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Oct. 1, 2009

 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes make their third road trip over the past four weeks as they travel to Wichita Falls, Texas to face LSC-South member and 23rd-ranked Midwestern State, Saturday, October 3. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium (cap. 14,362/AstroPlay) is set for 7:05 p.m. CDT.

THE RECORDS – West Texas A&M enters Saturday night’s contest with records of 1-4 overall, 1-2 LSC, 0-1 LSC South. The Buffs will be looking to avoid consecutive LSC South defeats, something they’ve avoided doing in every season since 2004, when they opened LSC South play at 0-4. #23- Midwestern State sports records of 4-1 overall, 2-1 LSC, 0-1 LSC South.

THE SERIES – The Buffs lead in the overall series, 13-9-0. WT took a 42-14 homecoming win last season, before 18,739 in Canyon, Texas. The Buffs also won the last meeting in Wichita Falls, Texas, taking a 25-20 win on Oct. 6, 2007. In fact, WT is riding a four-game winning streak over the Mustangs, with MSU’s last win in the series being a 30-26 decision on Oct. 2, 2004.

THE COACHES – WTAMU head coach Don Carthel, the winningest coach in WT football history, has a record of 45-11 (.804) in his fifth season at the helm of the Buff football program and sports a 13-year collegiate career mark of 91-57-1 (.615). 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. Midwestern State is coached by Bill Maskill (Western Kentucky ‘71), who is 56-25 (.691) ) in his eighth season as the Mustang’s head coach and holds a career mark of 69-33 (.676) in his 10th season as a head coach.

LAST WEEK – The Buffs sacked Texas A&M-Kingsville quarterback Billy Garza five times, registered 12 TFLs, scored 10 points in the final 2:53 to send the game into overtime...and still lost, dropping a heartbreaking, 23-17, decision to the 10th-ranked Javelinas. Meanwhile, Midwestern State suffered their first loss of the season, losing at Angelo State, 20-17.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT – The Buffs’ two TD drives against #10-Texas A&M Kingsville represented both the furthest distance covered, as well as the second-shortest in duration. WT’s 94-yard scoring drive, which came midway through the fourth quarter was the longest distance the Buffs have driven to a score in 2009. Conversely, the 20-second time of possession elapsing on the Buffs’ initial scoring drive represents the second-shortest time consumption this season, second only to the one-play, :11 second scoring drive posted at Southwestern Oklahoma.

DRIVE TIME – This season finds WT trailing in overall time of possession by an average of 26:58 to 33:02, largely due to a lack of time-consuming drives. Through five games, the Buffs have registered just six drives of four minutes or longer (two against #1-Grand Valley State, one at #6-Central Washington and three against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville).

OT AN EXCEPTION, NOT THE RULE – The Buffs 23-17 overtime loss on Sept. 26, 2009 against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville represented the fourth overtime contest, ever, involving WT. Prior to that outing, the Buffs only previous games needing extra periods were an 36-29, double-overtime loss at Abilene Christian on Nov. 14, 1998, a 30-27 NCAA Playoff victory over Abilene Christian on Nov. 18, 2006, and, on Oct. 8, 2005, WT defeated Eastern New Mexico, 52-51.

VOSS READY FOR PRIME TIME – True freshman OT Shaun Wesley (6-7, 240, Fr-HS) made his first career starting appearance at right tackle against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville.

YOUTH WILL BE SERVED – In addition to the previously mentioned Wesley, another four additional true freshmen, MLB Kyle Voss (5-11, 220, Fr-HS), RB Tevin Mitchell (6-0, 200, Fr-HS), OL Shaun Wesley (6-7, 240, Fr-HS) and RB Chris West (5-7, 160, Fr-HS) have also seen activity this season. They are joined by no fewer than six redshirt freshmen who have also 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.

SACK FEAST CONTINUES – Over their initial three contests, WT had managed just one QB sack, but over their past two outings, they have accounted for 11 QB takedowns. At Southwestern Oklahoma State, they accounted for six sacks, the most since they matched that number with six sacks at Angelo State on Oct. 25, 2008. Then against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, they logged five QB sacks (for minus-24 yards).

SIMS-SATIONAL – Defensive end Eugene Sims’ (6-6, 235, Sr-1L) enjoyed possibly the best game of his collegiate career against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, when he made a career-high 11 tackles (3 solo, 8 assists), registered 3.5 TFLs for minus-17 yards (including 2.5 QB sacks), had two QB hurries and forced a fumble. The Buffs leading tackler among down linemen, the Mt. Olive, Miss., native has season totals of 32 tackles (10 solo, 22 assists), five TFLs (for minus-31 yards), three QB hurries, 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.

BRAMAN PLAYS BIG – Since being moved from an outside linebacking position to defensive end Bryan Braman’s (6-6, 245, Jr-TR) contributions have improved measurably. Against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, Braman logged five tackles (two of which came behind the line), was in on an assisted sack and batted down to passes. One week earlier, at Southwestern Oklahoma State, the Spokane, Wash., native logged four tackles, with each of those takedowns coming behind the line of scrimmage, accounting for minus-29 yards in losses. Additionally, three of those stops were QB sacks (for minus-23 yards). His season total of seven tackles for minus-41 yards leads the team and ranks T4th in the LSC, while his three sacks are also tops among Buff defenders and stand T3rd among LSC leaders. BURTON SHOWS BIG PLAY ABILITY – WR Stephen Burton (6-4, 220, Jr-TR) registered his most productive game in a WT uniform, when he caught a game-high 13 passes for 168 yards against 10th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville. Among those 13 receptions was an acrobatic first-quarter leap to catch a deflection while falling to the turn, resulting in a 44-yard gain to set up a WT touchdown. THOMPSON PACES BUFF GROUND GAME – RB Kelvin Thompson (5-11, 200, Jr-2L) continues to be the Buffs’ leading ground gainer, having picked up 70 yards on 19 carries against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville. One week previous, he registered his second career 100-yard rushing performance when he gained a career-high 132 yards on 17 carries at Southwestern Oklahoma State. For the season, the Mineral Wells, Texas, native, is averaging 82.4 yards per game and 5.3 yards per rushing attempt. Thompson has also compiled totalled 139 receiving yards to average 110.2 all-purpose yards per contest. The all-purpose back currently stands ranks fifth among LSC ground gainers and ninth among LSC leaders in pass receptions per game. WATSON A RETURN WIZARD – Inside receiver/return specialist Jeremy Watson (5-10, 195, Fr-RS), continues to impress with his kick return abilities, ranking atop all LSC kick returners. His one kick return for 26 yards against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville did nothing but bolster his LSC-leading 27.5 ypr. average. He enjoyed his most prolific outing at Southwestern Oklahoma State, where the Lubbock, Texas, native averaged 29.6 yards per return, gaining 89 yards on three kick returns (with a long of 49 yards). For the season, he is also averaging 9.0 yards per punt return, gaining 72 yards on eight returns.

GRAHAM STEPS UP – WT inside linebacker Drew Graham (5-11, 225, So-1L) has made starting appearances in each of the Buffs’ past two outings. He logged six tackles (all assisted) against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville and, one week earlier, led all WT defenders with eight stops (6 solo, 2 assists) at Southwestern Oklahoma State. Included in that number was one tackle-for-loss totalling minus-four yards. For the season, the Crowley, Texas, native has 17 total tackles.

GOLDEN TOUCH – 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) has accounted for three such plays. He hauled in an 80-yard TD reception at Southwestern Oklahoma State, as well as nabbing a 47-yard reception to set up another Buff score. That game saw the Denver City, Texas, enjoy a career-best 137 receiving yards while averaging 45.6 yards per reception. Earlier this season, Golden also accounted for a 49-yard reception at Central Washington, giving him three of the Buff’s five longest plays from scrimmage this season.

GREAT SCOTT – Inside linebacker Anthony Scott (5-11, 245, Jr-2L) is the Buffs’ leading tackler through the season’s first five weeks, despite not playing against Southwestern Oklahoma State due to an arm injury. Against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Amarillo, Texas, native logged seven tackles (2 solo, 5 assists), including 1.5 stops for minus-2 yards. During the Buffs’ first two outings of the season, Scott recorded double-figure stop totals. For the season, Scott ranks fourth among LSC tackle leaders, while also ranking T3rd among LSC leaders in forced fumbles.

FORD LEADS BY EXAMPLE – Outside linebacker Mark Ford (6-1, 210, Sr-3L) has quietly gone about his business, having totalled 32 tackles (13 solo, 19 assists), to go with 4.5 TFLs, three PBUs and an interception. Against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Lockney, Texas, product recorded nine stops (3 solo, 6 assists), 1.5 for minus-four yards, broke up one pass and registered his first career interception. He registered four stops at Southwestern Oklahoma State (incl. 2 for minus-16 yards), as well as at Central Washington. Against Central Oklahoma, he had seven stops (2 solo, 5 assists) and recorded eight tackles (3 solo, 5 assists) against #1-Grand Valley State.

JEFFERSON MAKES IMPACT AGAINST JAVS – Strong safety Curtis Jefferson (6-0, 190, So-1L) made his mark against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, registering a game and career-high 15 tackles (3 solo, 12 assists). He also enjoyed his second interception of his career. Earlier this season, against #1-ranked Grand Valley State, he contributed three solo and three assisted stops, as well as assisting on a TFL and recovering a fumble. For the year, Jefferson has contributed 36 tackles (14 solo, 22 assists), two PBUs, two fumble recoveries and one interception.

TAYLOR ON THE MARK – The Buffs staring signal-caller QB Taylor Harris (6-3, 220, Jr-2L) completed 29-of-51 passes for 306 yards and one TD against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville. Those 51 attempts represent a career-high for the Whitesboro, Texas, native, eclipsing his previous high of 50 passes attempted against Angelo State in 2007. For the season, Harris has completed 62.2 percent of his attempts (122-of-196) with five TDs and four interceptions. Over his 23-game career, Harris has completed 238-of-524 passes for 3,309 yards, 16 TDs and seven interceptions.