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Sept. 26, 2009

Final Stats

Canyon, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes scored 10 points in the final 2:53 of regulation to send Saturday night’s contest against 10th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville into overtime, but the Javelina’s prevailed, 23-17, Saturday night at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.

The loss drops WTAMU to 1-4 overall, 0-2 LSC South, while TAMU-K improves to 5-0, 2-0 LSC South.

The game was a defensive battle through the first half, with WT holding a 7-0 lead at the intermission.

The Buffaloes struck first, as Kelvin Thompson rushed off right tackle from one yard out with 2:56 remaining in the first quarter. The play was set up by a 44-yard pass from Taylor Harris to Stephen Burton, which Burton tipped into the air over a defender, then caught as he fell to the ground at the one yard line. The two-play drive took all of 40 seconds off the clock.

Defensively, the Buffs came to play. End Eugene Sims was in on two quarterback sacks on the Javelina’s first possession, while LB Mark Ford killed another drive with his first interception of the season and CB Curtis Jefferson picked off another Billy Garza pass to stifle second-quarter TAMU-K drive.

The WT offense mounted another series drive midway through the second stanza. A Harris to Jeremy Watson pass for seven yards, a Harris to Burton pass for eight and a pair of Thompson rushes moved the ball to the TAMU-K 28. However, a third-down pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage and Buff PK James Chandler missed on a 37 yard field goal attempt.

On the ensuing possession, the Javelinas made their first push into WT territory. Facing a third-and-13 from the WT 28, TAMU-K quarterback Billy Garza encountered heavy pressure and was nearly picked off by Buff DE Bryan Braman. A 45-yard Christian Brom field goal attempt had the distance but banged off the left upright.

That was the last offensive thrust of the half, as the teams went into the locker rooms with WT leading, 7-0.

The Javs tied the game on their first possession of the second half, a 7-play, 81 yard drive culminated in Connell Davis’ four-yard TD run.

The Javelinas’ struck another blow on WT’s ensuing first play from scrimmage. Harris connected with Brittan Golden on a short gainer, but TAMU-K’s Corey Robertson dislodged the ball and teammate Mike Talamantez recovered at the WT 38 yard line. The Javelina drive was stopped as Buff DB Jordan Smith made WT’s fourth interception of the evening when he came down with a Garza pass at the WT 2 yard line.

After a WT three-and-out, the Javelinas again moved into scoring position, advancing the ball to the WT 6, where Brom booted a 20-yard field goal to put TAMU-K ahead, 10-7 with 1:55 to play in the third quarter.

The Javelinas appeared to put the game away when they added another touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, when Fred Winborn went up the middle from two-yards out, giving TAMU-K a 17-7 lead with 7:04 remaining. The drive covered 83 yards and took 7:17 off the clock.

But the Buffs came back.

Harris found Brittan Golden on a short 1-yard slant to pull the Buffs to within three at 17-14 with 2:53 remaining.

Buff cornerback Tae Evans then separated TAMU-K receiver Connell Davis from the ball, with WT’s Aaron Wampler recovering at the TAMU-K 45, to put the Buffs in position for James Chandler to tie the score with a 35-yard field goal.

The Buffs had first possession during the overtime period but couldn’t gain any yardage and were unable to score.

It took the Javs just three plays for Winborn to rush up the middle for three yards and the game-winning score.

“We knew this game would be a tough, physical, defensive contest,” said WT head coach Don Carthel. “We knew that our defensive line had to get after (Billy) Garza, and they did. We looked a bit gassed in the second half, but when we scored late it seemed to energize our defense."

WT’s defense registered a season-high five sacks, with Eugene Sims personally accounting for 3.5. He also had 11 total tackles, second only to teammate Curtis Jefferson’s 15 stops. The Buffs also intercepted four Javelina passes.

As a team, TAMU-K registered 14 pass breakups, with end Mike Talamantez swatting a game-high four passes.

“You hate for your team to play hard, like they did tonight, and not come out with a win. Wins are all that count. You can only work at getting better, keeping your heads up and coming back for another shot.”

The Buffs travel to Wichita Falls, Texas, next Saturday, Oct. 3, where they will face LSC South-member Midwestern State. Kickoff at Wichita Falls’ Memorial Stadium is set for 7:05 p.m. CDT.