West Texas A&M (2-3, 2-1) vs. Sul Ross State (0-4, 0-2)
Date	Saturday, October 4th | 7:00 p.m.
Location	Canyon, Texas | Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium
Live Statistics	Link
Live Video	FloCollege (Pay-Per-View)
Radio	KGNCNewsNow.com | Listen Locally: 710 AM | 97.5 FM
Television	KFDA's NewsChannel 10 Too
Other Links	Game Notes

CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M continue their homestand on Saturday night as they welcome the Lobos of Sul Ross State to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium with kickoff on Homecoming set for 7:00 p.m. in Canyon.
 
HOMECOMING
The Buffaloes hold a 49-28-2 all-time record during Homecoming Week as they have won their last seven Homecoming games. WT has outscored their Homecoming opponents 2,165-1,654 as the Buffs have won 18 of their last 20 Homecoming games including 10 straight from 2005-2014. Saturday's game is presented by First United Bank.
 
WEEK 5 MATCHUPS
eek 5 will feature all 10 teams in action with five conference matchups all on Saturday. Western Oregon hosts Western New Mexico while Texas A&M-Kingsville travels to Wichita Falls. UT Permian Basin and Angelo State are set for a Top-10 showdown in San Angelo while WT hosts Sul Ross State and Eastern New Mexico travels to Central Washington.
 
WESTERN OREGON REWIND
West Texas A&M's defense allowed just 35 yards of total offense last Saturday night as the Buffaloes overpowered the Wolves of Western Oregon, 35-7 in front of over 7,000 fans at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
 
RJ Martinez completed 37 of 46 passes for 313 yards, showcasing a strong aerial presence for the Buffs. Sean Johnson contributed significantly on the ground, rushing for 96 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Jayden Hibbler also made an impact with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts. On the defensive side, Ashton Reynolds recorded three sacks as part of his five total tackles. Reynolds was tabbed the LSC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against the Wolves.
 
STARTING FAST
The Buffaloes have scored points on their first possession of the game in four of the first five games this season, averaging 7.4 plays and 58.6 yards per opening possession. West Texas A&M has received the opening kickoff in each of their first five contests, averaging 2:49 of clock time per opening possession.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Buffaloes continue a three-game homestand that spans four weeks on Saturday night against Sul Ross State. WT has a bye week on October 11th before welcoming Eastern New Mexico to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium for the annual Wagon Wheel Game on October 18th.
 
SRSU HEAD COACH LEE HAYS
Lee Hays was named the head coach of the Sul Ross State football program on February 15, 2025. Hays spent the previous seven seasons as the offensive line coach and assistant offensive coordinator at Lubbock Cooper High School. Hays is no stranger to the Texas Panhandle as he served on the WT staff as offensive line coach in 1999 followed by time as the Offensive Coordinator from 2003-05. His 2005 offense led the country in passing with an average of 363.8 yards per game, garnering 23 All-LSC selections including three individual LSC award winners.
 
A LOOK AT THE LOBOS
Sul Ross State enters the weekend with an overall record of 0-4 as they are 0-2 during Lone Star Conference action this season. The Lobos are riding a six-game losing streak dating back to November 2, 2024 with a 33-28 win over Eastern New Mexico. The six straight defeats is the 15th longest streak in DII football. 
 
SRSU is coming off a 52-3 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville last Saturday in Alpine during the Lobos' home opener. Kingsville held a 24-3 lead at halftime before scoring 28 points in the second half on their way to a big win at Jackson Field.
 
The Lobos have struggled offensively this season, averaging just 89.0 yards of total offense per game. Sul Ross has yet to find the endzone, connecting on field goals against Western Oregon and Texas A&M-Kingsville to be outscored 247-6 so far this year. The Lobos are the only Division II program in the nation to not score an offensive touchdown thru five weeks of the regular season.
 
Andrew Martinez guides the Sul Ross State offense as the senior from El Paso, Texas has completed 29-of-61 passes for 289 yards and three interceptions. Martinez has felt pressure during his four contests, being sacked 12 times for a loss of 92 yards. 
 
A pair of running backs have registered atleast 20 carries in the backfield and Kendrick Jefferson and Kye Callicoattie have combined for 68 yards. Taribbean Ramirez leads the way in the receiving core with five catches for 70 yards.
 
Brendon Martin anchors the Sul Ross State defense as the senior defensive back from San Antonio, Texas has registered 36 total tackles (22 solo) with 1.0 of them coming for a loss to go along with a pair of pass breakups.
 
LSC NEWS & NOTES
No. 11 UT Permian Basin, Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas A&M and No. 17 Central Washington cruised to wins in Week 4 of Lone Star Conference football. No. 6 Angelo State and Eastern New Mexico were idle. Week 5 will feature all 10 teams in action with five conference matchups all on Saturday.
 
CWU is leading the league in total offense at 468 yards per game, followed by WNMU (466.8) and TAMUK (459.3). CWU is also scoring a league-high 50.3 points per game.
 
