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Sept. 17, 2009

 

BUFFS, BULLDOGS SQUARE OFF IN LSC CROSSOVER CONTEST – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes face a second-consecutive road test when they visit Lone Star Conference north-member Southwestern Oklahoma State, Saturday, September 19. Kickoff at SWOSU’s Milam Stadium (cap. 9,000/Grass) is set for 6 p.m. CDT.

THE RECORDS – West Texas A&M enters Saturday night’s contest with records of 0-3 overall, 0-1 LSC, 0-0 LSC South. This marks the first time for the Buffs to go winless over their first three contests since the 2004 season. It is also their first 0-1 start in LSC play since that same season. Southwestern Oklahoma State sports records of 0-3 overall, 0-2 LSC.

RADIO COVERAGE - The WT-SWOSU game can be heard throughout the Texas Panhandle on KGNC (710 AM). Airtime is 5:05 p.m. CDT, with Neil Horn providing play-by-play and Phil Woodall handling color commentary.

INTERNET BROADCASTS - Video streaming of the WT-SWOSU game may be seen on www.gobuffsgo.com (.) Audio streaming may be heard on www. kgncam.com (.)

THE SERIES – Saturday’s match-up will mark the 19th meeting between the two schools, with WT trailing by a 6-10-2 margin. The Buffs have won the last three meetings, including a 42-20 victory in Canyon, Texas last season. WT also took a victory in the last game played in Weatherford, Okla., winning, 23-6, in 2004.

THE COACHES – WTAMU head coach Don Carthel, the winningest coach in WT football history, has a record of 44-10 (.815) in his fifth season at the helm of the Buff football program and sports a 13-year collegiate career mark of 90-56-1 (.616). He ranks atop all Buffalo football coaches in terms of winning percentage (min. 20 games coached) and stands third on the all-time WT victory list. Southwestern Oklahoma State is coached by Dan Cocannouer (SWOSU ‘78), who is 0-3 (.000) ) in his first season as a head coach.

BUFFS WINLESS IN LSC – The Buffs will be looking to avoid starting LSC play at 0-2, something they haven’t done since the 2004 campaign. That year saw WT begin conference play at 0-2. In 2003, they started LSC play with five losses.

LAST WEEK – The Buffs were held to just 69 first-half yards in falling behind #6-Central Washington, 31-3. The Buffs outgained CWU, 161-47 in the second half but lost, 34-10. Meanwhile, SWOSU dropped a 55-10 LSC crossover contest at Angelo State.

2009 BUFF CAPTAINS – Team captains for the 2009 season include QB Taylor Harris, WR Sedrick Knowlton, PK James Chandler, DE Eugene Sims, OLB Mark Ford, OLB Zane Farris and DB Tae Evans.

THIS IS NEW STUFF – The Buffs’ current three-game losing streak is the Buffs’ longest since Don Carthel took over as head coach of the WT football program. WT dropped four-straight under Ronnie Jones in 2004, five consecutive in 2003 and had an 11-game losing string, again under Jones, in 2002.

YOUNGSTERS FILLING THE GAP – With the slew of injuries incurred during the first few weeks of the 2009 season, several true or redshirt freshmen are earning their spurs with significant playing time. True freshman Kyle Voss (5-11, 220, Fr-HS) is slated to see make his first starting appearance at middle linebacker against SWOSU, while another true freshman Chris West (5-7, 160, Fr-HS) has also seen activity. While he is the only true freshman listed on the WT depth chart, no fewer than six reshirt freshmen have seen significant action thus far, including OL Jimmy Valenciano, QB Tanner Marsh, RB Joe Joe Jones, DT Aaron Wampler, OLB Bo Campbell, and DB Jordan Smith.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES – In dropping a 34-10 decision at #6-Central Washington, the Buff defense allowed 319 yards in the first half. However, they limited the Wildcats to just 47 yards in the second half, including only 16 yards in the fourth quarter. Conversely, the Buffs’ offense managed just 66 first-half yards, but tallied 161 yards in the second half.

BUFFS FALL FROM RANKINGS – The Sept. 7 AFCA rankings marked the first time since the fifth week of the 2005 season that West Texas A&M was not present in the AFCA top-25 rankings. From Sept. 25, 2005 (fifth week), through the week of Aug. 31, 2009, the Buffs held a spot in the AFCA rankings (50 consecutive weeks). Over the past four seasons, the Buffs’ have concluded the campaigns at No. 15 in 2005, No. 10 in 2006, No. 8 in 2007 and at No. 10 following the 2008 campaign. Four LSC opponents and two of the Buffs’ 2009 nonconference opponents are listed among this weeks ranking.

