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Nov. 6, 2009

A FAMILIAR FINISH LOOMING FOR BUFFS – In what has become commonplace over the past four seasons, the West Texas A&M Buffaloes will have a share of the LSC South title on the line when they close out the 2009 season at #7-ranked Tarleton State, Saturday, November 7. Kickoff at TSU’s Memorial Stadium (cap. 7,000/ProGreen turf) is set for 7 p.m. CDT. The Buffs, who have won four-consecutive games, the longest streak in the LSC South, can also clinch a fifth-consecutive winning season with a victory.

THE RECORDS – West Texas A&M enters Saturday’s contest with records of 5-5 overall, 5-3 LSC, 3-2 LSC South. Tarleton State sports records of 9-1 overall, 7-1 LSC, 4-1 LSC South.

THE SERIES – The series is knotted up, 9-9-0, with the Buffs having won the past four contests. WT took a 51-0 victory last season in Canyon, Texas, in the regular-season finale, and won the previous meeting in Stephenville, Texas, by a 39-14 margin in 2007.

THE LSC SOUTH – The Buffs will once again play a major role in who wins the LSC South title. Heading into the final weekend of the 2009 season, Tarleton State stands atop the division with a 4-1 mark. Looming right behind are four teams with two losses (WT, Abilene Christian, Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville). A Buff win over Tarleton State would give WT a share of the title, as well as TAMU-K and EITHER Midwestern State or ACU.

THE COACHES – WTAMU head coach Don Carthel, the winningest coach in WT football history, has a record of 49-12 (.803) in his fifth season at the helm of the Buff football program and sports a 13-year collegiate career mark of 95-58-1 (.621). 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. Tarleton State is coached by Sam McElroy (Texas State ‘85), who is 39-13 (.750) in his fifth season as the Texan’s head coach.

LAST WEEK – The Buffs clicked on all cylinders as they won, easily, at Northeastern State, 66-23. Meanwhile, Tarleton State also won on the road, taking a 21-14 win at Angelo State. MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL.. - Who’s currently the hottest team in the Lone Star Conference? That would be WT, which, after starting the season at 1-5, is now riding a four-game winning streak and enters this week’s Tarleton State contest with a 5-5 mark and a chance to tie for the LSC South crown.

OH NO, YOU DON’T! - Over the second half of this season, the Buffs’ defense has made a habit of limiting a potent offensive unit to well below their season average. They did so against Angelo State (just 15 points and 327 total yards) after the Rams had entered the game averaging 414 yards and 32 points per contest. One week prior, 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.). The Buffs also 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. This past week, they held Northeastern State to just 259 yards.

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, as he has scored a team-leading 11 touchdowns over the past four games. Most recently, he tallied three TDs while rushing for 110 yards at Northeastern State. One week earlier, he had two TDs while rushing for 95 yards against Angelo State and tallied 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 3,739 all-purpose yards over the past two-plus seasons. Included in his rushing total are five 100+ yard rushing performances, giving him a total of 11 for his career.

KEITHON MOVING UP THE CHARTS – RB Keithon Flemming, currently has 2,283 rushing yards and needs 94 yards to pass Duane Thomas (1967-69, 2,376) for sixth place on the WT career rushing list, and 192 yards to top Bill Cross (1947-50, 2,474) for fifth on the list. He also is currently stands T-third on the WT career scoring chart, with 252 points. His next target is Charly Martin (2004, 06-08, 270 pts.). Also, Flemming currently stands T-eighth on the career pass receptions list, with 129, needing four to surpass his father, Keith Miller (1988-90, 133) for seventh spot on the list.

CHANDLER CONTRIBUTES– PK James Chandler (5-7, 190, Sr-1L) tallied eight points at Northeastern State, making four-of-four PATs and hitting a 30-yard field goal (his only attempt of the game). For the season, the London, England, native is 13-19 on field goal efforts and 31-31 on PAT attempts. Just one week prior, he enjoyed his most productive day of the season by scoring 13 points in the Buffs’ 43-15 win over Angelo State. That contest saw him boot three field goals and connect on four PATs, including a season-long 47 yarder, as well as efforts of 41 and 40 yards.

SIMPLY GOLDEN – WR Brittan Golden (6-0, 180, So-1L) posted his most productive day as a Buff when he recorded 178 receiving yards and three TDs on seven catches in the Buffs’ 66-23 win at Northeastern State. The Denver City, Texas, native posted TD catches of 48, 40 and three yards against the RiverHawks. For the year, he has accounted for five of the Buffs six longest TD plays.

