The #9 Buffs faced an early kickoff against the Northeastern State team Oct. 2 in Tahlequah, Okla.

The Riverhawks battled valiantly but in the end it wasn’t enough as WTAMU came away with a 34-22 victory.

This win moved Head Coach Don Carthel ahead of Frank Kimbrough into second place on the all time WT football wins list.

In the game, NSU struck first with a 29-yard field goal from Drew Patton to make the score 3-0 with just under eight minutes played in the first half.

After a roughing the kicker penalty on a field goal at- tempt, WT took advantage by having Kelvin Thompson run the ball in from two yards out to make it 7-3 with 4:29 left in the first half.

This score held until 14:09 of the second half when Pat- ton converted another field goal, this one from 26 yards away to trim the Buffs’ lead to 7-6.

Not to be outdone by his counterpart, Buff’s kicker Sergio Castillo converted a 21 yard field goal on the Buffs’ next possession to make the score 10-6 with 9:30 left in the first half.

After Buff’s quarterback Taylor Harris connected with Redshirt freshman wide receiver Travis Hammergren on a 43-yard reception, it set up Thompson for his second touchdown of the night mak- ing the score 17-6 with 2:11 to go in the half.

NSU struck once more be- fore the half was completed. QB Kenny Davis found Kendall McKellum for an 18-yard touchdown reception. This trimmed the Buffs’ lead to 17- 13 at the half.

Another Castillo field goal opened the scoring in the second half as he connected from 22 yards out increasing the lead back to 20-13 Buffs.

On NSU’s next possession, a fumbled punt return gave the Riverhawks new life. However, they only managed a field goal and the Buffs maintained the lead at 20-16 with 3:57 left in the 3rd quarter.

WT struck back with a nine play 60-yard drive that culmi- nated with Nathan Slaughter receiving a four yard touch- down pass as time expired in the 3rd quarter making the score 27-16.

NSU kept battling and with 7:39 left in the game they scored again. Davis connect- ed with Trey McVay for a 58- yard touchdown strike making the score 27-22 after the failed two point conversion.

But, in the end the Buffs proved to be too much as Thompson scored again with 2:56 left from 37 yards away to make the final score 34-22.

QB Taylor Harris went 27-43 passing for 383 yards and one touchdown. Trevor Hammergren led all receivers on the day with 10 catches for 160 yards. Fellow receiver Lance Ratliff had seven catches for 127 yards. Thompson rushed for 106 yards off of 20 carries and scored 3 touchdowns.

The Buffs return home for Homecoming against Tarleton State on October 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., with a fireworks show scheduled to follow the game.