The No. 4 WTAMU Buffalo football team traveled to Arlington, Texas to participate in the Lone Star Football Festival in a rematch with last season’s first round playoff opponent, the Chadron State Eagles, on Sept. 12. The Buffs fell behind 21-0 in the first, but were able to rally in the second half to win the rubber match with the Eagles, 34-31. WT is now 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2008.
CSC started red hot as tail back Glen Clinton ran a 77-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. After senior receiver Nathan Slaughter fumbled a lateral, Chadron would score on a seven yard touchdown pass from Jonn McLain to Nathan Ross to take a 14-0 lead with 13:49 still remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles would find the end zone one more time in the first on a two yard run by Michael Madkins to put CSC up 21-0; the Buffs only points in the quarter would come on a 21-yard field goal by senior Sergio Castillo, Jr. giving the Eagles a 21-3 advantage after one.
“The first thing I thought was that this was the worst I’ve seen us play in a long time,” Interim Head Coach Mike Nesbitt said. “Things didn’t go good early.”
Both defenses stepped up in the second quarter with each team only allowing a field goal. Randy Wentz kicked a 33-yarder with 5:01 left in the half, and Castillo kicked a 29-yarder with 2:09 to send WT into the locker room trailing 24-6.
After the first half, [the defense] had to regroup and settle down,” senior linebacker Taylor McCuller said.
Senior quarterback Dustin Vaughn was 12 of 18 passing for 128 yards in the first half. Senior Aaron Harris ran the ball seven times for 36 yards. Senior Torrence Allen caught three passes for 33 yards, senior Jace Jackson caught three passes for 30 yards and Slaughter caught two passes for 36 yards. McCuller had nine tackles and senior Bryan Johnson had six tackles and one sack.
The Buffs came out firing in the third as Harris scored on a 17-yard run to cut WT’s deficit to 24-13; another Castillo field goal would pull the Buffs to within eight, 24-16, with 7:32 to go in the third. CSC would answer with a 52-yard scoring run from Madkins to increase their lead to 31-16 after three quarters.
Harris brought the Buffs closer with a three yard touchdown run that made it a 31-23 deficit with 10:42 remaining in the game. WT drew even when Vaughn hit Harris on a 19-yard score and then converted on the two-point conversion with Vaughn connecting with Jackson making it a 31-31 score with 6:36 to go.
“I knew the offensive coordinators expectations for me coming into this season,” Harris said. “He wants another Khiry [Robinson], I wanted to show him I’m not Khiry but I can get the job done.”
After a clutch interception by McCuller in CSC territory, the Buffs clinched the win on a 21-yard field goal by Castillo with 49 seconds on the clock.
“As the game went on I just tried to get in mental reps and stay calm,” Castillo said. “That kick was just like an extra point.”
Vaughn finished the game 29 of 41 passing for 353 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. Harris ran it 17 times for 103 yards and two scores. Allen caught eight passes for 124 yards and Jackson caught eight passes for 87 yards. McCuller finished with 17 tackles and a key interception in the fourth.
“We (the defense) held it together in the fourth and that’s what made the difference,” said McCuller.
WT will play their home-opener and Lone Star Conference opener on Sept. 21 when they host the Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
