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Oct. 25, 2008

Final Stats

San Angelo, Texas - The Buffaloes shook off whatever memories they may have had following last week's initial loss of the season to defeat Angelo State, 27-0, in front of 3,315 at San Angelo Stadium Saturday night in San Angelo, Texas. The win was the Buffs' first shutout of an opponent this season.

The victory also improves West Texas A&M to 8-1, 4-1 LSC South, while Angelo State falls to 3-6, 1-3 LSC South.

WTAMU quarterback Keith Null's initial completion of the game made him the WT career passing yardage leader (he finished the night having amassed 8,223 career passing yards). Later, in the second quarter, receiver Charly Martin caught a four-yard pass from Null to become the Lone Star Conference career receiving yardage leader, topping Central Oklahoma's Dee Dee Carter (3,357 yards, 2000-03). Martin finished the night with eight catches for 147 yards to give him 3,442 career receiving yards.

The Buffaloes stumbled on their first possession, as Null threw an interception on the game's first play from scrimmage. But the Buff defense held, with Eldon Grimslid blocking an Angelo State field goal attempt. The block was his second in as many weeks.

From that point, the Buffs were rolling. Null connected with Martin for a 35-yard completion to move WT into ASU territory. A run by Wayne McKnight moved them inside the 20-yard line, then, following a WT holding call, Null connected with Seth Hayden for a 29-yard TD pass and WT went up, 7-0. The first quarter ended with the Buffs leading, 7-0, and driving deep into ASU territory. But the drive would eventually stall on a failed fourth-down conversion at the ASU 16. Midway through the second quarter,

Buff defensive back Darnell Johnson recorded his fourth interception of the season to stop an ASU scoring threat. Late in the second quarter, with 1:16 remaining on the clock, Martin hauled in a 24-yard TD pass to extend WT's lead to 14-0.

At the half, the Buff defense had allowed the Rams just 49 yards on 25 snaps, the first-half lowest total offensive yardage output by a WT opponent this season.

The Buffs missed a scoring chance early in the second half when Null threw his third interception, but got a shot in the arm late in the third quarter when Ram punter Dylan Wiggs shanked a punt that traveled just one yard, setting WT up at the ASU 32 yard line. It took just one play for Null to connect with Martin for a 32-yard TD, his 15th TD reception of the season moving him to within one of the WT single-season TD reception mark (16, by Brad Bailey in 1994) and giving the Buffs a 21-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Null completed his evening having completed 23-of-38 for 326 yards and 3 TDs before giving way to Taylor Harris with nine minutes remaining in the game.

Harris tossed a nine-yard TD pass to Jay Tillman with 4:13 remaining to put the Buffs ahead by a comfortable 27-0 margin.

Coming up big, defensively, was defensive end Eugene Sims, who recorded a game-high three QB sacks for minus-21 yards. As a team, WT recorded five sacks. As a team, the Buffs held Angelo State to just 115 yards in total offense, the lowest opposing total this season. The previous low was 231 yards by Central Oklahoma.

The Buffaloes play a Lone Star Conference crossover game next week when they host Northeastern State. Kickoff at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium is slated for 6 p.m. CDT.