No. 9 Buffaloes Hammer UCO

Edmond, Okla. – After a sluggish outing a week ago at Mesa State, West Texas A&M showed what they are capable of, as they opened Lone Star Conference play with a decisive, 49-18, win before 5,223 at Central Oklahoma’s Wantland Stadium. WTAMU improves to (2-0, 1-0 LSC) while UCO falls to 0-2, 0-1 LSC). The victory also ran WT’s consecutive road winning streak to 19 games, dating back to the final game of the 2004 season. The Buffs’ defense set the tone early, forcing a three-and out on all but one off OCU’s first-half possessions. Offensively, WT found the going slow on its’ initial pair of drives, but quickly recovered to dominate the scoreboard. WT hit paydirt on its third possession, as quarterback Keith Null (Sr-3L, Lampassas, Texas) found Carl Johnson (Sr-1L, Houston, Texas) open over the middle on a slant route for a 26-yard touchdown strike. James Chandler’s conversion put the Buffaloes ahead, 7-0. Late in the first quarter, Null found wideout Charly Martin (Sr-3L, Farmington, N.M.) on a 24-yard out-route, again giving the Buffs’ possession in UCO territory. But, after a UCO false-start moved the ball to the 37-yard line, UCO defensive back Matt Gates picked off a Null pass, intended for Clark, at the two-yard line. Again, the Buff defense held, forcing UCO to punt from deep in their own territory. Null guided WT 52 yards to a second touchdown midway through the second quarter, utilizing a pair of first-down completions to Martin and Clark to set the Buff offense up at the UCO 20-yard line. Keithon Flemming (So-1L, Mesquite, Texas) rambled around right end for 14 yards, then Null connected with Wayne McKnight (Sr-1L, Cedar Hill, Texas) on a short toss to the right corner of the end zone. Chandler’s PAT gave the Buffs a 14-0 lead. With just under eight minutes remaining in the half, Flemming broke free up the middle for a 35-yard gain. Moments later, McKnight grabbed his second TD catch of the game, this on a four-yard out route from Null. Chandler was again good on the conversion, and the Buffs were up, 21-0 with 6:24 to play in the half. The Bronchos’ offense finally gained a first down with six minutes remaining in the first half. That was followed by a circus catch by Marcellus Parker continued the drive at the WT 24. But the WT defense continued its stiff play and UCO settled for a 38-yard field goal, making the score, 21-3, in favor of the Buffaloes. The Buffs’ exercised their two-minute offense, going 69 yards and seven plays. Jumpstarting the drive was a breakaway run by Flemming for a 34-yard gain, then Null found inside receiver Seth Hayden (Sr-1L) over the middle at the two-yard line. Flemming, who finished the night with 124 yards rushing – his seventh career 100-yard performance, then dove in from two-yards out to put WT ahead, 28-3, with 1:05 remaining in the half. The Buff defense came up big again when free safety Darnell Johnson (Sr-3L) intercepted a Broncho pass at the WT 49. The Buffs quickly drove downfield, again. Null hit Hayden on an out-route, with Hayden racing down the sideline to the OCU 17-yard line. The drive stalled however, as a pass into the endzone, intended for Martin, went incomplete and a 34-yard field goal with three seconds to play hit the left upright. In the first half, alone, the Buff offense racked up 408 yards in total offense, while the defense limited UCO to just 92 yards. UCO opened the second half with an impressive drive, set up by a sack of WT QB Null at midfield. Null fumbled the ball away and it was recovered by the Bronchos’ linebacker Terrence Hill. UCO quarterback Alex Gibson completed a long pass to the four yard line, then, following an incompletion, Gibson found Ryan Gallimore for a four-yard strike. The ensuing PAT was no good and WT’s lead was narrowed to 28-9. The Buffaloes offensive thrust continued. On their initial possession of the half and facing third-and-17, Null found C. Johnson for 18 yards to the UCO 40. A defensive pass interference call moved the ball to the 30. Following a five-yard pass completion, Flemming, who registered his seventh-career 100-yard rushing game, burst up the middle for 26 yards and running over UCO defenders, taking the ball to the three-yard line. Null then found A.J. Ruffins (So-1L, Missouri City, Texas) on a three-yard slant route to put WT ahead, 35-9. Null finished the night with four TD passes, having completed 32-of 46 passes for 389 yards before handing the reins to Taylor Harris (So-1L, Whitesboro, Texas). That score held until the final play of the third quarter, when Harris hit receiver Raymond Johnson (Jr-TR, Inglewood, Calif.) on a quick slant, with Johnson outracing everyone into the endzone for a 24-yard score, putting WT up 42-9. UCO added an Alex Weaver 32-yard field goal with 10:18 to play in the game to close the score to 42-12. WT’s special teams came through with 2:25 remaining, as Keyon Kiles blocked a punt which Charly Martin recovered in the endzone, putting WT ahead, 49-12. UCO closed out the scoring on a 12 yard pass from Brandon Noohi to Daniel Morrell with just :57 seconds to play. The Buffaloes’ accumulated 637 yards of total offense, their highest output since amassing 646 last season against Adams State. Next up for the Buffaloes is a home-opening, non-conference match-up against NAIA-member Azusa Pacific, Saturday, Sept. 13, at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. CDT. Article Courtesy: www.gobuffsgo.com