Buffs stampede back for 45-44 win over Angelo State

Senior Night at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium turned into an instant classic Saturday as West Texas A&M erased a 20-point third-quarter deficit to stun Angelo State, 45–44, in a wild Lone Star Conference showdown. A blocked field goal in the final minutes set up the dramatic finish—a last-second touchdown grab by Zach Phipps that capped one of the most memorable comebacks in program history.

WT wasted no time igniting the home crowd. C’ing Blanton opened the game with a 33-yard kick return, giving the Buffs great field position. Quarterback RJ Martinez wasted little of it, connecting with Trevin Edwards to push into ASU territory. Moments later, Martinez launched a perfectly placed 39-yard strike to Sean Johnson for the night’s first touchdown and a 7–0 WT lead.

But Angelo State responded with big-play energy of its own. Quarterback Ayden Arp needed just one snap to hit Hunter Wallis for a 75-yard score, though the Rams’ missed PAT kept the Buffs in front. From there, penalties and stalled drives slowed WT’s early rhythm, while Arp added a 56-yard touchdown run to give ASU a 13–7 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Rams seized further control in the second, tacking on touchdown passes and a rushing score to extend the lead. Still, the Buffs refused to fade. With the offense searching for traction, Martinez turned to his most explosive weapon—Sean Johnson. A smooth 21-yard touchdown connection at the 4:12 mark breathed life back into WT, and a Drew Cox field goal pulled the Buffs within 27–17. The defense chimed in as well: Cam Manahan’s timely interception halted ASU’s momentum and set the tone for the second half.

Angelo State looked poised to pull away again early in the third quarter, converting on both a touchdown and a field goal to stretch the lead. But Martinez and the Buffs simply would not go away. The junior quarterback bulldozed through for a 10-yard rushing score at 5:04, then later dropped a 42-yard bomb to Johnson to continue chipping away at the deficit. A massive sack by Andre Johnson late in the quarter helped swing momentum even further toward WT, setting up a final-period rally for the ages.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Buffs. Martinez found Trevin Edwards for a touchdown with 5:04 left, pulling WT within six at 44–38. Still needing one more stop and one more score, the Buffs got both. First came the defensive highlight of the night: Jamel Acosta-Lewis knifed through to block an Angelo State field goal attempt with under two minutes remaining. The stadium erupted—and Martinez delivered the rest. With just six seconds on the clock, he hit Zach Phipps in the end zone for the game-tying touchdown. Cox’s extra point sealed the 45–44 victory.

Martinez finished with a masterpiece: 35-of-54 passing for 424 yards and five touchdowns, plus 58 rushing yards and another score. Johnson dominated the receiving game with 237 yards and three touchdowns on 14 catches. Defensively, Miles Hill led all players with 12 tackles, while Manahan’s interception proved pivotal.

The Buffs close their 2025 campaign at 7–4 overall and 7–2 in LSC play—tied for second in the conference. Their seven wins mark the program’s best season since 2021 and their strongest league performance since 2012. Senior Night could not have ended more fittingly: with a comeback that will be remembered in Canyon for years to come.