No.9-Ranked Buffaloes Run Past Northeastern State, 34-22

 Courtesy of West Texas A&M Athletics

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Senior running back Kelvin Thompson rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns to lead ninth-ranked West Texas A&M to a 34-24 Lone Star Conference win over Northeastern State, Saturday afternoon at NSU's Doc Watley Stadium in Tahlequah, Okla.

WTAMU improves to 4-1 on the year, 4-0 in LSC play, while NSU drops to 2-3, 1-3 LSC.

The win moved WT head coach Don Carthel ahead of Frank Kimbrough and into second place on the WT football all-time coaching list.

“This was a dogfight,” said WT head coach Don Carthel. “NSU gave us everything they had and I couldn't be more produ of the way our team responded to their challenge.

“We had several players step up today and play in situations they haven't been in before,” Carthel said. “Trevor Hammergren, Lance Ratliff to name a couple. They really responded well and showed that they are big-game players.

“Defensively, Shad Baichtal had one heck of a game.”

WT's offense cranked out 494 yards in total offense, while the Buffs' defense held NSU to just 71 yards rushing and held NSU to just three field goals inside the red zone.

Baichtal, the Buffs' seemingly-undersized linebacker had 14 tackles (13 solo), two sacks among six tackles-for-minus 22 yards, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

“This was a very clean game,” Carthel said. “There weren't a lot of fumbles or interceptions. I really thought our defense stepped up when they needed to and won this ballgame for us.”

Thompson, who rushed for 127 yards last weekend at Angelo State, gained his 106 yards and three TDs on 20 carries.

Taylor Harris completed 27 of 43 passes for 383 yards and one TD and did not throw an interception. Trevor Hammergren was WT's leading receiver, with 10 catches for 160 yards, while Lance Ratliff caught seven passes for 127 yards.

NSU's Kenny Davis was 15-of-31 for 200 yards and two TDs, with Trey McVay his favorite receiver, catching three passes for 81 yards. Josh Lewis was the RiverHawks leading rusher, gaining 28 yards on 10 carries.

West Texas A&M will host Tarleton State next weekend, while NSU plays host to Texas A&M-Commerce.

Keeping the ball on the ground, NSU got on the board first, as kicker Drew Patton nailed a 29-yard field goal on the RiverHawks' second possession.

The Buffs got the offense cranking on their third possession. Sparked by a nice kick return by Stephen Burton (Sr-1L, Lakesood, Calif.), the Buffs attempted a 28-yard field oal by Sergio Castillo (Fr-RS, Mission, Texas). However, the RiverHawks were called for running into the kicker and the Buffs gained a first down at the NSU five.

Three plays later, Kelvin Thompson (Sr-3L, Mineral Wells, Texas) scored off right tackle, capping a 10-play, 53-yard drive to give WT a 7-3 lead with 4:29 remaining in the first quarter.

A 60-yard punt return by NSU‘s Nate Robinson gave the RiverHawks possession at the WT to start the second quarter. The Buffs kept the RiverHawks out of the end zone, holding them to minus-one yard on the drive and forcing NSU to boot a 26-yard field goal, narrowing the score to 7-6 with 14:09 to play in the half.

Taylor Harris (Sr-3L, Whitesboro, Texas) completed a second-and-25 pass to Trevor Hammergren (Fr-RS, Aztec, N.M.) for 27 yards to keep a Buff second-quarter drive alive. Harris followed with a 24-yard completion to Lance Ratliff (Fr-RS, Frenship, Texas) to move the Buffs inside the red zone. From the 18, Harris hit Tommy Hampton (Jr-TR, Bronx, N.Y.) on a short dump pass which Hampton took to the NSU six, setting up first and goal. The RiverHawk defense held and the Buffs settled for a 21-yard Castillo field goal. WT now led 10-6 with 9:30 ot play in the first half.

Hammergren would go on to catch 10 passes for 160 yards.

Aided by Tim Cowdrey's (Sr-1L, Reedley, Calif.) 47-yard punt which died at the NSU two yard line, the Buff defense forced another NSU punt, with Shad Baichtal's (Sr-1L, Mission Viejo, Calif.) third down sack stopping the drive.

Harris connected, again, with Hammergren for a 43-yard catch and run to the NSU three. From there, Thompson bulled over for the TD, putting WT up, 17-6 with 2:11 to go in the half.

The RiverHawks took advantage, driving 60 yards in eight plays in the final minute of the half, with Kenny Davis Hitting Kendall McKellum for an 18-yard TD strike, narrowing the score to 17-13.

A last-chance drive by the Buffs came up empty, as Castillo's 50-yard field goal attempt fell just short.

WT opened the second half by driving 53 yards to inside the five yard line, but were again forced to settle for a Castillo field goal, this time from 22 yards out to give the Buffs a 20-13 lead.

The RiverHawks caught a break midway through the third quarter when QN Kenny Davis attempted a pooch punt on fourth-and five from the WT 41. His effort wobbled nine yards before bouncing off the turn. WT's Zane Farris couldn't corral the loose ball and NSU's Marquinn Watts fell on the ball at the WT 33 to keep the drive alive.

NSU drove inside the WT 10, aided by a facemask call against the Buffs, but WT stood strong and forced the RiverHawks to kick a 30-yard field goal. The score now stood 20-16 with 3:57 to play in the third quarter.

Showing resiliency, the Buffs stormed back. A 17-yard completion to Hammergren moved the ball into NSU territory, then, on fourth and 14, the Buffs gambled. Harris found Thompson coming out of the backfield and the Mineral Wells, Texas, native, juked one would-be tackler and raced 31 yards to the NSU four yard line. Harris then hit Nathan Slaughter (Fr-HS, Lubbock Texas) on the next play for a TD, putting WT ahead by a 27-16 margin. The drive covered 60 yards in nine plays.

With a stiff wind at his back and 10:04 on the clock, NSU's Drew Patton attempted a 50-yard field goal, only to have WT's Bryan Braman (Sr-1L, Spokane, Wash.) rush in from the left side and block the attempt.

The RiverHawks weren't finished. After forcing a WT punt, Davis found Trey McVay behind the Buffs' secondary for a 58 TD strike. NSU's two-point attempt was no good, leaving the score 27-22 with 7:39 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Buffs looked to have something going when Harris hit Ratliff, who then ran up the sideline for 43 yards. But Ratliff was hit from behind by NSU's Gus Jones, fumbled the ball and the RiverHawks' Ryan Keenum recovered at the NSU 28.

The Buffaloes' defense held though, as a fourth-down pass from Davis went incomplete.

WT iced the win when Kelvin Thompson skirted around left end and raced, untouched, 27 yards into the endzone. Castillo's PAT made the final score WT 34, NSU 22.

Thompson, who rushed for 127 yards last weekend at Angelo State, gained his 106 yards and three TDs on 20 carries.

Taylor Harris completed 27 of 43 passes for 383 yards and one TD and did not throw an interception. Hammergren was his leading receiver, with 10 catches for 160 yards, while Ratliff caught seven passes for 127 yards.

NSU's Davis was 15-of-31 for 200 yards and two TDs, with McVay catching three passes for 81 yards. Josh Lewis was the RiverHawks leading rusher, gaining 28 yards on 10 carries.

The Buffs return home next weekend, as they host LSC South-member Tarleton State at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CDT. The game will highlight WT's Centennial Homecoming, and postgame festivities will include a live fireworks display.