No. 5 Javelinas out-dueled by West Texas

By: Mark Molina

It was set to be a venue of glamour and gridiron, but Texas A&M Kingsville head football coach

Bo Atterberry wouldn’t blame the team for this misfortune.

The No. 5 Javelinas were dealt their first 2011 loss in the conference opener as the West Texas A&M Buffaloes pulled a 42-21 upset Saturday Night at Cowboys

Stadium.

It was the Javelinas first loss to an unranked opponent since losing to East Central in 2007.

“It was a lack of preparation on my part,” Atterberry said. “We’ll go back and take a look.”

The Javelinas fell behind early in the game after the Buffaloes put them in a 20 hole caused by penalties and breakdowns in the offensive line and secondary.

The Hogs were harassed by the Buffalo defense all night as they compiled had three sacks and seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles(one for a touchdown) and three interceptions.

West Texas took their first drive down for a score as Dustin Vaughn hit Lance Ratliff for an 11-yard score to take an early 7-0 lead.

Vaughn was named the starter earlier in the week after splitting time.

The Hogs would get picked twice on their first four possessions and would not score till late in the first half when Daniel Ramirez hit Robert Armstrong for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 20-7 at half.

Ramirez entered the game after Nate Poppell was sacked causing a Buffalo fumble return for a touchdown as the offensive line had its troubles once again this week.

“I was concerned about his hand,” Atterberry said. “Did you see the hit they put on him?”

In the third quarter Poppell returned and pulled the Hogs closer with a 45-yard touchdown to Christian Taylor and another one following a three-and-out by WTAMU this time an 11-yard strike to Robert Armstrong to make it 21-28

Armstrong finished the game with seven catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

The comeback would fall short when Vaughn continued his raid on the AMK secondary with a 61-yard strike on the ensuing possession to Torrence Allen and ending the Hoggie run.

Khiry Robinson would finish the scoring with a five-yard run in the fourth quarter to make it 42-21.

Vaughn in his first career start went 23-of 41 for 384 yards and three touchdowns.

Receiver Brittan Golden led the team with seven grabs for 131 yards as the secondary was picked apart throughout the night.

The Javelinas out-gained the 437 to 421 and had five more first downs but turnovers prevailed for the Buffs.

Poppell finished the contest 26-of-42 passing for 305 yards, two touchdowns and two picks.

Woodson followed his career night on the ground against Minot State with a 58-yard performance, but had 178 all purpose yards.

On defense Kerry Wheatfall had eight tackles, while Jeremy Aguilar had four solo tackles a tackle for loss and two pass break-ups.

No. 3 Abilene Christian was another ranked team that fell Saturday when No. 4 North Alabama won a 23-17 game.

The Javelinas stay on the road this week as the head to Wichita Falls to play Midwestern State next Saturday at 7 p.m.