West Texas A&M University Athletics

CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes committed a pair of costly turnovers while #11 Western Colorado converted all four of their redzone chances on Thursday night as the #11 Mountaineers left Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium with a 52-21 victory in the season opener.
 
Both programs entered the contest as brand‑new squads with 0‑0 records, but the matchup carried the typical preseason intrigue of a cross‑regional test. Western Colorado sought to establish an offensive identity, while West Texas A&M hoped to showcase its pass‑heavy attack under sophomore quarterback Knox Porter. The Mountaineers quickly asserted their intent, converting five of thirteen third‑down attempts and two of two fourth‑down tries, while limiting the Buffs to just one successful fourth‑down conversion.
 
The first quarter set the tone when Western Colorado's Ramon Ruiz caught a 50‑yard pass from Josiah Roy and sprinted into the end zone. The Mountaineers continued to pressure the WT defense, forcing a turnover on downs at the West Texas 1‑yard line before capping the drive with a two‑yard rushing touchdown by Damien Nevil, extending the advantage to 14‑0. A 32‑yard field goal by JT Miller pushed the lead to 17‑0, and a short two‑yard touchdown pass from Roy to Blake Kramer just before the half closed it at 24‑0.
 
Western Colorado's aerial attack exploded in the third quarter. After a 13‑second drive that began at its own 24‑yard line, Roy delivered a 76‑yard strike to  DJ Allen Jr. who raced into the end zone to make it 31‑0. The Mountaineers' ground game also contributed, as Nolan McCullough broke free for a 71‑yard rushing touchdown. 
 
The Buffs finally got on the board when Cade Figg caught a 28‑yard pass from  Porter, narrowing the gap to 38‑7. WCU answered immediately, with Roy throwing successive touchdown passes to Yasir Berry (9 yards) and Caden Measner (65 yards), pushing the score to 52‑7 before the quarter ended.
 
WT attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter as a Tory Simmons 1-yard touchdown dive trimmed the deficit to 52‑14 followed by a 47‑yard touchdown pass to  J.B. Mitchell III later in the period made it 52‑21. Despite the late scores, the Buffs could not overcome the early deficit, and the Mountaineers' defense forced two fumbles, recovered both, and added three sacks to keep the offense in favorable field position throughout the contest.
 
Porter finished his first collegiate start completing 28-of-42 passes for 353 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also leading the Buffs with 35 rushing yards on 12 carries. Trace Clarkson caught eight passes for 144 yards with Mitchell III following that with 114 yards on seven catches and a score.
 
Canyon product Javin Cash led the way for the Buffs defensively with eight total tackles followed by Miles Hill with six. Tyler Davis, Quincy Eutsay and Herschel Craig III finished the game with four tackles each with Craig III including a sack.
 
The Buffs hit the road next week as they travel to Allendale, Michigan to take on the #9 Lakers of Grand Valley State with kickoff set for 6:00 p.m. CT on Thursday night at Lubbers Stadium. The Lakers opened their season with a 38-10 victory on the road at Charleston on Thursday.