Stats
Video
Audio
Tickets
Game Notes
CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M returns to the friendly confines of Buffalo Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they host No. 25 Angelo State in a Lone Star Conference showdown. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
LIVE COVERAGE
The WT Athletic Communications Department will provide live stats and pay-per-view webstream for the game. A new partnership with BlueFrame Technology and the Lone Star Conference has been established with the LSC Digital Network debuting this fall. Fans can purchase a $5 single-day pass or a $50 season pass that includes every home WT event during the 2019-20 season. A free audio stream will be provided by WT with Lucas Kinsey and Brice Sheets on the call. For more information, visit the Football Schedule Page at GoBuffsGo.com.
FIVE KEY STORYLINES
The Buffs overcame a 10-point halftime deficit for a second time under
Hunter Hughes in their 14-10 victory over UT Permian Basin.
Jordan Johnson scored both touchdowns for WT as they improved to 2-11 under Hughes when trailing by 10 or more points at halftime.
Following his 223-yard performance against the Falcons,
Nick Gerber became the first Buff quarterback to throw for over 200 yards in three consecutive games for the first time since 2016. The redshirt sophomore has completed 102-of-173 passes for 1,143 and eight touchdowns with three interceptions through his first career six starts. He has completed a pass to 14 different receivers with
Chase Sojka,
Juwan McCall, J. Johnson,
Semaj Mitchell and
Jamaal Hamilton all pulling it 10-plus receptions.
Gerber has played behind an offensive line that hasn't allowed a sack since Week 2 against William Jewell ranking them first in the nation in sacks allowed. Saturday's contest will be a tough test for the Buffs as they face off against an ASU team that is averaging an LSC-high 2.83 sacks per game.
J. Johnson rushed for his team-high sixth touchdown on Saturday in Odessa. The senior swiss army knife has rushed for at least one touchdown in five of six games and ranks 28th in the nation and fourth in the LSC in the category. He also pulled in 16 receptions, three short of his career-high 19 set back in 2017 when he led the team in receiving.
Frank Honang recorded a career-high 16 tackles in WT's 14-10 victory over UTPB. The senior linebacker now ranks sixth in the nation and third in the LSC with 71 tackles. He has recorded 10 or more tackles in five of his six starts this season for 6.5 tackles for loss and two force fumbles. Fellow linebacker
Hayden Dennis ranks 10th nationally and fifth in the conference with his 68 tackles.
SCOUTING ANGELO STATE
Angelo State are 5-1 on the season and 3-1 in Lone Star Conference play after a 31-14 victory over Western New Mexico at Legrand Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The win put the Rams back in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 for the second time this season.
The Rams offensive attack is led by senior quarterback Payne Sullins, who has completed 107-of-179 passes for 1,452 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has thrown for over 200 yards in five games this season including a season-high 370 and four touchdowns against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Kike Chism and Lawson Ayo are Sullins' top targets as the duo has combined for 46 receptions for 925 yards and nine touchdowns.
Lloyd Howard is the leading rusher fo the Rams with 552 yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries. Daven Manning has also seen time in the backfield with 32 carries for 163 yards and two scores.
ASU owns the best scoring defense in the LSC at 14.0 points per game, as Western Oregon and Western New Mexico are the only teams to score more than 14 points. Hunter Kyle is the leading tackler for the Rams with 42 including 4.5 tackles for loss while Derrick Dickers has a team-high 3.0 sacks.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
WT is 13-17 all-time against the Rams including a 7-9 record in Canyon. The Buffs have won 10 of the last 13 matchups including a 26-18 victory in San Angelo last year. WT last defeated ASU at home on Oct. 19, 2013 behind 471 passing yards and four touchdowns from
Dustin Vaughan.
HOME SWEET HOME
West Texas A&M ranks second in Division II football in total attendance (26,783) and third in average attendance (8,928). The Buffs' inaugural game at Buffalo Stadium against Azusa Pacific drew 10,145 fans, the 10th most for a DII game this season.
The Buffs are averaging 42.7 points per game at home this season where they have outscored opponents 128-78. They are averaging 443.0 yards of offense, 226.7 on the ground and 216.3 through the air.
The on-campus stadium was also named one of nine best #D2FB stadiums in an article published on NCAA.com on Tuesday afternoon.
A LOOK INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Buff defense forced a season-high four turnovers against UTPB including a pair of interceptions from junior
Keimone Davis. The Carrollton product entered the fourth quarter of Saturday's contest with zero career interceptions but that all changed as he became the first Buff since
Keith Blank in 2018 to record multiple interceptions in the same game.
Tobias Harris came up with his eighth career interception against the Falcons moving him into a tie for third in career interceptions. It was his first interception of the season after picking off seven passes last season en route to LSC Freshman of the Year honors.
Aaron Coash had one of his best performances as a Buff on Saturday with a career-high four punts inside the 20. It was the second time this season that the redshirt freshman punted eight times.
Duke Carter IV went over 1,500 career rushing yards on Saturday. The senior running back came to WT from Louisiana-Monroe where he rushed for 340 yards on 87 carries and a touchdown. During his career at WT, the Second Team All-LSC performers has 1,158 yards on 272 carries and 12 touchdowns.
THIS DAY IN BUFF HISTORY
The Buffs are 4-6 all-time in games played on Oct. 19 dating back to the 1946 season. WT is 1-2 since 2000 with their lone win coming at home against Angelo State in 2013.
AFCA DIVISION II POLL
WT received votes for the sixth straight week in the AFCA Coaches Top-25 poll released on Monday afternoon. Tarleton remained in fourth behind Valdosta State, Ferris State and Minnesota State. Texas A&M-Commerce picked up 218 votes to stay at 20th with Angelo State coming in at No. 25.
AROUND THE LSC
Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce remained undefeated in LSC play over the weekend. The Texans handed Eastern New Mexico their second loss of the season while A&M-Commerce defeated Midwestern State 54-38 in a game that was broadcast on ESPN 3. Angelo State defeated Western New Mexico on Homecoming while Texas A&M-Kingsville fell 26-14 to GNAC leader Western Oregon.
WT HEAD COACH HUNTER HUGHES
Third-year head coach
Hunter Hughes is 14-14 since taking over the program in 2017. The 2011 FootballScoop.com Division II Coordinator of the Year has led the Buffs to their best start (5-1) since 2013. He is 2-6 all-time against ranked opponents with wins over CSU-Pueblo (2017) and Central Washington (2018).
UP NEXT
WT make the short trip to Portales, N.M. on Saturday, Oct. 26 for the annual Wagon Wheel game against Eastern New Mexico. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
The Buffs are 16-17 all-time against the Greyhounds including 8-7 in away contests. They last defeated ENMU on Oct. 31, 2015.
