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Sept. 8, 2007

Final Stats

ALAMOSA, Colo. - Keith Null continues to show fans that the Buffalo offense is in good hands with him under center. The junior quarterback from Lampasas, Texas, connected on 27-of-42 passes for a on a career-high 379 yards and six touchdowns on Saturday afternoon as the No. 16 West Texas A&M football team recovered from a slow start that was blemished by a rash of penalties to earn a 63-20 victory over Adams State at Rex Field in Alamosa, Colo.

With the victory, the Buffs improve to 2-0 on the season and 12-1 on the road under head coach Don Carthel. Adams State, meanwhile, falls to 0-3 on the season. The game also marks the sixth time that WTAMU has scored at least 50 points during Carthel's tenure.

The Buffs took the game's initial kickoff but the opening drive was hampered by a personal foul against WTAMU on its first offensive play from scrimmage. Two plays later the Buffs opted to leave the offense of the field for a 4-and-1 attempt, but a long pass from Null to Charly Martin fell incomplete and the Grizzlies took over deep in WTAMU territory.

After the turnover on downs, the Buffalo defense was able to contain the Adams State offensive attack, limiting the unit to a 52-yard field goal by Wayne Durham which put the Grizzlies up 3-0. For the game, the Buffalo defense limited the Grizzles to 210 total yards, including just 29 yards on the ground.

Unfortunately for the Buffs, their second offensive possessions ended much like their first, with the ball in possession of Adams State deep in WTAMU territory. This time it was courtesy of a Null fumble which gave the Grizzles 1-and-10 at the WTAMU 31-yard line. Once again, the Buff defense stood strong and limited the damage to only three points on another long Durham field goal.

Null and the WTAMU offense final got on track during their third drive of the day, marching the ball 80 yards on 14 plays to score on a 6-yard completion from Null to redshirt freshman receiver A.J. Ruffins.

The Buffs appeared to be on their way to another score on their next possession, but after a short reception, sophomore running back Keithon Flemming coughed up the second WTAMU fumble of the half, giving the Grizzles the ball back on their own three-yard line.

The sloppy play continued as a fumble by ASC quarterback Billy Lindquist early during the second quarter, gave the Buffs another excellent scoring chance, but a 45-yard field goal by Jon Roberts sailed wide right just one play after a Roberts 40-yard field goal was negated by yet another WTAMU penalty.

Penalties were an issue for the Buffs in the first half, ending the period with 12 fouls for 125 yards. For the game, WTAMU was flag for 21 penalties for a total of 210 yards.

In the closing moments of the first half, the Buff offense, which had moved the ball well but was frustrated by penalties, gave the visitors some breathing room by capitalizing on a 27-yard pass from Null to Martin with only 1:14 remaining on the clock. The tally proved to be the final score of the period, sending the teams to the intermission with the scoreboard reading 14-6 in favor of WTAMU.

At the half, WTAMU had dominated the statistics, compiling 311 yards of total offense, while allowing only 18 total yards of offense to the Grizzlies, but only had 14 points on the scoreboard. Individually, Ruffins was a force in the opening period, hauling in five catches for 101 yards. The redshirt freshman from Missouri City, Texas, ended the game with six receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

The Buffs kicked off to begin the second half and the WTAMU defense picked up right where it left off forcing a three and out by ASC. The ensuing punt by the Grizzles was block by the Buffs' Cashmin Thomas and the ball was downed deep in ASC territory. Two plays later the Buffs cashed in on the opportunity as Null found tight end Kolo Kapanui for a 14-yard touchdown, putting WTAMU up 21-6.

Adams State answered back when it regained possession, marching 74 yards down the field in six plays, scoring on a 13-yard pass from Billy Lindquist to receiver Josh Gibson. A two-point conversion attempt by the Grizzles failed as Lindquist was unable to connect on a pass to Gibson.

The action continued as junior running back Wayne McKnight returned the following ASC kickoff 82 yards back to the Grizzlies 17-yard line. A facemask penalty was tacked on the end of the return and the Buffs needed only one offensive play to find the endzone as Null connected with Ruffins for his second score of the game.

Null continued the full throttle attack on the next WTAMU possession as he found Martin on an inside receiver screen. The Farmington, N.M., native made several shifty moves after receiving the pass and powered his way into the endzone for a 33-yard touchdown.

Martin was again outstanding for the Buffs, as the All-American caught six passes for 107 yards and a pair of scores.

A failed run on a fake punt gave the Buffs back the ball at the ASC 23-yard line. Following a false start penalty against WTAMU, Keithon Flemming took a handoff and scampered 38-yards at the 5:17 mark of the third quarter for the Buffs' sixth touchdown of the afternoon.

The Buffs finished with 232 team rushing yards on the afternoon, led by Flemming who picked up 94 yards on 11 carries.

Junior wide receiver Anthony Clark got into the action, catching his first touchdown in a Buffalo uniform on a 10-yard strike from Null at the 2:02 remaining in the third quarter, putting the visitors from Canyon up 49-12.

Following an ASC touchdown and two-point conversion through the air, the Buffs went to the ground on their next offensive possession. Back-up running back Kelvin Thompson took a handoff from Taylor Harris, who had replaced Null at quarterback at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and raced 44-yards for the first points of his WTAMU playing career.

Clark made his second visit to the endzone with only 2:01 remaining in the game as he pull down a jump ball from reserve quarterback Matt McIntyre, stretching the Buffs lead to 63-20.

The Buffs return home next weekend where they will renew acquaintances with Lone Star Conference Crossover rival Texas A&M-Commerce in a 6 p.m. contest at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.