CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M finished the season with eight wins for the first time since 2013 following their 34-24 victory over Midwestern State on Saturday afternoon at Buffalo Stadium. The Buffs honored its 15 seniors before the game where they produced 412 yards of total offense.
Nick Gerber became the first Buff in more than three years to throw for three touchdowns as the redshirt sophomore completed 13-of-24 passes for 218 yards and three scores. Jordan Johnson rushed for a career-high 92 yards on 15 carries with Logan Vallo and Khalil Harris chipping in 54 and 35 respectively. Semaj Mitchell had a strong final game at Buffalo Stadium with five receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown with Vallo also recording a career-high 79 yards.
Hayden Dennis recorded a team-high 13 tackles including one of WT's seven tackles for loss. Tobias Harris recorded double digit tackles for the first time with 11 (10 solo) including two tackles for loss, an interception and three pass breakups.
The Mustangs scored first with a field goal on their opening possession following a 69-yard completion from Triston Williams to Kylan Harrison that put them at the WT 3-yard line. The defense wouldn't allow another yard as Payton Reyes' kick from 21 yards was good.
WT needed only two plays on the following possession to take a 6-3 lead. Gerber connected with Vallo on a season-best 73-yard reception before the junior tailback scored on the next play from two yards out to make it 6-3. The Buffs would get the ball back at their own 18-yard line on the next possession that ended with a 6-yard touchdown run from Vallo. WT did most of their damage on the ground with four different players getting carries before Vallo capped off the nearly eight-minute drive with his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.
They would stretch their lead to 17 points, 20-3, with under three minutes remaining before halftime on Harris' first career touchdown. The Buffs took advantage of a 20-yard punt from the Mustangs for their third touchdown for the first half. Gerber would connect with PJ Leonce for 10 yards on second down followed by consecutive runs from Harris, including a 10-yard touchdown. A quick stop from the defense allowed the Buffs to make it 27-3 at halftime. Gerber opened the drive with a 28-yard run before connecting with Mitchell for 26 yards. A defensive pass interference extended the drive before Gerber found Johnson for a 2-yard touchdown.
Each team would score on their opening possession of the second half including a 47-yard pass from Gerber to Mitchell. After MSU Texas scored on four plays, the Buffs responded with a five-play drive of their own with Mitchell recording his sixth touchdown of the season after beating his defender down the right side. WT's defense would record two interceptions in the third quarter but a special teams miscue and 78-yard drive would see their lead cut to 10, 34-24, heading into the fourth quarter.
Keimone Davis would come up with the Buffs third interception of the game on the Mustangs first drive of the fourth quarter after outjumping the wide receiver near the goal line. WT was forced to make one more defensive stand with under five minutes remaining after the Mustangs drove to the 27-yard line. Joseph Radke forced back-up quarter back Kaylor Sullivan into an incomplete pass on fourth down as the Buffs defeated MSU Texas for the first time since 2016.
The Buffs now wait to see if they are one of seven teams from Super Region 4 chosen for the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs during tomorrow's selection show broadcasted live on NCAA.com at 4 p.m. CT.
