CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M put on a show in front of a sold-out at the inaugural game Buffalo Stadium on Saturday night defeating Azusa Pacific 35-16. The Buffs scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to snap a four-game losing streak to the Cougars and open the new on-campus stadium with a victory.
Nick Gerber, making his first start in Maroon & White, completed 18 of his 27 pass attempts for 192 yards and a touchdown while running for 40 yards and a score. Prince Ugwu had a team-high 70 yards on ground on nine carries while Brandon Blair chipped in 50 yards on 11 carries. Jordan Johnson did it all for the Buffs as the senior rushed for 11 yards and a score while pulling in a team-high seven receptions for 79 yards. Frank Honang and Hayden Dennis finished with 11 tackles a piece with Christopher Thomas finishing with a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Buffs scored on their first possession of the game when Gerber went untouched from 16 yards to cap off a 7-play, 47-yard drive. WT dominated on the ground with four players combining for 47 yards on six carries.
Azusa Pacific would get on the board on their first drive of the second quarter with a 35-yard field goal from Ramzee Jaridly. Later in the quarter, the Buffs defense held their own after the Cougars got inside the 10-yard line forcing another Jardily field goal.
The visitors would take the lead in the third quarter on Jardily's third field goal of the game before making it a two-score game two possessions later on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Tyrone Williams. Jr. to Brandon Jackson. The Buffs responded with their first scoring drive of the second half on the following possession on a Blair 7-yard touchdown run. Tobias Harris retuned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to put the Buffs near midfield. Gerber connected with Semaj Mitchell for a 48-yard reception on the first play of the drive before Blair scored from seven yards out for his seventh career touchdown to make it 16-14.
Azusa Pacific continued to move the ball well on the next possession until LaDarian Hudson read Williams. Jr. perfectly for his first career interception. Gerber would orchestrate a 9-play, 60-yard drive capped off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to J. Johnson to give the home team a 21-16 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
WT forced another three-and-out followed by another lengthy drive from the offense resulting in a touchdown. Jarrod Compton finished the drive with a 10-yard run up the middle for his first touchdown but it was Prince Ugwu who did most of the heavy lifting on the 14-play, 89-yard drive. The Austin, Texas native carried the ball five times for 40 yards before Compton sent the crowd into a frenzy with a touchdown in his first game as a Buff.
The Buff defense continued to torment the Cougars forcing another turnover, this time on Eric Collins knocking the ball loose from Williams Jr. after the pocket collapsed. Gerber had no problem finding his favorite target, J. Johnson, on the next drive with a 20-yard completion inside the red zone. The senior finished off the drive with his fourth career touchdown from one yard out to seal the victory.
WT hits the road for its next two games beginning with William Jewel in Liberty, Mo. on Sept. 14 followed by a trip to No. 7 Tarleton on Sept. 21.
