CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M overcame a 20-point third quarter deficit on Saturday night as a blocked field goal with less than two minutes remaining setup a last second touchdown gran by
Zach Phipps to give the Buffs a wild 45-44 Lone Star Conference victory on Senior Night over the Angelo State Rams at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.
WT started strong with a 33-yard return by
C'ing Blanton, followed by an impactful drive.
RJ Martinez connected with
Trevin Edwards for 10 yards, pushing into Angelo State territory. The drive culminated in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Martinez to
Sean Johnson, giving the Buffs a 7-0 lead.
Angelo State quickly responded with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Ayden Arp to Hunter Wallis, narrowing the score to 7-6 after a failed extra point attempt. The Buffs faced challenges with penalties and incomplete passes on subsequent possessions, while ASU capitalized with a 56-yard rushing touchdown by Arp, ending the first quarter leading 13-7.
In the second quarter, the Buffs displayed resilience following a challenging start. Despite the Rams extending their lead with a touchdown pass to Donny Bishop and a subsequent rushing score, WT responded strategically.
RJ Martinez orchestrated a crucial drive, connecting with Johnson for a 21-yard touchdown pass at 4:12, narrowing the deficit. A successful field goal by
Drew Cox further closed the gap. Defensively, the Buffs'
Cam Manahan intercepted a pass, creating an opportunity that fueled their offensive momentum. The period concluded with the Buffs trailing 27-17.
WT responded in the third quarter with a determined push following an early score by Angelo State that extended the visitor's lead.
RJ Martinez connected with Johnson for a 42-yard touchdown pass at 2:47, narrowing the gap. Earlier in the quarter, Martinez's 10-yard touchdown run at 5:04 had already energized the home side. Despite Angelo State scoring a touchdown and a field goal early in the quarter, the defensive efforts of
Andre Johnson, who recorded a crucial sack for a 9-yard loss, helped the Buffs regain some momentum.
In the fourth quarter, the Buffs mounted a significant comeback beginning with a touchdown pass from
RJ Martinez to
Trevin Edwards at 5:04 on the clock. This narrowed the gap to 44-38. Later, with just six seconds remaining, Martinez connected with
Zach Phipps for a crucial touchdown, followed by
Drew Cox's extra point to secure a 45-44 lead. A key defensive play by
Jamel Acosta-Lewis, who blocked a field goal attempt by Angelo State set the stage for the dramatic finish.
Martinez excelled at quarterback, completing 35 of 54 passes for 424 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for 58 yards and one score on 14 carries. Johnson made an impact as a receiver, collecting 237 yards and three touchdowns over 14 receptions. On defense,
Miles Hill led with 12 total tackles.
Cam Manahan added to the defensive effort with one interception, contributing to a strong defensive presence.
The Buffs finish the 2025 campaign with an overall record of 7-4 with a 7-2 mark in Lone Star Conference action to sit tied for second in the league standings. The seven victories is the most by the Buffs since the 2021 season and the seven league victories is the most since 2012.
