# 2018 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team

The 2018 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season as members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by second-year head coach Hunter Hughes. The team played its home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas. This was the last year the Buffaloes played their home games at Kimbrough Memorial as the Canyon Independent School District purchased the stadium from the university; the team moved to the on-campus Buffalo Stadium (later renamed Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium) starting with the 2019 season.
The Buffaloes finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 6–5, going 4–4 in LSC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place.

## Preseason
### LSC media poll

LSC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 201 (13) |
| 2 | Midwestern State | 200 (10) |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico | 142 |
| 4 | Angelo State | 136 |
| 5 | Tarleton State | 130 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 104 |
| 7 | West Texas A&M | 73 |
| 8 | Texas–Permian Basin | 57 (1) |
| 9 | Western New Mexico | 37 |
    Source:

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 8:00 p.m. | at Azusa Pacific* | Citrus StadiumGlendora, CA | L 7–17 | 5,117 |
| September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Oklahoma Panhandle State* | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 42–7 | 6,889 |
| September 15 | 6:00 p.m. | Tarleton State | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | L 7–44 | 5,542 |
| September 22 | 1:00 p.m. | at Western New Mexico | Altamirano StadiumSilver City, NM | W 27–17 | 544 |
| September 29 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Central Washington* | Tomlinson StadiumEllensburg, WA | W 28–26 | 5,209 |
| October 6 | 6:00 p.m. | UT Permian Basin | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 42–21 | 6,399 |
| October 13 | 4:00 p.m. | at Angelo State | LeGrand Sports ComplexSan Angelo, TX | W 26–18 | 2,698 |
| October 20 | 6:00 p.m. | Eastern New Mexico | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX (Wagon Wheel) | L 0–28 | 8,279 |
| October 27 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Texas A&M–Commerce | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (East Texas vs. West Texas) | L 16–41 | 9,168 |
| November 3 | 6:00 p.m. | Texas A&M–Kingsville | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 35–31 | 6,137 |
| November 10 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 16 Midwestern State | Memorial StadiumWichita Falls | L 23–24 $^{OT}$ | 7,862 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||
    Schedule source:

## Game summaries
### At Azusa Pacific

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cougars | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Statistics | WT | APU |
| First downs | 21 | 20 |
| Total yards | 305 | 357 |
| Rushing yards | 76 | 236 |
| Passing yards | 229 | 121 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 27:48 | 32:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Mitch Hood | 23/39, 229 yards, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 13 rushes, 46 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Markel Steward | 6 receptions, 85 yards |
| Azusa Pacific | Passing | Tyrone Williams Jr. | 12/20, 121 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Azusa Pacific | Rushing | Zikel Reddick | 27 rushes, 201 yards, TD |
| Azusa Pacific | Receiving | Weston Carr | 6 receptions, 74 yards |

### Oklahoma Panhandle State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
| Statistics | OPSU | WT |
| First downs | 20 | 13 |
| Total yards | 283 | 285 |
| Rushing yards | 63 | 143 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 142 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:36 | 27:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State | Passing | John Polston | 18/32, 153 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State | Rushing | Brandon Ramon | 2 rushes, 15 yards |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State | Receiving | Nick West | 4 receptions, 49 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Mitch Hood | 8/18, 142 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 13 rushes, 84 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Payton Gonzales | 1 reception, 61 yards, TD |

### Tarleton State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texans | 3 | 20 | 14 | 7 | 44 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Statistics | TSU | WT |
| First downs | 21 | 11 |
| Total yards | 419 | 123 |
| Rushing yards | 225 | 31 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 92 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 34:24 | 25:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tarleton State | Passing | Ben Holmes | 13/17, 194 yards |
| Tarleton State | Rushing | D'Anthony Hopkins | 12 rushes, 61 yards, TD |
| Tarleton State | Receiving | DeShun Qualls | 3 receptions, 82 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 7/10, 71 yards, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 22 rushes, 32 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Semaj Mitchell | 6 receptions, 46 yards |

### At Western New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Mustangs | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Statistics | WT | WNMU |
| First downs | 15 | 20 |
| Total yards | 250 | 426 |
| Rushing yards | 165 | 72 |
| Passing yards | 85 | 354 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:30 | 27:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Mitch Hood | 8/17, 85 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 33 rushes, 150 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Jamaal Hamilton | 1 reception, 31 yards |
| Western New Mexico | Passing | Blayne Armstrong | 34/49, 354 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Western New Mexico | Rushing | DeAndre Williams | 21 rushes, 67 yards |
| Western New Mexico | Receiving | Kourde Roberts | 8 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD |

