22014014 WWestest TTexasexas AA&M&M GGameame NNotesotes 22014014 WWestest TTexasexas AA&M&M BBuffalouffalo FFootballootball LLSCSC CHHAMPIONSAMPIONS • 11986986 • 22005005 • 22006006 • 22007007 • 22012012 NNCAACAA PLLAYOFFAYOFF APPPEARANCESPEARANCES 22005005 • 22006006 • 22007007 • 22008008 • 22010010 • 22012012 • 22013013 Kit Strief • West Texas A&M Assistant A.D. for Media Relations Offi ce • 806.651.4430 | Cell • 515.490.4627 | Fax • 806.651.4409 Email • [email protected] | www.GoBuffsGo.com GGameame DDayay IInfornationnfornation ##2222 WEESTST TEEXASXAS AA&M&M VVSS ##1616 TAARLETONRLETON STTATEATE, SEEPTPT. 113,3, 22014014 Date: September 13, 2014 Kickoff: 7 p.m. #22 West Texas A&M Buffaloes #16 Tarleton State Texans Location: Canyon, Texas 2014 Record: 0-1 2013 Record: 7-3 Stadium: Kimbrough Memorial Stadium Head Coach: Mike Nesbitt Head Coach: Cary Fowler Capacity: 20,000 Career Record: 11-4 Career Record: 22-20 Television: None WTAMU Record: 11-4 TSU Record: 22-20 Radio: 98.7 KPRF “Jack FM” 2014 Leaders: 2013 Leaders: Internet Streaming: www.gobuffsgo.com Anthony Johnson (SR-WR, 61 yards) C. Rhodes III (SR-WR, 53 rec., 675 yards, 6 TD) Series: WT leads 13-10 Venric Mark (SR-RB, 58 yards) Le’Nard Meyers (JR-WR, 58 rec., 731 yards 4 TD) Last Meeting: TSU 31-27 (10/12/13) at TSU Jarrian Rhone (JR-WR, 72 yards) Zach Henshaw (JR-RB, 117 att., 523 yards, 1 TD) Cater James (R-FR-LB, 16 Tackles, 2 TFL Marc Martinez (SR-LB, 87 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 4 FF) 22014014 WWestest TTexasexas AA&M&M SSchedulechedule September Time/Result BUFFS OPEN HOME SLATE WITH KEY LSC CLASH AGAINST TARLETON STATE 4 at #4 Colorado State-Pueblo L, 35-6 13 #17 TARLETON STATE* 7 p.m. OPENING DRIVE - The Buffs return home to open the 2014 home slate looking to get back on the winning 21 vs. Shorter! 1 p.m. 27 at Angelo State* 7 p.m. track after a 35-6 setback at then-No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo a week ago Thursday. The Buffs and Texans battle at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in a key LSC matchup of the top two October teams in the preseason standings. Tarleton State is coming off of a 7-3 record last season and a share of 5 MCMURRY* (Homecoming) 3 p.m. the LSC Championship. 11 #RV MIDWESTERN STATE* 7 p.m. 18 at Texas A&M-Commerce* 7 p.m. 25 TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE* 3 p.m. THE SERIES - WT leads the all-time series 13-10, but Tarleton State handed the Buffs their fi rst loss of the season last year in Stephenville, 31-27 on Oct. 12. Prior to last season, the Buffs had won eight-straight November 1 at #RV Eastern New Mexico* 7 p.m. (CT) in the series WT has outscored Tarleton State 674-593 in the series. The Buffs lead the all-time series 7-5 8 vs. TBA (LSC Playoff) TBA in Canyon and have won four-straight at home. This is the second consecutive meeting between the two 15 vs. TBA (LSC Playoff) TBA teams as ranked teams. 22 NCAA First Round TBA * - Lone Star Conference Game MAROON OUT - It’s Maroon Out Saturday against Tarleton State and all WT fans are encouraged to wear ! - Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas Maroon to the game and help cheer the Buffs to victory over rival Tarleton State. JACK FM - In 2014, the Buffs also will have a new radio partner in Townsquare Media and 98.7 KPRF MMediaedia IInformationnformation “Jack FM.” With the new partnership, the Buffs have the opportunity to put more sports on the air along with football and basketball. Neil Horn and Brice Sheets are still calling the action of every home-and-away RADIO BROADCAST - All WT Football games can be heard KPRF 98.7 Jack FM. Calling the action will football game for the Buffs this season. be Neil Horn (play-by-play) and Brice Sheets (color commentary). • KPRF (98.7 FM) Amarillo HOW TO CATCH THE GAME - Links to live stats, streaming and media information can be found on www. VIDEO STREAMING - WT Football home games are gobuffsgo.com on the football schedule page. streamed live over the internet, by logging onto www. GoBuffsGo.com. THE TRAVELING TROPHY - The Traveling Trophy with Tarleton State is one of two trophies the Buffs play WEEKLY INTERVIEWS - Coaches and players will be available for interviews prior to or immediately for each season. The other is the Wagon Wheel with Eastern New Mexico. The Buffs are looking to regain following practice. To arrange all non-game day both trophies after setbacks