CANYON, Texas – The Buffaloes of West Texas A&M started fast on Thursday night before falling to the #10 Mountaineers of Western Colorado during the 2025 season opener at the Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison, Colorado.
 
The Buffs wasted little time getting on the board after receiving the opening kickoff as they marched 75 yards on five plays finished off by a Sean Johnson rushing score from six yards out for the 7-0 lead. The Mountaineers responded on their opening drive as a nine-play march was capped off by a 17-yard rushing score by Caden Measer.
 
Western Colorado took their first lead of the game later in the first quarter as the Buffs turned the ball over on downs to setup a 68-yard drive that lasted seven plays finished off by a Kai Goetze five-yard pass from Drew Nash for the 14-7 lead. The Mountaineers turned a WT punt into points later in the quarter as Nash called his own number from six yards out to finish off an eight-play drive for the 21-7 lead.
 
WT responded on their next drive as they marched down the field, Drew Zamar kept the drive alive with a highlight catch on the sideline on third and long to setup an RJ Martinez 21-yard keeper to make it 21-14. The Buffs took the momentum before heading into the locker room with a 73-yard drive capped off by Zach Phipps making a great catch over the middle at the goal line to tie the game at 21-21.
 
Western Colorado came out of the locker room and retook the lead with a 15-play drive that spanned 75 yards as Nash completed a 6-yard pass to Jace Perez for the 28-21 lead. WT took the field and responded with an 80-yard drive of their own highlighted by a Jayden Hibbler 63-yard rush to setup a 6-yard touchdown pass from Martinez to Zamar at 28-28.
 
The Mountaineers continued to move the ball on their next drive as they went 75 yards on seven plays capped off by a one-yard sneak by Nash for the 35-28 lead. WCU used the big play to add to their lead early in the fourth quarter as Gabe Schubarth broke free for a 50-yard touchdown rush and a 42-28 lead.
 
The Buffs would try to push their way down the field before a failed fourth-down conversion gave the ball back to the Mountaineers. WT would come up with a defensive stop of their own to take over possession with 8:23 remaining but the Buffs would turn the ball over with 6:33 remaining. WCU would put the game away on their next drive as they took 4:12 off the clock capped off by a 29-yard field goal by Adam Tasei for the 45-28 win.
 
Martinez was impressive in his first game in Maroon & White as the Austin product completed 22-of-37 passes for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns, he also carried the ball seven times for 26 yards and a score. Hibbler led the ground game with 91 yards on nine carries while Zamar caught six passes for 66 yards and a score.
 
Canyon product Javin Cash led the way defensively for the Buffaloes with seven total tackles (two solo). Jamel Acosta-Lewis and David deMenezes had six tackles each followed by Miles Hill and Matthew Bryant with five. Ashton Reynolds registered a sack while Acosta-Lewis had three pass breakups.
 
WT opens their home schedule next Thursday night as they host the Orediggers of Colorado School of Mines with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium. Fans are encouraged to wear maroon for Maroon Madness, the game is presented by Northwest Texas Healthcare System.