CANYON. Texas – The Buffaloes came up with big defensive stops that led to 14 unanswered fourth quarter points on Saturday night as West Texas A&M picked up a big Lone Star Conference victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville, 21-14 at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.
 
The Javelinas looked to get on the board midway thru the second quarter as they marched down the field before a big hit by Josh Beaird at the goal line knocked the ball loose from Jalen Brown as Sosa Sokimi recovered in the endzone for a touchback to keep the game scoreless.
 
WT couldn't convert the turnover into points as a fourth and long pass was incomplete to give TAMUK the ball back with under three minutes to play in the half, the Javelinas moved into Buffalo territory with a long run on first down, Kingsville converted a third and long later in the drive to setup a five-yard touchdown run by Lawrence Starks for the 7-0 lead.
 
The Kingsville defense came up with a big play right before the half as Jaylen Hackney intercepted a Kanon Gibson pass with 12 seconds remaining to setup a 34-yard field goal that was missed as TAMUK took a 7-0 lead into the locker room.
 
The Buffaloes got on the board in a wild way in the third quarter as a James Ingham punt bounced off a Javelina into the endzone as Jamel Acosta Lewis fell on the ball for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. The Javelinas responded on their next possession as a two-yard touchdown run by Brown gave TAMUK a 14-7 lead.
 
The Javelinas looked added to their lead to start the fourth quarter as a fake punt attempt by the Buffaloes was unsuccessful to setup a 35-yard field goal by Gibert Garza that went wide right to keep it at 14-7. The Buffs found a spark on offense later in the quarter as Gibson threaded the needle as TJ Moore Jr. took a slant 59 yards to the endzone to tie the game at 14-14.
 
WT made a big play on defense on the next Javelina possession as Braylon Sugg and Ashton Reynolds got in the backfield for a sack to give the Buffs the ball back with 5:51 left. The Buffs would move into TAMUK territory as Gibson connected with Tucker Swoboda for 45 yards followed by a 17-yard rush by Gibson, the Buffs would take their first lead of the night as Jamaal Joseph scored from one yard out to make it 21-14.
 
The Buffalo defense came up with another big stop on the next Javelina possession as a four-and-out gave the Buffs the ball back with 2:28 remaining. WT was able to run out the clock as a Joseph first down sealed the 21-14 victory.
 
Gibson finished the night completing 9-of-21 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 16 times for 64 yards, Joseph added 49 yards on the ground while Moore's lone catch of the night went for 59 yards and a score followed by Swoboda with 56 yards receiving.
 
Defensively, JT Cavender led the way for the Buffs with 11 total tackles (six solo) followed by Zach Schlager, David Jeffery and Beaird with five tackles each. Cavender ran his career tackle total to 331 which is the fourth most by a Buffalo since 2000 to pass Chris Thomas (329) and Adam Shaw (330).
 
The Buffs return to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium on Saturday night for their final home contest of the season as the Mustangs of Midwestern State come to Canyon for Senior Night presented by Street Auto Group, kickoff on Military Appreciation Night is set for 6:00 p.m. MSU fell to Western Oregon, 21-16 on Saturday night in Wichita Falls.