### At No. 14 Central Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 28 |
| No. 14 Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 26 |
| Statistics | WT | CWU |
| First downs | 16 | 26 |
| Total yards | 352 | 562 |
| Rushing yards | 268 | 126 |
| Passing yards | 84 | 436 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:05 | 29:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 11/18, 84 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 35 rushes, 259 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Jordan Johnson | 3 receptions, 36 yards, TD |
| Central Washington | Passing | Reilly Hennessey | 31/49, 436 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Central Washington | Rushing | Michael Roots | 11 rushes, 56 yards |
| Central Washington | Receiving | Tony Archie | 6 receptions, 106 yards, TD |

### UT Permian Basin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Statistics | UTPB | WT |
| First downs | 11 | 21 |
| Total yards | 292 | 397 |
| Rushing yards | 98 | 180 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 187 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:40 | 35:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Taylor Null | 12/28, 194 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Marquis Simmons | 10 rushes, 44 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Kyle McBride | 2 receptions, 125 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 17/21, 187 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 29 rushes, 143 yards, 4 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Jordan Johnson | 4 receptions, 70 yards, TD |

### At Angelo State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 3 | 16 | 7 | 26 |
| Rams | 7 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 18 |
| Statistics | WT | ASU |
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Total yards | 297 | 365 |
| Rushing yards | 59 | 151 |
| Passing yards | 238 | 214 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 37:10 | 20:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 22/32, 238 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 31 rushes, 58 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Semaj Mitchell | 7 receptions, 93 yards |
| Angelo State | Passing | Payne Sullins | 17/25, 214 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Angelo State | Rushing | Tyrese Nathan | 18 rushes, 96 yards |
| Angelo State | Receiving | Tyrese Nathan | 7 receptions, 73 yards, TD |

### Eastern New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Greyhounds | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statistics | ENMU | WT |
| First downs | 26 | 8 |
| Total yards | 489 | 134 |
| Rushing yards | 440 | 61 |
| Passing yards | 49 | 73 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 38:34 | 21:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Roel Sanchez | 1/1, 38 yards, TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing | Paul Terry | 21 rushes, 134 yards |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving | Johnny Smith | 1 reception, 38 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 9/21, 73 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Duke Carter IV | 9 rushes, 46 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Payton Gonzales | 4 receptions, 44 yards |

### At No. 18 Texas A&M–Commerce

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| No. 18 Lions | 7 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 41 |
| Statistics | WT | TAMUC |
| First downs | 12 | 16 |
| Total yards | 286 | 375 |
| Rushing yards | 22 | 244 |
| Passing yards | 264 | 131 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:46 | 32:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 21/32, 264 yards, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Marshawn Brown | 5 rushes, 29 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Payton Gonzales | 4 receptions, 79 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Kane Wilson | 12/15, 131 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Ovie Urevbu | 20 rushes, 118 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ryan Stokes | 3 receptions, 85 yards |

### Texas A&M–Kingsville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Javelinas | 3 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Statistics | TAMUK | WT |
| First downs | 26 | 10 |
| Total yards | 420 | 363 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 257 |
| Passing yards | 314 | 106 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 39:49 | 20:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Koy Detmer Jr. | 28/47, 314 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Rushing | Nick Pelrean | 13 rushes, 74 yards |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Receiving | Tyler Wilson | 9 receptions, 154 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 6/15, 106 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Brandon Blair | 16 rushes, 182 yards, 3 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Semaj Mitchell | 2 receptions, 83 yards |

### At No. 10 Midwestern State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 23 |
| No. 10 Mustangs | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Statistics | WT | MSU |
| First downs | 18 | 26 |
| Total yards | 282 | 477 |
| Rushing yards | 143 | 219 |
| Passing yards | 139 | 258 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:44 | 28:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Justin Houghtaling | 8/17, 73 yards, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Brandon Blair | 26 rushes, 96 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Payton Gonzales | 4 receptions, 46 yards, TD |
| Midwestern State | Passing | Layton Rabb | 20/35, 258 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Midwestern State | Rushing | Vincent Johnson | 23 rushes, 138 yards, TD |
| Midwestern State | Receiving | Juwan Johnson | 6 receptions, 97 yards |