CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M overcame an early 12-point deficit to defeat Angelo State 34-27 on Saturday evening at Buffalo Stadium in Canyon. The Buffs picked up their first home victory over the Rams since 2013 thanks to three forced turnovers including a pick-six in the third quarter.

Nick Gerber completed 13 of 22 passes for 184 yards with a touchdown and interception. Khalil Harris had a team-high 99 yards on nine carries including his first rushing touchdown of the season. The sophomore also had a team-high three receptions for eight yards. Glen Mbaku had a team-high 61 receiving yards and a score with Devin Neal, Tyree Tipton, Brandon Blair and Markell Stephens-Peppers with two catches a piece.

Eric Collins finished with a career-high 14 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss and his second sack of the season. Satchel Escalante Satchel Escalante and Christopher Thomas chipped in eight tackles with Escalante also recording his first career interception. 

WT got off to a slow start with nine total yards in the first quarter and a blocked punt that resulted in a safety. Following a 17-yard rushing touchdown from Angelo State's Alfred Grear with 11 minutes left in the second quarter, the Buffs trailed 12-0 before getting on the board on their next possession. 

Gerber connected with Tipton on a 15-yard pass on second down to put the Buffs in ASU territory for the first time of the game. The Buffs continued to move down the field with a 15-yard pass to Neal followed by a 21-yard pass from Gerber to Kenneath Redd Jr. Jordan Johnson finished off the drive with his 12^th career rushing touchdown on first and goal from the 1-yard line.

Following a punt from the Rams, WT would take their first lead of the game on a 61-yard touchdown from Mbaku. After getting sacked on first down for a loss of six, Gerber found Neal for 30 yards. Two straight penalties and an incomplete pass made it 2^nd-and-20 before Gerber floated a perfect pass into the hands for Mbaku for his first career reception and touchdown. Abrae Booker-Currin would record his first career interception on the final play of the first half at the goal line followed by a 58-yard return. 

ASU would retake the lead on the first drive of the second half on Grear's second touchdown of the game, this time for 54 yards. The Buffs continued to move the ball down the field on their first possession of the second half after a 32-yard run from Harris. Later in the drive, Gerber would see his deflected pass intercepted in the endzone by ASU's Leddy French but Tipton forced and recovered a fumble to get the ball back for WT at the 9-yard line. J. Johnson would reach the end zone for the second time four plays later on a 4^th and goal from the 1-yard line. 

The Rams responded with another long drive, reaching the Buff 21-yard line before Tre'Von Mosley's pressure forced Zach Bronkhorst to throw the ball early and right into the hands of Escalante. The junior transfer proceeded to take ball 85 yards to give the Buffs a 27-19 lead with under two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

After trading punts to start the fourth, ASU's Bronkhorst got into a groove completing four straight passes including a 13-yard catch and run from Rasheen Green to tie the game at 27-all. WT wasted no time retaking the lead as Harris went 50 yards on the third play of the next possession to make it 34-27 in favor of the Buffs. The sophomore was able to stay inbounds after breaking a tackle near the sideline to make it a seven-point game. 

The Buff defense would come up big in the fourth quarter with two stops to seal the victory including a total team effort to stop Nathaniel Omaye on 4^th and 2 with 2:05 remaining the game. 

The Buffs welcome North American to Buffalo Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, for the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.