NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In their first meeting since 1997, West Texas A&M battled but came short against Stephen F. Austin, 34-6, on Saturday afternoon at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches.
Nick Gerber completed 16 of 36 passes for 174 yards, marking his fourth straight game with over 150 yards through the air dating back to last season. He also ran for 15 yards on 11 carries. Khalil Harris had a team-high 47 yards rushing on 14 attempts to go along with three catches for 20 yards. Devin Neal was one of eight players with a reception as the junior had three catches for 61 yards and rushed for 24 more.
Hayden Dennis finished with a game-high 13 tackles and an interception. The senior linebacker now has 33 tackles on the season and 229 for his career. Christopher Thomas had eight tackles and tackle for loss with Tre'Von Mosley also adding five tackles and his second sack of the season.
After following behind 17-0 in the opening 15 minutes, WT got some momentum on offense in the second quarter following a missed 'Jacks field goal. Neal started the drive off with a 24-yard run on a reverse to put WT in SFA territory for the first time in the game. The Buffs would get into the red zone on a 13-yard completion from Gerber to Harris on third down but were unable to convert the fourth down as Gerber was tackled behind the line of scrimmage.
The defense would force a 3-and-out on the next SFA possession and the Buffs would take over from their own 29-yard line. Kenneath Redd Jr. started the drive with a 20-yard reception followed by a 31-yard catch from Neal putting the Buffs at the SFA 19-yard line. On the next play, Gerber would see his pass tipped at the line of scrimmage and picked off by the 'Jacks BJ Thompson.
WT got on the board with a 35-yard field goal from Mauricio Gonzalez on the first drive of the second half. Following a 5-yard run from Harris on first down, Gerber found Maxwell Perez for 16 yards, giving the sophomore his first career reception. Brandon Blair and Gerber would combine for 35 yards on the ground on the next four plays to put the Buffs in the red zone for the third time in the game. After a pair of incomplete passes, Gonzalez would put his kick just inside the post to make it 17-3.
After 10 straight points from the 'Jacks, WT would add a second field midway through the fourth quarter thanks in large part to their first turnover of the season. Dennis read the route perfectly to intercept Trae Self's pass and return it six yards to give the Buffs their best starting possession of the game. Harris ran for 37 yards on the first play of the drive them inside the 10-yard line. Two incomplete passes and a sack pushed the Buffs back before Gonzalez connected a career-long 44-yard field goal to make it 27-6.
WT would once again find themselves inside the red zone late in the fourth quarter after a 15-play, 75-yard drive but couldn't come away with any points. Gerber rushed for 13 yards on 4th-and-12 to keep the driving going but was unable to connect with Glen Mbaku on fourth down as SFA took a knee to pick up their first win of the season.
The Buffs finish their three-game road trip on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Abilene Christian. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium in Abilene.
