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Game Notes

CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M makes the trip across the state to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday, Nov.  9. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville. 
 
The game will be broadcast locally on KCPN-LP (Channel 33) and online at www.myhighplains.com. 
 
FIVE KEY STORYLINES
Through nine games, WT's offense has produced 27 drives over 50 yards, 22 of those ending in touchdowns. The Buffs had four such drives against Texas A&M-Commerce (85, 75, 69, 52) with three touchdowns including a 28-yard touchdown from Nick Gerber to PJ Leonce. 
 
Gerber has a completed 30 passes over 15 yards this season, seven of those going to his favorite target Juwan McCall. The senior wideout has seen seven of his team-high 28 receptions go for over 15 yards including a season-best 55-yard touchdown reception against Western New Mexico. Semaj Mitchell and Chase Sojka have six receptions followed by Jordan Johnson (4), Markel Stephens-Peppers (3), Jamaal Hamilton (2), Jeremie Karngbaye (1) and Leonce (1). 
 
The Buffs rushed the ball a season-high 50 time against in their Lone Star Conference Showdown against the Lions. Duke Carter IV took a bulk of the carries (20) with Logan Vallo, Jordan Johnson and Nick Gerber chipping in nine carries each. It also marked the second time under third-year head coach Hunter Hughes ran the ball that much in a game. 
 
With his 14-tackle performance against the nationally-ranked Lions, Frank Honang became the sixth Buff to record over 100 tackles in a season since 2009. The Saginaw native has recorded double digit tackles in six games in 2019 where he ranks in the Top 10 nationally in forced fumbles (6th) and total tackles (8th). 
 
Tobias Harris enters the final two games of the regular season with 363 punt return yards, six short of breaking Curley Watters program record set back in 1966. The former LSC Freshman of the Year is also 61 yards short of breaking Watters record for career punt return yards. Harris currently leads the nation in combined kick return yards (872) and ranks second in punt return average (24.2). 
 
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE
Texas A&M-Kingsville is coming off their first LSC win of the season last week against Western New Mexico. The Javelinas put up 485 yards of offense en route to their first win over Division II opponent this season.
 
The offense (28.8 ppg) is led by senior Koy Detmer Jr., who has started in the past two games throwing for 746 yards and five touchdowns. The nephew of former Heisman quarterback Ty Detmer threw for a career-high 450 yards and three touchdowns in the Javelina's 45-33 setback to Tarleton. Luis Lopez is the leading rusher for the Javelinas with 91 carries and 526 yards. His 11 rushing touchdowns are the second-most in the conference. 
 
Darrian Hambrick and Devin Millburn have been the top two wide receivers for the Javelinas this season combining for 90 receptions for 1,089 yards and five touchdowns. Donte Ross and Ryan Martinez have both recorded over 20 receptions. 
 
Tre'Michael Tutt is the leading tackler for a Javelina defense that is allowing 36.8 points per game. Tutt has recorded double digit tackles twice this season including 22 against in a loss to Eastern New Mexico. Jacob Clarkson has recorded a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks combined with an interception, fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. 
 
The Javelinas are led by fifth-year head coach Daren Wilkinson. The Valley Center, Calif. native is 21-33 during his time in Kingsville including a 9-3 season in 2016. 
 
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
WT is 15-18-1 all-time against the Javelinas including 6-8 in Kingsville. The Buffs have won seven of the last nine games including a thrilling 35-31 comeback last season in the final game at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
 
THE BASH BROTHERS
Much like The Mighty Ducks' dynasty of the early 90s, the Buffs have their own bash brothers in Honang and Hayden Dennis. The linebackers are on the verge of becoming the first teammates to record 100 or more tackles in the same season since 2012. 
 
Taylor McCuller and Kyle Voss achieved the feat seven years ago when McCuller recorded a school-record 165 tackles. The Red Oak native also recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks while ranking 13th in the nationally in tackles per game. 
 
GOOD TO BE BACK
Logan Vallo carried the ball nine times for 27 yards and a touchdown in his first game in over a month. The San Diego, Calif. native score the opening touchdown for the Buffs with a 2-yard run on their opening drive of the game. Through five appearances, he has rushed the ball 42 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns including a season-long 27 yarder against Western New Mexico. 
 
A LOOK INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Buffs defense has forced 11 fumbles this season, which is the sixth-most in Division II football. Honang has forced a team-high four with Eric Collins and Michael Onozie chipping in two each. 
 
Gerber ranks fifth in the conference and 49th in the nation in completions per game. The redshirt sophomore has completed 16.2 passes per game through his first nine starts where he has thrown for the 65th most yards in DII (1,649). 
 
Seven different Buffs have rushed for a touchdown this season including a team-high seven from Jordan Johnson. WT's swiss army knife in six of WT's nine games including a two-touchdown performance against William Jewell in Week 2. In total, the Eagle Lake product has accounted for 10 touchdowns (7 rushing, 2 receiving, 1 passing). 
 
A win on Saturday would give WT their fourth road win of the season, the most since 2016. It would also give Hunter Hughes his seventh win of the season, surpassing last season's total of six. 
 
THIS DAY IN BUFF HISTORY
WT is 4-3-1 all-time in games played on Nov. 9 dating back to the 1946 season where they lost 28-7 to Hardin-Simmons.
 
It has been six years since the Buffs played on Nov. 9 when they defeated West Georgia 63-23 behind the six-touchdown performance from Dustin Vaughan. Aaron Harris also contributed two touchdowns on the ground. 
 
AFCA DIVISION II POLL
The LSC was represented by three schools in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches Poll. Tarleton moved up a spot to third following a 66-7 victory over Midwestern State while Angelo State and A&M-Commerce remained at 21st and 24th respectively.
 
AROUND THE LSC
TSU could clinch the outright LSC title with losses by A&M-Commerce and ASU as they face non-conference foe William Jewell in Liberty, Mo. The Lions return to Commerce to face UT Permian Basin while the Rams travel to Portales, N.M. to face Eastern New Mexico. Western New Mexico and Midwestern State are scheduled to kickoff at 1 p.m. in Wichita Falls. 
 
WT HEAD COACH HUNTER HUGHES
Third-year head coach Hunter Hughes is 15-16 since taking over the program in 2017. The 2011 FootballScoop.com Division II Coordinator of the Year is 1-1 against the Javelinas after their thrilling 35-31 victory in the final game at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium last year. 
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's game will be broadcast locally by the Nexstar Media Group on KCPN. An online stream will also be available on www.myhighplains.com. Lucas Kinsey and Brice Sheets will have the call on the free audio stream available on GoBuffsGo.com. For more information, visit the Football Schedule Page at GoBuffsGo.com.  
 
UP NEXT
The Buffs finish the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 16, when they host Midwestern State on Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Buffalo Stadium. 
 
WT is 15-16 all-time against the Mustangs with their last win coming on Oct. 22, 2016 in Canyon.