Box ScoreSeason StatsPhoto GalleryPostgame InterviewsCANYON, Texas – In a thrilling back-and-forth game, that saw touchdowns in all facets of the game and a combined eight turnvoers, the West Texas A&M football team upset No. 2 Colorado State-Pueblo 31-30 Saturday evening at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buffs improved to 1-1 on the year and CSUP fell to 1-1.
The win by the Buffs snapped the nation's longest winning streak as CSUP had won its last 10 games including the national championship last season. CSUP entered the game ironically tied with the longest winning streak with Azusa Pacific who WT played last week.
For the second week in a row the game came down to the wire as CSUP backup quarterback AJ Thompson was intercepted by junior
Davontae Merriweather at the CSUP 24 yard line with less than five minutes remaining with the game tied at 24. It was the fourth INT by the Buffs in the game. WT backup quarterback sophomore
Ethan Brinkley found senior
Geremy Alridge-Mitchell out of the backfield for a 14-yard pass to the CSUP eight with under four minutes left. Alridge-Mitchell, on 3
rd and goal from the four, scored his third rushing touchdown and fourth touchdown of the game for a 31-24 lead.
CSUP's Kieren Duncan took the kickoff 98 yards to the house for a touchdown. The Thunderwolves then called a timeout, which proved costly, as they ended up going for two and missing as holder Jarred Radebaugh passed to Zach Boyd came up short as WT held on to the 31-30 lead.
CSUP attempted the onside kick, but junior
Davontae Merriweather came up with the onside kick for the Buffs. Alridge-Mitchell ran for six yards on first and second down as CSUP called its final timeouts on the drive. On a 3
rd and four, Alridge-Mitchell came up a yard short. WT drained the clock to 58 seconds before a timeout. Alridge-Mitchell got the first down to seal the win.
The win gave the Buffs their second win in the series with CSUP as the Thunderwolves lead 3-2 now and was the first win in the regular season against CSUP. The previous WT win was a 34-13 victory on Dec. 1, 2012, in Pueblo in the NCAA National Quarterfinal.
WT improved to 28-24 against ranked teams since 2005. It was the 162
nd win at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium (162-125-3) and the 496
th win in program history (496-492-22). It also gave WT a win against a ranked team in each of the past four seasons.
For the game, the Buffs tallied 341 yards of offense and held the high-powered Thunderwolves to just 271 yards for the game. WT had 98 yards rushing and passed for 243 on 33 of 52 with two interceptions and one touchdown. CSUP had 173 yards on the ground and 98 yards passing on 12 of 27 with four interceptions.
Alridge-Mitchell paced the Buffs with 30 carries for 105 yards and three touchdowns, while catching four balls for 37 yards and a score. CSUP was led by Cameron McDondle who had 166 yards on the ground on 23 carries and one touchdown. Malcolm Ruben went 12 of 25 with three interceptions for 98 yards, while Thompson through one pass which was intercepted.
Defensively, the Buffs were all over the field and allowed just 10 points defensively in the game as CSUP had two pick-six INTs and a special teams touchdown. Sophomore
Trevor Myklebust led the team with nine tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Junior
RaShawn DuPree had seven solo tackles with a fumble recovery. Sophomore
Hunter Streuling had two interceptions and six solo tackles in the game. CSUP was led by Joseph Jones who had 12 total tackles, while Morgan Fox had 10 stops with two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Colorado State-Pueblo took the opening drive and converted one first down, but had to punt as senior
Dimitri Donald got a hand on the punt for a block setting the Buffs up at the CSUP 37. Senior
Preston Rabb hit senior
Jarrian Rhone for four yards, Donald for seven and had a 22-yard pass by senior
Word Hudson to the CSUP four. From there Alridge-Mitchell scored untouched for a 7-0 lead with 10:57 left in the first quarter.
On the T'Wolves' second possession, WT senior defensive lineman
Iosia Iosia batted the ball down and Ruben was intercepted on a 3
rd and 10 on a great diving interception by sophomore
Hunter Streuling. CSUP's defense stood tall forcing the Buffs to punt as junior
Felipe Parra belted a 54-yard punt to the CSUP seven.
After the teams a number of punts each, McDondle took the first play from scrimmage 80 yards for a touchdown tying the game at seven with 4:07 left in the first quarter.
Brinkley replaced Rabb behind center as Rabb appeared to suffer an injury. In Brinkley's first career action, he marched the Buffs down the field for a 10 play, 81-yard drive using 3:26 as he tossed his first career touchdown pass to Alridge-Mitchell for a 14-7 lead. Brinkley went 7 for 9 passing on the drive.
WT came up with its second interception on the ensuing CSUP drive as Ruben was picked by senior
Ethan Morriss at the WT 30 as he returned it 18 yards to the WT 48. From there, Brinkley and the Buffs moved the ball to the CSUP 31, including converting a 4
th and 3 from the CSUP 31. WT junior field goal kicker
Conner Hollabaugh has his 48-yarder blocked by Josh Croy as Darien Brunson returned it 25 yards.
For the third time in the half, WT came up with the timely interception – this time in the red zone as he picked Ruben at the WT three-yard line. Following a pair of punts, Brinkley was intercepted by LaRon Tarkington as he took it to the house from 25 yards out for a 14-14 score with 1:23 left.
Following a WT, punt, CSUP took over at its on 37 as Ruben completed a 15-yard pass to McDondle and a 20-yarder to Zach Boyd putting the ball at the WT 28 with two seconds left. Greg O'Donnell kicked a 45-yard field goal for a 17-14 CSUP lead into halftime outscoring WT 10-0 in the second quarter.
In an eventful first half, WT had 174 yards on 46 plays, but was just 15 of 24 on the ground. Brinkley was 16 of 22 with one interception for 114 yards and one score, while Alridge-Mitchell had 22 yards on the ground on 13 carries with a score. He also had two receptions for 14 yards and a score.
CSUP had 149 yards rushing behind McDondle as he had 11 carries for 144 yards and a score. Ruben was 7 of 18 with three interceptions for 55 yards.
After a pair of punts to open the second half, CSUP scored its second pick-six as Sam Singleton intercepted Brinkley at the WT 10 and returned it for a score and a 24-14 lead with 10:39 left in the third quarter.
The Buffs never gave up down ten and came right back and marched the ball down the field going seven plays, 75 yards in 2:19 as Alridge-Mitchell broke a couple of tackles and used a nice spin move to score from 36 yards out for a 24-21 deficit with 8:20 left in the third quarter.
CSUP had a drive going in the early moments of the fourth quarter at the WT 40. McDondle coughed up the ball as senior
Elijah Lagafuaina forced the miscue and junior
RaShawn DuPree recovered for the Buffs with 14:51 left.
WT punted to the CSUP 20, but Kevin Ribarich muffed the punt as sophomore
Trevor Myklebust recovered for the Buffs at the 14. Hollabaugh came on for a 31-yard field goal tying the game at 24. Off five CSUP miscues to that point, the field goal marked the first points WT had scored off a turnover.
The Buffs held CSUP on its next possession as the Thunderwolves fell to 3 of 13 on third down for the game. WT took over with 8:39 left at its own 39. A big sack for 15 yards by Jake Ludwick pushed the Buffs out of field goal range on the drive as they had to punt with 5:23 left.
The Buffs now head to Arlington, Texas, where they will play in the Fifth Annual Lone Star Conference Football Festival next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. versus conference rival Tarleton State.
