The #7 ranked WTAMU Buffs made sure that their fans went home happy on Home- coming night with a 48-17 vic- tory over Tarleton State Oct. 9.
After holding TSU on their first possession, WT drove 48 yards and running back Kelvin Thompson ran the ball in from 15 yards out to give the Buffs a 7-0 lead with just 2:37 off the clock.
Tarleton responded on their next drive. After converting a fourth-and-11 pass, the Texans converted a 25-yard field goal from Blake Wiest to make the score 7-3 with 6:37 left in the first quarter.
WT scored again on their next possession thanks to a 76- yard drive that culminated with running back Tevin Mitchell scoring from three-yards out making the score 14-3 Buffs with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
Both teams’ defenses held strong during the latter part of the first half and kept each other off the board. That is, until the six-minute mark of the second quarter.
With WT backed up on its own 1-yard line, quarter back Taylor Harris connected with WR Stephen Burton for a 99-yard left in the third quarter. Sergio Castillo converted a 21-yard field goal with 5:21 left in the third to increase the lead to 31-3.
After Tae Evans intercepted a pass on TSU’s next possession, WT drove down to the Texan 21 yard line, where Castillo con- verted another field goal, this one from 38-yards to make the lead 34-3 Buffs at the end of the third quarter.
WT’s defense forced another TSU punt early in the fourth.
Harris found WR Tyson Williams for a 13-yard touchdown strike to increase the Buffs’ lead to 41-3 with 10:36 left in the game.
Tarleton finally broke WT late in the fourth when Deshaun Phillips intercepted QB Tanner Marsh’s pass and returned it 26 yards for the touchdown mak- ing the score 41-10.
Marsh regrouped and drove 70 yards in four plays finishing the drive with a 36 yard strike to Aarrhon Flores making the score 48-10 with 3:52 left in the game.
TSU scored one last time with Casey Page finding Jamal Mays from 36 yards out making the final score 48-17 Buffs.
QB Taylor Harris was 33-49 passing for 419 yards and three touchdowns. WR Stephen Burton collected a season-high 144 yards on five receptions with two touchdowns. Tyson Williams had 11 catches for 120 yards with Kelvin Thompson also having 11 catches for 70 yards respectively.
WT’s overall record now stands at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in LSC South play. The Buffs will hit the road next Saturday for a showdown with #10 ranked Texas A&M Kingsville. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Javelina Stadium.
