LIVE STATS
VIDEO
TICKETS


CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M opens the 2019 season against Azusa Pacific on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. in the inaugural game at Buffalo Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. for the first game at the new on-campus stadium. 
 
WELCOME HOME, BUFFS
When the Buffs take the field on Saturday, it will mark the first time in over 60 years they have played on campus. After playing at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium since 1959, West Texas A&M will play six games in the newly constructed 8,500-seat stadium. 
 
It was announced in August that a naming rights agreement had taken place between WT and J Ferg Pros. Under the terms of the deal, all events at Buffalo Stadium over the next 10 years will be played on J Ferg Field. 
 
FIVE KEY STORYLINES
The Buffs bolster one of the top running back groups in Division II led by Duke Carter IV.  The senior ranked 14th in the nation in rushing yards before going down with a season ending injury against Eastern New Mexico in the Wagon Wheel Game. He ran for 259 yards in a win over nationally-ranked Central Washington while also running for four scores on homecoming against UT Permian Basin. Logan Vallo and Brandon Blair also return in 2019 along with newcomer Prince Ugwu and redshirt freshman Jarrod Compton.
 
Nick Gerber will make his debut under center on Saturday, making him the fifth different quarterback to start a season opener for the Buffs in the past five years. The redshirt sophomore joined the Buffs from Texas Tech where he was mentored by Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Prior to spending a season in Lubbock, he played in eight games at Tyler Junior College after a record-breaking high school career at Levelland High School. 
 
Sophomore Christopher Thomas finished the 2018 season with a team-high 104 tackles (46 solo, 58 assisted) including 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He ranked 45th in the nation in total tackles after starting in all 11 games as a true freshman out of Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas. Eric Collins enters his junior season with 133 career tackles including 77 last season as a sophomore. Hayden Dennis returns for his junior season after missing 2018 due to an injury. The San Antonio, Texas native has appeared in 20 games during his career and will look to lead an experience group of 'backers. 
 
Tobias Harris is back for his sophomore campaign after being the sixth Buff to be named the LSC Freshman of the Year in 2018. The Pflugerville, Texas, native, who will wear No. 3 this season, ranked third in the nation in interceptions per game and 49th in passes defended while ranking ninth in combined kick return yards and 10th in punt return touchdowns. His seven interceptions were the sixth-most in a single season in program history and most by a Buff since 2008. 
 
Rodney Freeman was officially named the special teams coordinator officially during fall camp after leading one of the best units in Division II in 2018. The Buffs ranked 15th in blocked kicks while sophomore Ayrton Payne ranked third nationally in punt return touchdowns with two. Harris was also a force in the punt game for the Buffs breaking the program record for returns (29) in a season. 
 
SCOUTING AZUSA PACIFIC
Victor Santa Cruz enters his 14th year at the helm of Azusa Pacific football with a record of 83-60. He has led the Cougars to a winning record in six consecutive seasons including a pair of 10-win seasons in 2013 and 2014. 
 
Azusa Pacific was picked to win the Great Northwest Athletic Conference picking up two of the four first-place votes to edge Central Washington. The Cougars return 14 starters from last year's squad that split the league title with the Wildcats led by four First Team All-GNAC selections, Lucas Widmer, Willie Fair, Quentin Frazier and Josh Olave. 
 
Widmer was the lone First Team selection on the offensive side of the ball for APU after hauling in 13 catches including three touchdowns. Frazier and Olave return in the secondary for the Cougars after holding opposing teams to under 250 passing yards per game in 2018. 
 
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
WT and APU wil meet for the sixth time overall and fourth time in Canyon on Saturday. The Cougars hold a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series as the Buffs have fallen in four straight season openers to APU.
 
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
West Texas A&M will enter the 2019 season with four new coaches on staff following the departure of Ryan McDonough and Miles Kochevar. Third-year head coach Hunter Hughes hired Joe Morris away from Fort Lewis as the new defensive coordinator while Jake Brown was tabbed as to lead the offense.
 
Morris spent one season as the head coach at Fort Lewis after spending time as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. In 2018, he coached seven All-RMAC players including Suli Tukumoeatu, who finished the season with the 10th most fumble recoveries in Division II. Brown joined the staff from TCU, where he served as an offensive analyst after spending two years as the running back coach at Stephen F. Austin. 
 
Javon Harris and Grant Aschenbeck also joined the staff in the fall. Harris will take charge of the defensive backs after spending last year as a graduate assistant at Troy following an impressive four-year career at the University of Oklahoma. Aschenbeck will coach the inside linebackers after spending four years at Angelo State where he was an all-conference performer for the Rams.  
 
BUFFS IN SEASON OPENERS
West Texas A&M is 46-61 all-time in season openers including 31-21 at home. Over the past decade, the Buffs have won the season opener just once coming in 2013 against Western Colorado. 
 
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
Entering the season, WT returns four of its top five wideouts including senior Semaj Mitchell. Buff Nation will remember Mitchell for hos 72-yard touchdown reception in WT's comeback victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville in the final game at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium but the Arlington, Texas native recorded a team-high 34 receptions for 400 yards during his first season in Canyon. He recorded at least one catch in all 10 games he played in last year including a career-high eight in the season opener against APU. Payton Gonzales and Jordan Johnson are back for their senior seasons after pulling in a team-high two touchdown receptions. 
 
BUFFS PICKED SIXTH IN LSC PRESEASON POLL
West Texas A&M was picked to finish sixth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the league's coaches, sports information directors and local media affiliates. 
 
The Buffs, who finished fourth in 2018 at 4-4, were picked to finish behind defending champions Tarleton, Midwestern State, Texas A&M-Commerce, Eastern New Mexico and Angelo State. 
 
AFCA DIVISION II POLL
Three Lone Star Conference schools were represented in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Top-25 released on Aug. 26. Tarleton opens the season ranked seventh with Texas A&M-Commerce at No. 13 and Midwestern State at No. 20. Angelo State also received votes in the poll. 
 
WT HEAD COACH HUNTER HUGHES
WT head coach Hunter Hughes enters his third season at the helm of West Texas A&M football. The 2011 FootballScoop.com Division II Coordinator of the Year enters the 2019 season 9-13 overall including a 6-5 record in 2018 where they defeated a nationally-ranked Central Washington team on a road. 
 
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 even 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.