to both Tarleton State and Eastern New Mexico last season. interviews, please contact WTAMU Assistant A.D. for Media Relations, Kit Strief, at least 24 hours prior to desired time. HISTORIC 2012 & 2013 SEASONS - Continuing the theme of historic seasons, the Buffs put together back- MEDIA CREDENTIALS - Media members wishing to to-back two of the best seasons in school history in 2012 and 2013. The team went a combined 23-6 with cover WT Football must request credentials through the WTAMU Athletic Media Relations offi ce at least 24 NCAA National Quarterfi nal appearances in both seasons and a National Semifi nal appearance in 2012. In hours prior to the game. Credentials are issued for 2013, then-senior quarterback Dustin Vaughan threw for 5,401 yards and 53 touchdown passes as he was working media members only and can be revoked at any time. Priority is given to daily newspapers, radio the only quarterback in any division to pass for over 5,000 yards with the 5,401 yards being a Division II and TV stations regularly covering Buffalo Football. record. The 53 touchdown passes were the third-most all-time in Division II. He was the 2013 Harlon Hill PHOTOGRAPHY - Photographers bearing photo runner-up and earned First Team AFCA All-America accolades. credentials wishing to shoot from the fi eld during games must abide by both NCAA and WTAMU photo regulations. 2014 West Texas A&M Football Game Notes | www.GoBuffsGo.com 22014014 WWestest TTexasexas AA&M&M GGameame NNotesotes GAME 2 VS. #16 TARLETON STATE A WIN OVER TARLETON STATE WOULD. 2014 Stat Comparison • Be the fi rst win of the season for the Buffs Team Stats • Would be Coach Mike Nesbitt’s 12th win at the helm of the Buffs WT Offense TSU Def. (‘13) • Would be the sixth win in school history since 1946 on Sept. 13 6.0 Scoring Average 28.9 • Would be the fi rst for Coach Nesbitt 302 Total Yardage 4419 • Would be the fi fth consecutive year WT has opened LSC play with a win 94 Rushing Yardage 1506 • Would be the third consecutive year of opening the home slate with a win 208 Passing Yardage 2913 80 Total Plays 779 ON THIS DAY - WT is 5-0 all-time on Sept. 13 since 1946. The Buffs are 3-0 on the road and are 2-0 31 Rushing Plays 400 in Canyon. The most recent being a 75-13 victory over Azusa Pacifi c in 2008. WT has outscored its 49 Passing Plays 379 opposition 174-75 on this date. 3.8 Average Per Play 5.7 3.0 Average Per Rush 3.8 BUFFS SECOND IN PRESEASON LSC POLL - The Buffs were picked second in the 2014 preseason 4.2 Average Per Pass 7.7 LSC poll which was released at Media day back in July. Tarleton State was picked fi rst, followed by 8.3 Average Per Catch 12.6 the Buffs. 3 Turnovers 17 WT Defense TSU Off. (‘13) THE COACHES - West Texas A&M head coach Mike Nesbitt begins his second season at the 35.0 Scoring Average 32.8 helm of the program as he took over Aug. 21, 2013. Nesbitt was the interim head coach all of last 440 Total Yardage 4713 season and was elevated to head coach in December following the season. He is 11-3 in his career 163 Rushing Yardage 1547 as a head coach. Tarleton State head coach Cary Fowler is in his fi fth season at the helm of the 277 Passing Yardage 3166 Texans. Fowler guided the Texans to a share of the LSC crown, which was the school’s third and 75 Total Plays 811 Fowler’s fi rst, last season with a 7-3 record overall. 44 Rushing Plays 362 31 Passing Plays 449 ABOUT THE BUFFS - There were some bright spots, especially on defense, for the Buffs in their 5.9 Average Per Play 5.8 season-opening loss at No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo last week. Redshirt freshman Carter James had 3.7 Average Per Rush 4.3 16 tackles with 10 solo stops in the game, while sophomore Patric Youngman tallied 10 total tackles 8.9 Average Per Pass 7.1 in the contest. Senior Torian Oakley had an interception in the game as well. WT held the high- 17.3 Average Per Catch 11.9 powered passing attack of All-American and Harlon Hill candidate Chris Bonner to just 277 yards on 1 Turnovers 23 16 of 31 with an interception. Offensively, the team struggled punting 11 times in the game. Despite the issues moving the ball, senior Northwestern transfer Venric Mark had fl ashes of huge success Individual Stats (Last Season) in the ground game and a couple of nice kick returns. Junior Jarrian Rhone had fi ve catches for 72 Passing Leaders (YPG) yards, while senior Anthony Johnson had nine catches for 61 yards.