The #9 WTAMU Buffs football team played their home opener Sept. 18 night against Southeastern Oklahoma State. WT defeated SOSU 41-17.
WT scored on their third possession of the night. Thanks to a 48- yard reception from Tyson Williams, the Buffs found themselves on the SOSU 5-yard line. A strong defensive stand, compiled with a delay of game penalty, led to the Buffs converting a 23-yard field goal from Sergio Castillo making the score 3-0.
After a blocked punt by the Buffs, SOSU got a turnover of their own on the ensuing possession intercepting Taylor Harris’ pass. But just three plays later, WT’s Curtis Jefferson got his second interception of the season putting the Buffs at the WT 40-yard line.
Quarterback Harris found his groove near the end of the first quarter when he connected with Nathan Slaughter for a 33-yard touchdown pass to make the score 10-0 with just 48 seconds left in the quarter.
WT successfully converted an onside kick to end the first quarter. The Buffs took just 48 seconds of the second quarter to extend their lead when Stephen Burton caught a 3-yard touchdown reception to make the score 17-0. The Buffs next possession was quicker than the previous taking only 47 seconds. Harris connected with Tyson Williams for a 52- yard touchdown extending the lead to 24-0 Buffs.
SOSU’s running back Baylen Laury lost the ball to WT’s defensive end Rashad Sanders. WT’s Kyle Thomas recovered the ball at the WT 49 yard line. Just three plays later, Harris had his fourth touchdown pass of the night as he found Brittan Golden for a 49-yard strike padding the lead to 31-0 with 10:38 left in the first half.
SOSU finally scored with 6:52 left. SOSU’s QB Logan Turner found Robbie Morris for an 8-yard touchdown trimming the lead to 31-7. WT responded with an 18-yard field goal with 4:37 left in the half to extend the lead to 34-7.
The Savage Storm got another touchdown just before halftime, when Turner found Ryan Shelley for a 22-yard touchdown pass to make the score 34- 14 at the half.
The second half produced little scoring for both teams, with the only touchdown coming from an 11-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Golden with 6:31 left in the third to extend the Buffs lead to 41-14. Defense set the tone for the rest of the game as both teams failed to score for the remainder of the game giving the Buffs the victory.
Taylor Harris finished the night 35-53 passing for 562 yards; just 33 yards shy of the single game record set by Keith Null against Abilene Christian in 2008. Tyson Williams had 13 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown. Brittan Golden had seven catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Kelvin Thompson rushed for 49 yards on nine carries.
WT’s overall record now stands at 2-1, with a 2-0 mark in LSC play. The Buffs hit the road to take on Angelo State Sept. 25th. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
