# 2014 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team

The 2014 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2014 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by second-year head coach Mike Nesbitt. Nesbitt led the Buffaloes through the 2013 season under the interim tag and was promoted to full-time head coach following the season.
On March 23, 2016, the NCAA announced that the Buffaloes would have to vacate four wins from the 2014 season due to academic fraud violations. The violations were found as part of a larger investigation related to the dismissal of former head coach Don Carthel.

## Preseason
### Media poll

The LSC preseason prediction poll was released in late July. The Buffaloes were predicted to finish second in the conference.
LSC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Tarleton State | 139 (8) |
| 2 | West Texas A&M | 127 (4) |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico | 115 (5) |
| 4 | Midwestern State | 111 (2) |
| 5 | Angelo State | 99 (1) |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 95 (1) |
| 7 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 49 |
| 8 | McMurry | 21 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 4 CSU Pueblo* | No. 11 | DeRose ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | L 6–35 | 7,321 |
| September 13 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 16 Tarleton State | No. 22 | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | L 27–31 | 9,237 |
| September 20 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. Shorter (GA)* | | AT&T StadiumArlington, TX (LSC Football Festival) | W 27–19 (vacated) | 13,024 |
| September 27 | 7:00 p.m. | Angelo State | | LeGrand Sports ComplexSan Angelo, TX | W 58–41 (vacated) | 5,946 |
| October 4 | 3:00 p.m. | McMurry | | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 56–21 (vacated) | 10,592 |
| October 11 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 25 Midwestern State | | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 34–13 (vacated) | 6,435 |
| October 18 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 23 Texas A&M–Commerce | | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (East Texas vs. West Texas) | L 21–48 | 7,048 |
| October 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Texas A&M–Kingsville | | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 48–21 | 5,827 |
| November 1 | 7:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico | | Greyhound StadiumPortales, NM (Wagon Wheel) | L 21–31 | 4,267 |
| November 8 | 6:00 p.m. | McMurry* | | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX (LSC Playoffs) | W 58–13 | 783 |
| November 15 | 1:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico* | | Greyhounds StadiumPortales, NM (LSC Playoffs) | L 45–55 | 1,673 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At No. 4 CSU Pueblo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 Buffaloes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| No. 4 ThunderWolves | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Statistics | WTAMU | CSUP |
| First downs | 16 | 19 |
| Total yards | 302 | 440 |
| Rushing yards | 94 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 208 | 277 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:15 | 32:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 25/49, 208 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Venric Mark | 12 rushes, 58 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Jarrian Rhone | 5 receptions, 72 yards |
| CSU Pueblo | Passing | Chris Bonner | 16/31, 277 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| CSU Pueblo | Rushing | Cameron McDondle | 21 rushes, 83 yards |
| CSU Pueblo | Receiving | Paul Browning | 4 receptions, 102 yards, TD |

### No. 16 Tarleton State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Texans | 0 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| No. 22 Buffaloes | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
| Statistics | TSU | WTAMU |
| First downs | 29 | 25 |
| Total yards | 497 | 386 |
| Rushing yards | 298 | 137 |
| Passing yards | 199 | 249 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:07 | 30:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tarleton State | Passing | Collin Strahan | 16/22, 123 yards |
| Tarleton State | Rushing | Collin Strahan | 21 rushes, 124 yards, TD |
| Tarleton State | Receiving | Clifton Rhodes III | 5 receptions, 83 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 21/34, 249 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Venric Mark | 20 rushes, 88 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Anthony Johnson | 9 receptions, 138 yards, TD |

### Vs. Shorter (GA)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hawks | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 27 |
| Statistics | SU | WTAMU |
| First downs | 16 | 16 |
| Total yards | 236 | 309 |
| Rushing yards | 224 | 129 |
| Passing yards | 12 | 180 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:39 | 26:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Shorter | Passing | Eric Dodson | 3/7, 12 yards, INT |
| Shorter | Rushing | Eric Dodson | 20 rushes, 95 yards, TD |
| Shorter | Receiving | Trey Lawhorn | 1 reception, 7 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 15/23, 180 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 29 rushes, 118 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Anthony Johnson | 6 receptions, 100 yards, TD |

### At Angelo State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 21 | 24 | 13 | 58 |
| Rams | 14 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 41 |
| Statistics | WTAMU | ASU |
| First downs | 32 | 24 |
| Total yards | 637 | 476 |
| Rushing yards | 142 | 144 |
| Passing yards | 495 | 332 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:00 | 27:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 34/49, 495 yards, 3 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 27 rushes, 113 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Jeremy Watson | 12 receptions, 269 yards, TD |
| Angelo State | Passing | Kyle Washington | 26/42, 332 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Angelo State | Rushing | Ryan Byrd | 13 rushes, 92 yards, 2 TD |
| Angelo State | Receiving | Chris Omigie | 4 receptions, 70 yards, TD |

