The West Texas A&M Buffaloes had their chances on Saturday night but a big defensive stop late in the game lifted the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas to a 28-21 Lone Star Conference victory at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.
The Javelinas jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter as a four-play drive that spanned 45 yards was capped off by a CJ Odom six-yard touchdown run for the 7-0 lead. TAMUK added to their lead early in the second as Roger Hagan took the ball eight yards up the middle to finish off a 10-play drive for the 14-0 lead.
The Buffs responded on their next possession as Montaye Dawson found the endzone from one yard out to cap off a six-play drive that spanned 50 yards to make it 14-7 headed into the locker room.
Special teams came up big for the Buffs early in the second half as Dumas native Cade Cox blocked a Javelina punt as Tory Simmons scooped up the ball on the 10 yard line and took it into the endzone to tie the game at 14-14. TAMUK responded on their next drive as Wade Freeman connected with Jaylin Smith for a 42-yard touchdown for the 21-14 lead.
The Javelinas would add to their lead early in the fourth quarter as Freeman found Jackson Allen from 28 yards out to finish off a quick 70-yard drive to make it 28-14. The Buffs responded later in the quarter as a nine-play drive was capped off by a Kanon Gibson 24-yard pass to Tyler Sweet on fourth down to cut the lead to 28-21.
The Buffs wouldn't go down without a fight as a long Kingsville drive was stopped by a turnover as David Jeffery forced a fumble in the redzone that was recovered by Koby King to give WT the ball with under four minutes remaining. WT couldn't take advantage as they turned the ball back over the the Javelinas on downs with 2:06 left as TAMUK ran out the clock.
Gibson finished the game completing 16-of-27 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown to go along with an interception. Dawson finished the night with nine carries for 25 yards and a score while Sweet caught a team-high six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, JT Cavender led the way as the junior registered 17 total tackles (11 solo) with one of those coming for a loss followed by Jimmy Harrison with eight and Preston Steszewski with six.
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