For more than two quarters Saturday night, West Texas A&M looked like it was on its way to an impressive Lone Star Conference road win.
Then everything changed.
The Buffaloes built a 21-point lead before Texas A&M-Kingsville stormed back with 28 unanswered points, including the game-winning touchdown with just 18 seconds remaining, to hand WT a heartbreaking 28-21 loss at Javelinas Stadium.
It was a wild finish to a night that had already been disrupted by weather. After a 90-minute delay, the Buffs came out looking sharp and immediately took control.
WT opened the game with a methodical 15-play, 65-yard drive. Quarterback Knox Porter finished it by connecting with Brennan Ray for a five-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Buffs' defense quickly joined the fun.
Ian Amegatcher intercepted a Kingsville pass on the Javelinas' next possession and returned it inside the red zone. WT needed just one offensive snap to cash in, with Porter finding Joseph White for a seven-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone.
Just like that, the Buffs were up 14-0.
Things looked even better after halftime.
On WT's first possession of the third quarter, Porter connected with Trace Clarkson for a 50-yard touchdown. The big play pushed the lead to 21-0 and seemingly put the Buffs firmly in control.
But the Javelinas weren't finished.
Texas A&M-Kingsville finally found some life later in the third quarter when Dawson Mills hit Edward Chumley for a 21-yard touchdown. Chumley added a one-yard rushing score on Kingsville's next possession, suddenly cutting WT's lead to 21-14.
What had looked like a comfortable night for the Buffs was quickly turning into a fight.
WT still carried the lead deep into the fourth quarter, but Kingsville put together an 87-yard drive and tied the game with 3:48 remaining when Mills connected with Christian Kretz for a 19-yard touchdown.
The biggest blow was still coming.
Kingsville took possession again late and drove 80 yards in just 1:47. With only 18 seconds left, Mills found Kretz for a 37-yard touchdown that completed the comeback and gave the Javelinas their first lead of the night.
It was a brutal ending for a WT team that had controlled much of the game.
Porter finished 17-of-33 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Clarkson was his top target, catching six passes for 100 yards and the 50-yard score.
Contae Cason and Tory Simmons handled most of the work on the ground, combining for 29 carries and 82 yards.
Defensively, Miles Hill led the Buffs with 11 tackles, including nine solo stops. Caleb Giles added nine tackles, while Eddy Mpela finished with seven.
There were plenty of positives for WT, especially during a first half in which the Buffs controlled the game on both sides of the ball. But allowing 28 unanswered points after building a three-touchdown advantage will make this one particularly difficult to swallow.
Now the Buffs have to put it behind them quickly.
