Buffaloes Drop a Road Contest at #7 Grand Valley State – West Texas A&M University Athletics
Christian Guerrero
14
0-2 , 0-0
56
Winner
2-0 , 0-0
0-2 , 0-0
14
56
2-0 , 0-0
Winner
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
|
| 14 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 56 |
Game Recap: Football |
Buffaloes Drop a Road Contest at #7 Grand Valley State
CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes couldn’t overcome four turnovers on Thursday night as they suffered a 56-14 loss on the road to the #7 Grand Valley State Lakers in front of over 11,000 fans at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan.
The Buffalo defense started the game on a high note on the first GVSU offense play as Herschel Craig III swatted away a backwards pass behind the line of scrimmage with Phineas Allen scooping up the loss ball and returning it 12 yards for the 7-0 lead. Grand Valley found their offensive rhythm later in the quarter as Kellen Russell-Dixon broke from for a 67-yard rushing touchdown on second and short to make it 7-7.
The Lakers took their first lead of the game late in the first quarter as Andrew Schuster found Evan Furtney wide open in the endzone from 11 yards out for the 14-7 lead. GVSU added to their lead a few drives later as Schuster stood in the pocket and found Kellen Reed on a deep crossing route for a 43-yard touchdown to take a 21-7 advantage.
Grand Valley State used a second interception on defense to add to their lead as a six-play drive spanned 59 yards capped off by a 13-yard rushing touchdown from Russell-Dixon at 28-7. The Buffs took a gamble on a fake punt deep in their own territory late in the half that didn’t reach the first down, WT committed a pass interference call on third and long to setup a Reed 14-yard touchdown reception from Schuster at 35-7.
WT’s defense forced a quick punt to start the second half as the Buffs put together a long drive before a GVSU interception in the endzone with 9:02 left in the third, setting up an 82-yard touchdown grab by Reed at 42-7. The Lakers defense came up with a big sack on fourth down on WT’s next possession that was followed by a long pass to setup a Jake Vermas seven-yard touchdown grab at 49-7.
The Lakers converted another WT interception into more points to start the fourth quarter as ArJon Thompson scored from one yard out for the 56-7 lead. The Buffs put together their best offensive drive of the game late in the fourth quarter as a fourth down conversion led to a seven-yard pass back shoulder pass on the pylon from Knox Porter to Joseph White at 56-14.
Porter completed 23-of-45 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown while finishing with four interceptions. Tory Simmons carried the ball nine times for a team-best 49 yards while J.B. Mitchell III registered 99 receiving yards on five catches.
Miles Hill led the West Texas A&M defense with 10 total tackles (four solo) followed by Lucas Jarnagin with nine. Tyler Davis had six assisted tackles while Craig III also had six tackles to go along with a tackle for loss.
The Buffs enter their bye week as they prepare to return to the field on Saturday, September 19th in San Angelo, Texas to start Lone Star Conference action against the Angelo State Rams with kickoff set for 6:00 p.m. at LeGrand Stadium.