Buffs win home opener 28-7 over Adams State

The West Texas A&M Buffaloes allowed just 215 yards of total offense with 85 of those coming in the second half as WT picked up a 28-7 victory over the Adams State Grizzlies on Saturday night in front of 6,981 fans at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.

The Buffs stared the game fast as they forced a punt on the opening drive by the Grizzlies followed by a 68-yard drive that spanned 10 plays as freshman signal caller Kanon Gibson found Tyler Sweet in the back of the endzone from three yards out for an early 7-0 lead.

 

The second quarter started with the Buffaloes making a big stop on fourth down near midfield that started a 10-play drive that went 57 yards finished off by a one-yard keeper by Gibson for the 14-0 lead. WT's defense continued to impress in the next drive as Braylon Sugg picked up a Grizzlies pass for the first turnover of the game.

 

The Grizzlies took the momentum to open the second half as a WT fumble on the kickoff to start the third quarter led to a quick three-play drive capped off by a Kentrell Petite 16-yard pass from Connor Underhill to make it 14-7. WT responded on their next possession, moving 69 yards on 13 plays as Tray'vian McCoy-Gay found the endzone from five yards out to extend the lead to 21-7.

 

The Buffs put the game away early in the fourth quarter as Gibson found Shakell Brown out of the backfield for a five-yard touchdown to make it 28-7. The West Texas A&M defense allowed just 85 yards in the second half with just eight of them coming on the ground.

 

Gibson finished the night going 21-of-28 for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also rushing for 52 yards on the ground with a score. McCoy-Gay led the way in the backfield for the Buffs as the Round Rock product carried the ball 24 times for 97 yards with a score. Tyler Sweet caught six passes for a team-high 56 yards with a touchdown.

 

Defensively, Midlothian product JT Cavender finished with eight tackles (two solo) followed by Charles Henderson, Josh Beaird and Jimmy Harrison with four tackles each. WT allowed 215 total yards of offense with 105 of those coming on the ground while forcing one turnover.

 

The Buffs open up their Lone Star Conference schedule next Saturday as the Mustangs of Midwestern State comes to Canyon with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.