THOMPSON A SOLID BACK – Being the running back in a pass-happy offense can be a lonely existence. But RB Kelvin Thompson (5-11, 200, Jr-2L), has made the most of it during the Buffs’ initial three games. The Mineral Wells, Texas, native is averaging an impressive 5.0 yards per rushing attempt and 70.0 yards per game, having gained 210 yards on 42 carries this season. Thompson has also compiled 87 receiving yards in averaging 99.0 all-purpose yards per contest. The all-purpose back currently stands fifth among LSC rushing leaders and sixth among LSC leaders in pass receptions per game.

WATSON A FAST STARTER – Inside receiver/return specialist Jeremy Watson (5-10, 195, Fr-RS), continues to impress with his kick return abilities. At Central Washington, the Lubbock, Texas, native averaged 22.8 yards per return, gaining 114 yards on five kick returns. One week ago, he compiled 152 total yards against Central Oklahoma, with 119 kick return yards (including a long of 43 yards), 11 rushing yards and 22 punt return yards. For the season, the Lubbock Estacado HS product stands second among LSC leaders, averaging 27.1 yards per kick return, while his 127.7 all-purpose yard average ranks seventh among LSC leaders.

GOLDEN ARM – In a season in which the Buff offense hasn’t produced many long plays (over 40 yards), outside receiver Brittan Golden (6-0, 180, So-1L) hauled in a 49-yard pass from Taylor Harris at Central Washington, marking the Buff’s second-longest play from scrimmage this season. Last week, against UCO, Golden tossed a pass to A.J. Ruffins (6-2, 195, Jr-2L) which went for a 51-yard completion, the Buffs’ longest play from scrimmage to this point.

GREAT SCOTT – Inside linebacker Anthony Scott (5-11, 245, Jr-2L) posted team-leading tackle numbers for a third consecutive week, logging eight stops (5 solo, 3 assists) at Central Washington. During the Buffs’ first two outings this season, the Amarillo, Texas, native recorded double-figure stop totals. For the season, Scott ranks third among LSC tackle leaders, while also ranking T2nd among conference leaders in forced fumbles.

BROWN TURNS OPPONENTS BLUE – WT outside linebacker Chris Brown (6-1, 195, So-1L) ranks third among WT tackle leaders, having logged 21 total stops this season (6 solo, 15 assists). At Central Washington, the Amarillo, Palo Duro HS product registered five stops.

SIMS-SATIONAL – Defensive end Eugene Sims’ (6-6, 235, Sr-1L) made five stops at Central Washington (3 solo, 2 assists) and ranks as the Buffs’ leading tackler among down linemen this season. The Mt. Olive, Miss., native has 17 total tackles (6 solo, 11 assists), one TFL (for minus-13 yards), one QB hurry, three blocked kicks and one safety. Against Central Oklahoma, Sims blocked not one, but two PAT attempts, in addition to logging seven tackles. One week prior, against #1-ranked Grand Valley State, he recorded five stops (two solo, three assists), as well as being credited with a 13-yard loss when a GVSU snap sailed out of the end zone for a safety.

RANDOLPH ACTIVE – Defensive back Caleb Randolph (5-9, 170, So-1L) has the Buffs’ lone interception this season (against Central Oklahoma). He also has three pass breakups this season to rank sixth among LSC leaders in that category.

FORD LEADS BY EXAMPLE – Outside linebacker Mark Ford (6-1, 210, Sr-3L) has quietly gone about his business early in the season, having totalled 19 tackles. He registered four stops (including an assisted TFL) at Central Washington. One week prior, he had seven against Central Oklahoma (2 solo, 5 assists) and recorded eight tackles (3 solo, 5 assists) against #1-Grand Valley State.

JEFFERSON, EVANS LEADERS IN SECONDARY – Strong safety Curtis Jefferson (6-0, 190, So-1L). and CB Tae Evans (6-0, 195, Jr-2L) have combined to registered 34 tackles and 3 PBU’s over WT’s first three contests, of which 24 tackles have been of the solo variety. Against Central Oklahoma, both players logged eight tackles, with Jefferson also recording a PBU. Against #1-ranked Grand Valley State, Jefferson contributed three solo and three assisted stops, as well as assisting on a TFL and recovering a fumble, while Evans was in on six solo tackles, along with one assisted stop.