from the West Coast.

The Buff defense has scored three touchdowns this season, tying them for the most in all of Division II. Tobias Harris has taken back two interceptions for a touchdown while Keith Blank recorded his first pick six in WT's win over Oklahoma Panhandle State. Southern Arkansas, Valdosta State, Kentucky Wesleyan and Fort Lewis are the other schools to have produced three defensive touchdowns.

There is a lot of youth on this year's team, no more evident than in Saturday's game against Western New Mexico. Freshman Jamaal Hamilton, Brock Willilams and Jakoe Jackson combined for 54 of the 85 receiving yards including a touchdown catch by Williams. Marshawn Brown also ran for 45 yards on five attempts including a 30-yard rush in the fourth quarter. On the defensive side of the ball, Tobias Harris recorded his second pick-six of the season while Christopher Thomas had 10 tackles marking the third consecutive game the Humble, Texas native has reached double-digits.

Duke Carter IV had a big game for the Buffs in their 27-17 win over Western New Mexico on Saturday as he ran the ball 33 times for 150 yards and a touchdown. He also busted off a season long run of 34-yards in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The 150-yard performance was the most in his collegiate career eclipsing the 104-yard performance he had as a freshman at UL Monroe. The junior will also look to become the first WT player to record a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games since Geremy Alridge-Mitchell did so in the final four games of the 2015 season.

The Buffs will face an opponent ranked or receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for a third time this season. Central Washington will be their first ranked opponent as both Azusa Pacific and Tarleton were receiving votes in the week leading up to the game. WT last defeated a ranked opponent on the road on Sept. 10, 2016 with a 26-10 victory over #19 Colorado State Pueblo. 

SCOUTING #14 CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Central Washington enters the week 3-1 overall and ranked #14 in the latest in American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Poll. The Wildcats defeated Simon Fraser 63-10 last Saturday to stay perfect in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

The Wildcats offense enters the fifth week of the season averaging 43.8 points and 466.3 yards per game. Reilly Hennessey has been efficient behind center completing 61 of 100 passes for 814 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-foot-3 senior threw for a season-high 275 yards and a touchdown in their win over Western Oregon. CWU has four receivers over 100 yards receiving including Samuel Sanchez with a team-high 219.

The duo of Michael Roots and Cedric Cooper have combined to run for 651 yards and four touchdowns. Roots had a breakout game against Simon Fraser with 186 yards on 18 attempts while Cooper had his best game of the year against Humboldt State where he reach 178 yards on 11 attempts.

Ian Shoemaker is in his fourth season at Central Washington where he has led the Wildcats to a record of 23-12. During his tenure, CWU has averaged over 33 point and 300 yards per game.

A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the fourth all-time meeting between the schools and first since Oct. 29, 2011. The Buffs won the first-ever meeting 49-42 on Nov. 15, 2008 in a game played at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium where Charly Martin had 172 yards receiving and a touchdown to break the program record for most receiving touchdowns in a season. CWU's Mike Reilly also broke Jon Kitna's career-yardage mark in the loss.

LAST TIME VS. CENTRAL WASHINGTON
WT jumped out to a 35-21 lead early in the third quarter then had to score twice in the fourth quarter to post a 49-35 win against Central Washington on Oct. 29, 2011 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.

The Buffs produced 550 yards of total offense and outgained the Wildcats 7.6 yards per play to 5.8. The 430 yards were their second time they had eclipsed the 400-yard mark that season.

With WT clinging to a 42-35 lead with a little more than nine minutes remaining in the game, Dustin Vaughan connected with Brittan Golden for a 70-yard touchdown to put WT up 14 and all but seal the victory.

Dustin Vaughan finished 32 of 42 for 430 yards and four touchdowns. HIs touchdown passes went for 10 yards to Khiry Robinson and 26, 17 and 70 yards to Brittan Golden.

A LOOK BACK AT WESTERN NEW MEXICO
The Buffs, who never trailed, ran for a season-high 165 yards (3.3 average) in their 27-17 victory over Western New Mexico.

Cornerback Tobias Harris registered his second career interception for a touchdown against the Mustangs. The freshman showed off his instinct to pick of Blayne Armsrtrong's pass on 3rd-and-2 before returning in 55 yards to extend the Buffs lead to 17-3.

Running back Duke Carter IV led the Buffs with 150 yards and a touchdown on 33 rushes (4.5 average). His 150 yards were the most of his career and the junior has now rushed for a team-high three touchdowns.

Mitch Hood completed 8 of 17 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. It marked the second consecutive game that WT finished with less than 100 yards passing.

The Buffs had three plays that went for at least 30 yards for the first time this season

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Miles Kochevar's defense has produced the sixth-most interceptions in Division II football this season. The Buffs are one of eight teams with eight interceptions in 2018. Edinboro has a nation-best 14.

Tobias Harris ranks first in the Lone Star Conference and 21st in the nation in punt return average at 14.7 yards per return. He also ranks ninth in the LSC in all-purpose yards at 115.0 per game.

After not converting a field goal in their first three games, Michael Shipley and John Cummings both made their attempts on Saturday. Shipley's kick from 30 yards out was his first career make while Cummings showed off his strong leg with a 48-yard make in the final minute of the third quarter.

After a strong showing in Silver City on Saturday, Cummings now ranks second in the LSC and 31st nationally in punting. His 42.4 yards per punt trail only Tristan Perry of Texas A&M-Commerce.

The Buffs are 2-1 on the season when they force a turnover. After forcing four (3 interceptions, 1 fumble) in the loss to Azusa Pacific, WT has force a combined six turnovers in wins over Oklahoma Panhandle State and Western New Mexico. 

WT HEAD COACH HUNTER HUGHES
WT head coach Hunter Hughes, the 2011 FootballScoop.com Division II Coordinator of the Year, is now in his second season at the helm of the Buffs. He went 3-8 in his first season in 2017 including win over nationally ranked Colorado-State Pueblo.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Central Washington Athletic Media Relations Department will provide live stats for the game. Buff Nation can listen to all of the Buffalo Football games on Lonestar 98.7 with Lucas Kinsey and Brice Sheets on the call with Kent Johnson joining them as the sideline reporter.  For more information, visit the Football Schedule Page at GoBuffsGo.com.

AFCA DIVISION II POLL
Three schools from the Lone Star Conference are ranked for the first time this season with MSU Texas leading the way at No. 5. Following a loss to Colorado State-Pueblo, Texas A&M-Commerce dropped to #9 while Tarleton entered the poll at #25.

2018 LSC PRESEASON POLL
Texas A&M-Commerce were picked to finish first receiving 13 of the possible 24 votes for a total of 201 points. MSU Texas was picked second with 10 first place votes for a total of 200 points. Eastern New Mexico ranked third with 142 points followed by Angelo State (136), Tarleton State (130), Texas A&M-Kingsville (104), West Texas A&M (73), UT Permian Basin (one first place, 57) and Western New Mexico (37).

MSU Texas' Layton Rabb was tabbed as the LSC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Angelo State's Markus Jones was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.