HARRIS JOINS BUFF ELITE– Over the course of the 2009 season, QB Taylor Harris (6-3, 220, Jr-2L), has thrown for 4,175 career passing yards, Harris has become just the seventh player in WT history to pass for 4,000 career yards. This past weekend, he completed 19-of-25 passes for 262 yards and three TD’s at Northeastern State - in just the first half (he was lifted at halftime with the Buffs leading, 42-10). Against Angelo State, he completed 30-of-39 passes (his second-consecutive week without an interception), for a career-high 414 yards. That marked his second career 400+passing yard outing, as he had one in 2007. One week earlier, he passed for 358 yards, completing 34-of-48 and two TDs (without an interception) at #1-Abilene Christian. That followed a 371-yard passing game against Eastern New Mexico. For the 2009 season, Harris, who stands second among LSC passing leaders (292.0 ypg.), has completed 64.5 percent of his attempts (262-of-408) for 2,920 yards, with 16 TDs and nine interceptions, while, over his 27-game career, he has completed 372-of-589 passes for 4,175 yards, 27 TDs and 12 interceptions. He now lies in seventh place on the WT career passing-yardage list, needing 85 yards to surpass sixth-place Victor McGee (1981-82, 4,259). He also stands eighth on the WT Career Total Offense list, with 3,978 yards, needing 330 to pass Victor McGee (1981-82, 4,307).

BAICHTAL PLAYS BIG – Listed at just 5-11, 180, WLB Shad Baichtal (say BASE-tul) plays much bigger. At Northeastern State, he recorded three tackles and a PBU. Against Angelo State, he thwarted a potential ASU scoring drive with his second interception of the season, a one-handed effort at the WT 4-yard line, as well as contributing four tackles and a QB sack. One week earlier, 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.

PICK IT – As a team, WT has registered 14 interceptions this season, with Shad Baichtal and Tae Evans having three picks and Curtis Jefferson, Jordan Smith and Caleb Randolph having each plucked a pair of passes this season.

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 seven games, WT has held its opposition below what their season average yardage. Here’s a look at WT’s past seven 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), Angelo State (414, held to 327), Northeastern State (270, held to 259).

SACK FEAST CONTINUES – Over their initial three contests, WT had managed just one QB sack, but over their past seven outings, they have accounted for 25 QB takedowns. Most recently, they bagged five QB sackings at Northeastern State (for minus-26 yards). At Southwestern Oklahoma State, they accounted for a season-high 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, four (for minus-23) at #1-Abilene Christian and a pair (for minus-15) against Angelo State. At Abilene Christian, the Buffs closed out the game by registering QB sacks on each of the Wildcat’s final three plays.

WILLIAMS STANDS TALL – Tight end Tyson Williams (6-0, 210, So-1L) enjoyed a season-best nine receptions (for 86 yards and one TD) at Northeastern State. He has also enjoyed games of eight catches (for 64 yards) at #1-ranked Abilene Christian. He has also twice had seven-reception outings, one being a 77 yard performance at #23-Midwestern State and a seven catch for a season-high 171 yards against Angelo State (including a season-long 79 yard TD reception). For the year, the Aldine, Texas, native, has 55 receptions for 684 yards while averaging 12.4 yards per catch and 68.4 yards per game.

GOING THE DISTANCE – Thus far in 2009, WT has amassed 26 drives that have covered 60 or more yards, with 24 of those ending in scoring plays. The Buffs have scored on 11 of 12 drives of 80 or more yards. WT’s longest distance driven this season was a 10-play, 96-yard TD drive against Angelo State. This past weekend, the Buffs enjoyed scoring drives of 94 yards (TD) 90 (TD) yards and 81 yards (TD) at Northeastern State.

THIS WON’T TAKE LONG – Of the 51 scoring drives that the Buffs have undertaken in 2009, 12 have accounted for a time of possession of one minute, or less. WT’s quickest scoring ‘drive’, elapsing all of :06 seconds, came this past week at Northeastern State.

DRIVE TIME – WT still finds itself trailing in overall time of possession this season, by an average of 23:23 to 31:31. The Buffs disparity in time of possession is largely due to a lack of time-consuming drives. This past week saw the Buffs post their two most time-consuming drives (5:31 and 5:17), still, the Buffs have registered just 12 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, one at #1-Abilene Christian, one against Angelo State and three at Northeastern State). Interestingly, only six of those 12 possessions have resulted in points.

GREAT SCOTT – Inside linebacker Anthony Scott (5-11, 245, Jr-2L) leads all Buff tacklers through 10 weeks of the season, 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 fifth among LSC tackle leaders.

SIMS-SATIONAL – Defensive end Eugene Sims (6-6, 235, Sr-1L) recorded 0.5 sacks for minus-3 yards at Northeastern State, boosting his season sack total to a team-high 7.0 (for minus-57 yards). Sims, who is third 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 52 tackles (18 solo, 34 assists), 12.0 TFLs (for minus-78 yards), 7.0 sacks (for minus-57 yards), five QB hurries, five PBUs, four blocked kicks, three forced fumbles 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 fifth among LSC leaders in tackles for loss. His season total of 13.5 tackles for minus-69 yards leads the team, while his 6.5 sacks rank second among Buff sack leaders and stand T-fifth among LSC leaders. This past week, at Northeastern State, he logged seven solo stops, with two sacks (for minus-nine yards). 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), has three 100-yard reception games, the most recent coming when he grabbed eight passes for a 164 yards and a TD in the Buffs’ 43-15 win against Angelo State. He also 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.

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.