CANYON, Texas – The Buffs hit the road for their longest trip so far this season as they travel to Monmouth, Oregon to take on the Western Oregon Wolves in Lone Star Conference action with kickoff set for 3:05 p.m. CT at McArthur Field.
 
A LOOK AT THE WOLVES
WOU enters the weekend with an overall record of 2-4 with a 1-3 mark in Lone Star Conference action following a thrilling 16-14 victory over Central Washington on Saturday night in Ellensburg.
 
The Wolves made a game-saving tackle at the two yard line on a blocked extra point return with just four seconds left to seal the win. WOU finished the game with 370 yards of total offense with 241 of those coming thru the air. 
 
Gannon Winker guides the WOU offense as the sophomore from Bainbridge Island, Washington has completed 102-of-206 passes for 1,379 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with 10 interceptions. Defensively, Jaylin Parnell anchors the Wolves with 55 total tackles (34 solo) to go along with six sacks and an interception.
 
WOU HEAD COACH ARNE FERGUSON
Arne Ferguson is now in his 18th season at the helm of the Western Oregon football program. The former defensive standout for the Wolves holds an overall record of 96-82 during his time in Monmouth.
 
Ferguson has produced nine All-Americans and a pair of NFL draftees during his time on the sidelines for the Wolves. WOU claimed a share of the program's first GNAC Championship in 2019 as Ferguson was named the GNAC Coach of the Year.
 
THE SERIES
Saturday afternoon marks just the second meeting on the gridiron between the Buffs and Wolves. WOU picked up a 41-38 victory over the Buffs last season in Monmouth. 
 
HEAD COACH HUNTER HUGHES
Hunter Hughes is now in his sixth season at the helm of the Buffaloes as the Nashville, Tennessee native holds an overall record of 31-25 during his time in Canyon. A 1991 graduate of Middle Tennessee State, Hughes has coached 37 All-Lone Star Conference selections during his time in Maroon & White. 
 
Hughes came to Canyon in December of 2016 following a decade as the Defensive Coordinator at Colorado State-Pueblo where the ThunderWolves made five NCAA Playoff appearances including a run to the 2014 NCAA Division II National Title.
 
THIS IS LSC FOOTBALL
The season kicks off Thursday, September 1st and the Lone Star Conference has 10 teams set to compete in 2022 with the addition of Central Washington, Simon Fraser and Western Oregon as affiliate members. Each team will play nine conference games to determine the LSC Champion.
 
WEEK SIX RECAP
The West Texas A&M Buffaloes went on the road and came away with a big Lone Star Conference victory on Saturday night as they topped the rival Midwestern State Mustangs, 38-26 in front of over 7,000 fans at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas.
 
Nick Gerber finished the night completing 23-of-28 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown to go along with 27 yards on the ground. Compton led the way in the backfield as the senior from Lubbock carried the ball 24 times for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Noah Bogardus had another big night as the senior caught eight passes for 88 yards in the win.
 
Defensively, Ty Dillon led the way for the Buffs with seven total tackles (six solo) followed by Gage Smith with six to go along with a forced fumble and an interception.
 
WHERE THE BUFFALOES ROAM
West Texas A&M is home to one of the premiere college football facilities in the country as Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium opened on September 7, 2019 to a capacity crowd of 10,145 fans as the Buffs toppled Asuza Pacific, 35-16. The state of the art facility included Hellas Matrix FusionH XP2 artificial turf along with seven ground-level suites and the Fairly Group Club.
 
AFCA DIVISION II TOP-25 POLL
Ferris State picked up 29 first place votes to remain atop of the poll following a 33-25 victory over then #25 Saginaw Valley State last Saturday. Grand Valley State sits second (one first place, 720) followed by Angelo State (684), Shepherd (656), Ouachita Baptist (627), Ashland (591), Pittsburg State (583), Indianapolis (508), West Florida (475) and Delta State (451) to round out the top ten.
 
The LSC was represented by Angelo State (3rd) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (20th). Super Region Four (LSC/RMAC/NSIC) features ASU (3rd), Sioux Falls (14th), Colorado School of Mines (19th), TAMUK (20th), Augustana (24th), Wayne State (RV) and Black Hills State (RV).
 
HOME OF CHAMPIONS
West Texas A&M is home to one of the most successful athletic programs in all of NCAA Division II.
 
The 2021-22 campaign saw WT claimed six Lone Star Conference Championships, three LSC Tournament crowns, two Regional Championships and four Top-5 track and field finishes including the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Women's National Championship.
 
TRAVELING THE MILES
The Buffaloes make the 1,741 mile trip to Monmouth, Oregon on Saturday for WT's second trip to the Beaver State.
 
It is the longest road trip by the Buffs in the last two decades, WT traveled to Bellingham, Washington (1,827 miles) on September 16, 2000 and fell to Western Washington 41-17 at Civic Stadium. The Vikings discontinued their football program in 2008.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's game will be broadcasted on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network. For more information, visit the Football Schedule page at GoBuffsGo.com.
 
ON THIS DAY
The Buffs are 7-3 all-time on October 15th. Five of those contests took place against Division I opponents when the Buffs were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
1949 - at Houston (L, 14-13)
1955 - at New Mexico State (W, 32-6)
1960 - North Texas (W, 14-6)
1966 - Richmond (W, 41-7)
1977 - Drake (W, 31-7)
1988 - Texas A&M-Commerce (L, 41-37)
1994 - at Hardin Simmons (W, 40-34)
2005 - at Abilene Christian (W, 40-24)
2011 - at Abilene Christian (L, 28-18)
2016 - at Oklahoma Panhandle State (W, 42-14)