West Texas A&M put up a staggering 493 yards of total offense on Saturday afternoon, narrowly outlasting the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas, 53-48, in a Lone Star Conference thriller at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.
The game started with a bang as C’ing Blanton returned the opening kickoff 74 yards to the Kingsville 26-yard line. On the very first play from scrimmage, RJ Martinez found Sean Johnson for a 26-yard touchdown, giving the Buffs an early 7-0 lead. Moments later, Ashton Reynolds recovered a Jack Turner fumble in the end zone, quickly extending the advantage to 15-0.
Martinez was in rhythm from the outset, connecting with Cristian Dixon for a 43-yard touchdown, while Drew Cox added a 29-yard field goal to close out a wild first quarter. By the end of the period, the Buffs led 25-14, setting the tone for what would be a back-and-forth affair.
The second quarter saw both teams trading scores in a high-powered offensive display. Martinez threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Ray with just under two minutes remaining, putting West Texas A&M ahead 32-28. Despite Kingsville answering with touchdowns from Lawrence Starks and a Turner-to-Kevin Holmes Jr. connection, the Buffs maintained a slim lead heading into the half.
As the third quarter unfolded, the Buffs regained momentum. Martinez connected with Dixon on a 55-yard touchdown pass, reclaiming the lead at 39-35 after a Kingsville drive had temporarily swung the advantage. The Buffs’ defense contributed key plays, including a 13-yard sack from Reynolds, keeping Kingsville’s offense in check.
In the fourth quarter, West Texas A&M pulled away with a decisive drive. Martinez capped it with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a 21-yard scoring pass to Zach Phipps after Jamel Acosta-Lewis intercepted Turner. While the Javelinas managed a late touchdown, a missed extra point left them trailing 53-48. Acosta-Lewis sealed the victory with a second interception in the final 30 seconds, ensuring the Buffs celebrated a hard-fought win.
Martinez was electric throughout, completing 30 of 39 passes for 400 yards and five touchdowns, adding 48 rushing yards and a rushing score. Johnson hauled in 11 receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Acosta-Lewis’ two interceptions and Reynolds’ fumble recovery for a touchdown highlighted the defensive effort.
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