### McMurry

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| War Hawks | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Buffaloes | 20 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
| Statistics | MCM | WTAMU |
| First downs | 24 | 26 |
| Total yards | 510 | 537 |
| Rushing yards | 74 | 187 |
| Passing yards | 436 | 350 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:44 | 27:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| McMurry | Passing | Matthew McHugh | 29/44, 374 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| McMurry | Rushing | Chris Agugua | 1 rush, 16 yards |
| McMurry | Receiving | Jeret Smith | 10 receptions, 203 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 25/32, 302 yards, 4 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 16 rushes, 117 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Anthony Johnson | 5 receptions, 130 yards, TD |

### No. 25 Midwestern State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Mustangs | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 34 |
| Statistics | MSU | WTAMU |
| First downs | 21 | 23 |
| Total yards | 426 | 510 |
| Rushing yards | 347 | 197 |
| Passing yards | 79 | 313 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:51 | 30:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Midwestern State | Passing | Quade Coward | 6/9, 49 yards |
| Midwestern State | Rushing | Dante Taylor | 18 rushes, 159 yards, TD |
| Midwestern State | Receiving | Arsenio Phillips | 5 receptions, 38 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 18/26, 313 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 33 rushes, 163 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Anthony Johnson | 6 receptions, 123 yards |

### At No. 23 Texas A&M–Commerce

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 23 Lions | 9 | 14 | 25 | 0 | 48 |
| Statistics | WTAMU | TAMUC |
| First downs | 24 | 21 |
| Total yards | 398 | 495 |
| Rushing yards | 245 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 153 | 382 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:23 | 31:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 17/38, 153 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 28 rushes, 160 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Anthony Johnson | 5 receptions, 58 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Tyrik Rollison | 24/33, 355 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Richard Cooper | 16 rushes, 81 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Ricky Collins | 9 receptions, 153 yards, 2 TD |

### Texas A&M–Kingsville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Javelinas | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 48 |
| Statistics | TAMUK | WTAMU |
| First downs | 23 | 27 |
| Total yards | 458 | 502 |
| Rushing yards | 301 | 196 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 306 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:59 | 27:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Trey Mitchell | 16/27, 140 yards, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Rushing | Shawn Vasquez | 11 rushes, 107 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Receiving | Patrick LaFleur | 8 receptions, 79 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 20/30, 296 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 21 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Jeremy Watson | 8 receptions, 90 yards |

### At Eastern New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Greyhounds | 21 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
| Statistics | WTAMU | ENMU |
| First downs | 14 | 25 |
| Total yards | 266 | 393 |
| Rushing yards | 93 | 306 |
| Passing yards | 173 | 87 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 18:52 | 41:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 21/33, 173 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 15 rushes, 114 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Word Hudson | 9 receptions, 59 yards |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Jeremy Buurma | 6/8, 87 yards, TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing | E'lon Spight | 33 rushes, 161 yards, TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving | Jacob Johnson | 3 receptions, 40 yards, TD |

### McMurry (LSC Playoffs)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| War Hawks | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Buffaloes | 21 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 58 |
| Statistics | MCM | WTAMU |
| First downs | 15 | 27 |
| Total yards | 220 | 546 |
| Rushing yards | 65 | 260 |
| Passing yards | 155 | 286 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:29 | 28:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| McMurry | Passing | Matthew Bailey | 5/9, 80 yards |
| McMurry | Rushing | Paxton Grayer | 14 rushes, 70 yards, TD |
| McMurry | Receiving | Paxton Grayer | 7 receptions, 53 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 24/29, 238 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 23 rushes, 175 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Word Hudson | 9 receptions, 96 yards |

### At Eastern New Mexico (LSC Playoffs)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 0 | 21 | 10 | 45 |
| Greyhounds | 7 | 27 | 8 | 13 | 55 |
| Statistics | WTAMU | ENMU |
| First downs | 18 | 24 |
| Total yards | 456 | 510 |
| Rushing yards | 151 | 315 |
| Passing yards | 305 | 195 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:12 | 34:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Preston Rabb | 23/37, 305 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Geremy Alridge-Mitchell | 27 rushes, 167 yards, 5 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Jeremy Watson | 12 receptions, 157 yards |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Jeremy Buurma | 7/9, 195 yards, 3 TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing | E'lon Spight | 25 rushes, 132 yards |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving | Jacob Johnson | 4 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD |