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Oct. 22, 2009

ANGELO STATE NEXT UP FOR BUFFS - The West Texas A&M Buffaloes close out the home-portion of their 2009 season when they host the Angelo State Rams square off, Saturday, October 24, at Canyon's Kimbrough Memorial Stadium (cap. 20,000/FieldTurf). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CDT.

THE RECORDS - West Texas A&M enters Saturday's contest with records of 3-5 overall, 3-3 LSC, 2-2 LSC South. Angelo State sports records of 6-2 overall, 5-1 LSC, 2-1 LSC South.

THE LSC SOUTH - The Buffs' 32-21 win over #1-ranked Abilene Christian evened WT's LSC South record at 2-2 and pulled them to within one game of the LSC South lead.

THE SERIES - While WT trails in the overall series, 7-14-0, the Buffs have won the past three contests against Angelo State. The Buffs shut-out the Rams, 20-0, last season in San Angelo, Texas, and won the previous two meetings by scores of 38-17 (2007 in Canyon) and 26-10 (2006 in San Angelo). The last win for the Rams was in 2005, when they defeated West Texas, 58-53, in Canyon.

THE COACHES - WTAMU head coach Don Carthel, the winningest coach in WT football history, has a record of 47-12 (.797) in his fifth season at the helm of the Buff football program and sports a 13-year collegiate career mark of 93-58-1 (.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. Angelo State is coached by Dale Carr (Colorado State `87), who is 23-28 (.451) in his fifth-season, both as a head coach as well as the Ram's coach.

SENIOR NIGHT - The Buffaloes will have 12 seniors who will be playing their final home game Saturday night. They include PK James Chandler, OL Renarko Cunningham, RB Keithon Flemming, LB Mark Ford, OL Jon Ioane, WR Sedrick Knowlton, DT Broderick Marshall, LB Joseph Peterson, DT Marcus Rowe, DE Eugene Sims and OL J'Marcus Webb.

LAST WEEK - Playing away from home, WT played the spoiler role to perfection, as they dealt a stunning, 32-21, defeat on #1-ranked Abilene Christian at Shotwell Stadium, spoiling the Wildcat's homecoming and Hall of Fame festivities. Meanwhile, Angelo State took a road victory over LSC North-member Southeastern Oklahoma State, 42-30.

BUFFS VERSUS THE BEST - West Texas A&M has twice faced the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division II program this season. They opened the 2009 campaign by falling to then-#1-ranked Grand Valley State, 23-37, in Canyon, Texas. Then, on Oct. 17, they visited top-ranked Abilene Christian and took a 32-21 victory. The win marks the first time that a WT football team has knocked off the nation's number-one ranked team.

OH NO, YOU DON'T! - For the second consecutive week, the Buff defense limited a potent offensive unit to well below their season average when they held Abilene Christian to just 301 yards of total offense. The Wildcats had entered the contest averaging 419.5 yards per game. WT also held an ACU offense that ranked 14th, nationally, in scoring, to just 21 points (after averaging 36.4 ppg.) One week previous, the Buffs held Eastern New Mexico to just 331 total yards (235.5 below their season average). In doing so, they also limited a squad that was averaged 511.8 passing yards to just 245...a minus-266.8 yard drop.

FLEMMING MAKING UP FOR LOST GROUND - The return of RB Keithon Flemming (6-0, 210, So-1L, Mesquite, Texas), who missed the first six games of the 2009 season due to a dislocated elbow suffered in the Buffs' final scrimmage, has been nothing short of sensational, scoring six touchdowns over the past two games. He scored all four of WT's TDs in a 32-21 win over #1-ranked Abilene Christian, gaining 173 all-purpose yards (72 rushing, 101 passing). One week earlier, against Eastern New Mexico, he accounted for 101 all-purpose yards (52 rushing, 49 receiving), while accounting for two of WT's four touchdowns in that contest. Considered to be one of the top running backs in the Lone Star Conference, if not all of Division II, Flemming has accounted for 3,486 all-purpose yards over the past two-plus seasons. Included in his rushing total are four 100+ yard rushing performances, giving him a total of 10 for his career.

KEITHON MOVING UP THE CHARTS - RB Keithon Flemming, currently has 2,078 rushing yards and needs 49 yards to pass Charles Wright (1984-50, 2,126 yards) for 10th place on the WT career rushing list. He also is currently stands fourth on the WT career scoring chart, with 222 points. His next target is Eugene `Mercury' Morris (1966-68, 252 pts.). Also, Flemming currently stands 10th on the career receptions list, with 120, needing 27 to pass Pete Loera (1993-95, 146).

COWDREY CONTRIBUTES - While making just four punts at #1-Abilene Christian, P Tim Cowdrey (6-4, 200, Jr-TR) made an immense impression. He earned LSC South Special Temas Player of the Week honors after averaging 36.8 yards per boot, with a long of 45 yards. While none of his punts were returned, he placed one effort which was downed at the ACU one yard line. That downed punt led to a WT safety on ACU's first ensuing snap from scrimmage.

THIS WON'T TAKE LONG - Of the 33 scoring drives that the Buffs have undertaken in 2009, eight have accounted for a time of possession of one minute, or less. Two of those quickies, each elapsing just :12 seconds, came against Eastern New Mexico.

HARRIS JOINS BUFF ELITE - Over the past two weeks, QB Taylor Harris (6-3, 220, Jr-2L), has enjoyed his two most productive outings of the season. He passed for 358 yards, completing 34-of-48 and two TDs (without an interception) at #1-Abilene Christian. One week earlier, he threw for 371 yards against Eastern New Mexico. For the 2009 season, Harris, who stands T-2nd among LSC passing leaders (280.5 ypg.), has completed 62.3 percent of his attempts (213-of-342) for 2,244 yards, with 11 TDs and seven interceptions, while, over his 25-game career, he has completed 329-of-525 passes for 3,499 yards, 22 TDs and 10 interceptions. Harris has now thrown for 3,499 career yards and lies in ninth place on the WT career passing-yardage list, needing 12 yards to surpass eighth-place Hank Washington (1965-66, 3,510) and 94 yards to pass seventh-place Gary Thomas (1997-98, 3,593). He is also poised to move into the top-10 Career Total Offense Leaders.

BAICHTAL PLAYS BIG - Listed at just 5-11, 180, WLB Shad Baichtal (say BASE-tul) plays much bigger....just ask Abilene Christian. Baichtal earned LSC South Defensive Player of the Week honors for his play against the then #1-ranked Wildcats, as he intercepted ACU's first passing attempt of the game, forced a QB hurry, registered a safety when he tackled Wildcat RB Daryl Richardson in the end zone, assisted on a QB sack and logged six total tackles in helping the Buffs take a 32-21 road victory.

BUFF OPPONENTS FIND YARDAGE DIFFICULT - The Buffs' defensive unit has continued to improve, week by week. One telling statistic supporting this fact is that over the past five games, WT has held its opposition below what their season average yardage. Here's a look at WT's past five opponents, their average yards per game coming into the WT game, and how many yards they produced against the Buffs: Southwestern Oklahoma St. (211, held to 172); #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville (479, held to 432 incl. OT); #23-Midwestern State (413, held to 386); Eastern New Mexico (566, held to 331); #1-Abilene Christian (419, held to 301).

SACK FEAST CONTINUES - Over their initial three contests, WT had managed just one QB sack, but over their past five outings, they have accounted for 18 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. Against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, they logged five QB sacks (for minus-24), added three more (for minus-21) at #23-Midwestern State, a pair (for minus-26) against Eastern New Mexico and four (for minus-23) at #1-Abilene Christian. At Abilene Christian, the Buffs closed out the game by registering QB sacks on each of the Wildcat's final three plays.

GOING THE DISTANCE - Thus far in 2009, WT has amassed 15 drives that have covered 60 or more yards, with 13 of those ending in scoring plays. The Buffs have scored on six of seven drives of 80 or more yard. WT's longest distance driven this season was a 13-play, 94-yard TD drive against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville. This past weekend, the Buffs scoring drives of 80 yards (TD) and 77 yards (TD) at #1-ranked Abilene Christian.

DRIVE TIME - While WT still finds itself trailing in overall time of possession this season, by an average of 27:46 to 32:14. The Buffs disparity in time of possession is largely due to a lack of time-consuming drives. Through eight games, the Buffs have registered just eight drives of four minutes or longer (two against #1-Grand Valley State, one at #6-Central Washington, three against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, one against Eastern New Mexico and one against #1-Abilene Christian). Interestingly, only two of those possessions resulted in points.

GREAT SCOTT - Inside linebacker Anthony Scott (5-11, 245, Jr-2L) leads all Buff tacklers through the season's first eight weeks, despite not playing against Southwestern Oklahoma State due to an arm injury. He logged a game and season-high tying 11 tackles at #1-ranked Abilene Christian, duplicating the 11 takedowns he registered at #23-Midwestern State. During the Buffs' first two outings of the season, Scott also recorded double-figure stop totals. For the season, Scott ranks fourth among LSC tackle leaders.

SIMS-SATIONAL - Defensive end Eugene Sims (6-6, 235, Sr-1L) recorded 1.5 sacks for minus-11 yards at #1-Abilene Christian, boosting his season sack total to a team-high 6.5 (for minus-54 yards). Sims, who is tied for second among LSC sack leaders, 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. He followed that outing with a six tackle outing (including 1.5 QB sacks for minus-13 yards and 2.5 TFLs for minus 15 yards) at #23-Midwestern State and added a sack for minus-14 yards against Eastern New Mexico The Buffs leading tackler among down linemen, the Mt. Olive, Miss., native has season totals of 45 tackles (16 solo, 29 assists), 10 TFLs (for minus-71 yards), 6.5 sacks (for minus-54 yards), five QB hurries, three PBUs, 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 AMONG LSC LEADERS IN TFL's - Alternating between outside linebacker and defensive end, Bryan Braman's (6-6, 245, Jr-TR) contributions have been measurable, to the extent that he ranks fourth among LSC leaders in tackles for loss. His season total of 11 tackles for minus-56 yards leads the team, while his four sacks rank second among Buff sack leaders and stand sixth among LSC leaders. At-#23-Midwestern State, the Spokane, Wash., native recorded five tackles, of which three resulting in lost yardage (minus-12 yards). 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).

BURTON SHOWS BIG PLAY ABILITY - WR Stephen Burton (6-4, 220, Jr-TR), posted his second 100-yard reception game when he caught eight passes for 115 yards at #1-ranked Abilene Christian. His longest reception of the day, a 34-yarder in the second quarter, set up the Buffs' first touchdown of the game. Earlier this season, he registered a game-high 13 receptions for 168 yards against 10th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville.

WILLIAMS STANDS TALL - Tight end Tyson Williams (6-0, 210, So-1L) enjoyed a season-high eight catch outing against #1-ranked Abilene Christian, gaining 64 yards in the process. That topped his previous best outing, a seven reception for 77 yard performance at #23-Midwestern State. For the year, the Aldine, Texas, native, has 39 receptions for 427 yards while averaging 10.9 yards per catch and 53.4 yards per game.

TWO A MAGIC NUMBER - As a team, WT has registered 11 interceptions this season, with four players registering two picks apiece. Curtis Jefferson, Tae Evans, Shad Baichtal and Caleb Randolph have each plucked a pair of passes this season.

THOU SHALT NOT RUN - In two of WT's three victories this season, opponents have found it difficult to produce rushing yardage. Southwestern Oklahoma was held to a season-low 17 rushing yards and Eastern New Mexico could only muster 86 yards on the ground. Those 17 yards allowed at SWOSU marked the lowest rushing total allowed by WT since Oct. 25, 2008, when Angelo State mustered just 15 net rushing yards.