UTPB has the conference's top-rated defense, allowing just 324.8 yards per game. Angelo State is next at 348.3 yards per game then ENMU (372.8). Opponents are scoring just 16.5 points per game against UTPB, which leads the league.
 
Midwestern State is the least penalized team in the league, averaging just 35 yards per game. With the win over MSU on Saturday, UTPB head coach Kris McCullough is believed to be just the fourth coach in the history of college football with 30 career wins under the age of 30.
 
LSC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ashton Reynolds had three sacks – the most in a single game in the LSC this season – to lead the way for a unit that allowed just 45 yards of total offense in a 35-7 win over Western Oregon. Reynolds had five tackles – two solo – and his sacks resulted in a loss of 10 yards. Reynolds and company surrendered only 20 rushing yards and kept WOU's offense off the scoreboard as its only score came on defense in the fourth quarter.
 
THE SERIES
The Buffaloes and Lobos meet for the 10th time on the gridiron on Saturday night, it marks just the second meeting between the two since September 29, 1956. The Buffs hold a 7-0-2 all-time lead in the series. SRSU makes their first ever trip to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.
 
Last year's meeting came in the 2024 season opener as WT claimed a 42-21 victory in Alpine. Sean Johnson registered 306 yards of total offense (167 rushing) with five total touchdowns to earn LSC Offensive Player of the Week accolades. 
 
HEAD COACH JOSH LYNN
Josh Lynn is now in his third season at the helm of the West Texas A&M Football program after being named the 29th head coach in WT history. Lynn, widely regarded as one of the nation's up-and-coming head coaches, came to Canyon following six seasons at the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he led the Lopers to an overall record of 35-25 including a run to the Second Round of the 2021 NCAA Playoffs.
 
NEW FACES ON THE SIDELINE
WT Football welcomes four new faces to the full-time coaching staff as Justin Bane was named the new Offensive Coordinator for the Buffs. Mike Bethea will work with the linebackers while Adrian Duncan (running backs) and Cole McDowell (tight ends) also joined the offensive staff. Justin Richter was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in January following two seasons as the defensive backs/co-special team coordinator for the Buffs.
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
The Buffaloes have been tabbed sixth in the 2025 LSC Preseason Poll announced during the league's annual Media Day in McKinney, Texas.
 
Defending LSC champion Angelo State claimed 23 of the possible 30 first place votes for a total of 292 points to sit atop of the poll followed by Central Washington (four first place, 257), UT Permian Basin (two first place, 229), Texas A&M-Kingsville (one first place, 211), West Texas A&M (157), Midwestern State (139), Eastern New Mexico (88), Western New Mexico (53), Sul Ross State (51).
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday night's contest will be broadcasted on FloCollege. The LSC and FloSports reached a historic agreement in August of 2024 for the largest streaming rights deal in NCAA Division II history. Fans have two different subscription options: $19.99 per month or $107.88 per year ($8.99/month). Additionally, those who use an .edu email address from an LSC member institution will be able to sign up at a discounted subscription price of $9.99 per month or $71.88 per year ($5.99/month). 
 
BACK ON THE AIRWAVES
West Texas A&M Athletics announces the return of radio broadcasts for the 2025-26 campaign. 
 
Members of Buff Nation will now be able to listen to Kent Johnson, Lucas Kinsey and Brice Sheets in partnership with Alpha Media. Football pregame begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Thursday night's broadcast is available online (GoBuffsGo.com / KGNCNewsNow.com) as well as locally in the Texas Panhandle on 710 AM and 97.5 FM.
 
ON THIS DAY
The Buffs are 4-6 all-time on games played on October 4th.
 
1946 - at New Mexico - L, 6-0
1947 - at Texas Tech - L, 21-13
1958 - at Arizona State - L, 16-13
1969 - at Wichita State - W, 24-14
1975 - UT Arlington - L, 39-7
1980 - New Mexico State - W, 17-15
1986 - at Stephen F. Austin - L, 36-31
1997 - at Angelo State - L, 31-23
2008 - Midwestern State - W, 42-14
2014 - McMurry - W, 56-21
 
LSC HALL OF HONOR
West Texas A&M graduate and professional kicker Sergio Castillo has been selected as the 2025 inductee to the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor. 
 
Castillo is the all-time leading scorer in WT football history (437) and holds the LSC career record for most extra points made and attempted (251-for-255). Over his collegiate career from 2011-2013, Castillo connected for 62 field goals – with a long of 56 yards – and had a string of 64 straight extra-point attempts made, which is also a league record. He was a part of the 2012 LSC championship team and helped the Buffs reach the NCAA Division II national semifinals in 2012 and national quarterfinals in 2013.
 
WTAMU HALL OF CHAMPIONS
West Texas A&M's all-time winningest head coach Don Carthel takes high rightful place in the WTAMU Hall of Champions as the Class of 2025 will be inducted on Friday, October 3rd inside of JBK Legacy Hall. Carthel brought the WT Football program into prominence during his time on the sidelines from 2005-12. The four-time LSC Coach of the Year led the Buffs to four league titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2012) and an overall record of 79-22 including a record of 60-11 during LSC contests.