# 2016 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team

The 2016 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University (WTAMU or WT) in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by fifth-year head coach Mike Nesbitt and played their home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
On November 18, athletic director Michael McBroom announced that Nesbitt had been fired. Nesbitt finished his career at WT with an overall record of 25–17 through four seasons.

## Preseason
### LSC media poll

The LSC media poll was released on August 8, 2016. The Buffaloes were predicted to finish fourth.
LSC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 269 (19) |
| 2 | Midwestern State | 254 (8) |
| 3 | Angelo State | 211 |
| 4 | West Texas A&M | 182 |
| 5 | Eastern New Mexico | 181 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 141 |
| 7 | Tarleton State | 121 |
| 8 | Oklahoma Panhandle State | 66 |
| 9 | Western New Mexico | 66 |
| 10 | UT Permian Basin | 49 (1) |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 9:00 p.m. | at Azusa Pacific* | Citrus StadiumGlendora, CA | L 10–28 | 4,977 |
| September 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 19 CSU Pueblo* | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | W 26–10 | 7,459 |
| September 18 | 11:00 a.m. | at UT Permian Basin | Ratliff StadiumOdessa, TX | W 48–14 | 7,674 |
| September 24 | 6:00 p.m. | Tarleton State | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 37–25 | 10,347 |
| October 1 | 8:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico | Greyhound StadiumPortales, NM (Wagon Wheel) | L 30–39 | 3,072 |
| October 8 | 5:00 p.m. | Texas A&M–Kingsville | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | L 34–51 | 12,465 |
| October 15 | 1:00 p.m. | at Oklahoma Panhandle State | Carl Wooten FieldGoodwell, OK | W 42–14 | 1,500 |
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 4 Midwestern State | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | W 35–27 | 3,967 |
| October 29 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 8 Texas A&M–Commerce | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX (East Texas vs. West Texas) | L 0–36 | 9,629 |
| November 5 | 6:00 p.m. | Angelo State | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | L 6–28 | 2,275 |
| November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | at Western New Mexico | Altamirano StadiumSilver City, NM | W 37–30 $^{OT}$ | 378 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||

## Game summaries
### At Azusa Pacific

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Cougars | 8 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 28 |
| Statistics | WT | APU |
| First downs | 20 | 17 |
| Total yards | 273 | 242 |
| Rushing yards | 40 | 174 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 68 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:28 | 32:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ethan Brinkley | 28/46, 233 yards, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 16 rushes, 62 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Ja'quarius Daniels | 11 receptions, 93 yards |
| Azusa Pacific | Passing | Andrew Elffers | 10/17, 68 yards |
| Azusa Pacific | Rushing | Kurt Scoby | 17 rushes, 118 yards, 2 TD |
| Azusa Pacific | Receiving | Ethan Ziedler | 3 receptions, 36 yards |

### At No. 19 CSU Pueblo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 3 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 26 |
| No. 19 ThunderWolves | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Statistics | WT | CSUP |
| First downs | 15 | 17 |
| Total yards | 298 | 321 |
| Rushing yards | 102 | 229 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 92 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:54 | 31:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ethan Brinkley | 24/33, 196 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 19 rushes, 100 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Eppy Henriques | 5 receptions, 65 yards, TD |
| CSU Pueblo | Passing | Rex Dausin | 7/16, 75 yards, INT |
| CSU Pueblo | Rushing | Bernard McDondle | 19 rushes, 139 yards |
| CSU Pueblo | Receiving | Osha Washington | 3 receptions, 41 yards |

### At UT Permian Basin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 48 |
| Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Statistics | WT | UTPB |
| First downs | 25 | 19 |
| Total yards | 460 | 262 |
| Rushing yards | 99 | 117 |
| Passing yards | 361 | 145 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 31:06 | 28:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ethan Brinkley | 34/50, 356 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 14 rushes, 93 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Michael Andrews | 6 receptions, 87 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kameron Mathis | 8/25, 74 yards, 2 INT |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Brandon Infiesto | 12 rushes, 60 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Kristian Brown | 6 receptions, 58 yards |
The game was originally scheduled for the previous night, September 17, but was postponed to the following morning due to severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings in Ector County.

### Tarleton State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texans | 0 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 25 |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 37 |
| Statistics | TSU | WT |
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 428 | 479 |
| Rushing yards | 60 | 123 |
| Passing yards | 368 | 356 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:03 | 33:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tarleton State | Passing | Zed Woerner | 26/37, 368 yards, 3 TD |
| Tarleton State | Rushing | Curtis McGregor | 12 rushes, 46 yards, TD |
| Tarleton State | Receiving | Jeff Thomas | 8 receptions, 132 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ethan Brinkley | 28/41, 356 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 21 rushes, 148 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Michael Andrews | 3 receptions, 79 yards |

### At Eastern New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
| Greyhounds | 7 | 7 | 18 | 7 | 39 |
| Statistics | WT | ENMU |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 392 | 504 |
| Rushing yards | 47 | 433 |
| Passing yards | 345 | 71 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 22:03 | 37:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ethan Brinkley | 31/45, 345 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 12 rushes, 41 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Eppy Henriques | 2 receptions, 77 yards |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Wyatt Strand | 5/7, 71 yards, TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing | Chivasiay Gallagher | 24 rushes, 122 yards, 2 TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving | Aaron Johnson | 2 receptions, 53 yards |

### Texas A&M–Kingsville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Javelinas | 20 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 51 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 34 |
| Statistics | TAMUK | WT |
| First downs | 25 | 21 |
| Total yards | 445 | 510 |
| Rushing yards | 267 | 34 |
| Passing yards | 178 | 476 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 31:34 | 28:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Myles Carr | 10/19, 155 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Rushing | Greg Pitre | 21 rushes, 130 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Receiving | Stehly Reden | 2 receptions, 74 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ben Arbuckle | 18/33, 354 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 16 rushes, 86 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Junior Pomee | 6 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TD |

### At Oklahoma Panhandle State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Aggies | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | WT | OPSU |
| First downs | 24 | 24 |
| Total yards | 409 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 117 | 157 |
| Passing yards | 292 | 239 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:29 | 29:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ben Arbuckle | 30/42, 292 yards, 6 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 15 rushes, 80 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Junior Pomee | 11 receptions, 124 yards, 4 TD |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State | Passing | Shane Truelove | 19/34, 218 yards, 2 TD |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State | Rushing | Xavier Jones | 10 rushes, 61 yards |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State | Receiving | Devyn Williams | 5 receptions, 78 yards |

### No. 4 Midwestern State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Mustangs | 0 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Statistics | MSU | WT |
| First downs | 18 | 21 |
| Total yards | 338 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 192 | 215 |
| Passing yards | 146 | 181 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:11 | 30:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Midwestern State | Passing | Quade Coward | 14/32, 141 yards, TD |
| Midwestern State | Rushing | Vincent Johnson | 17 rushes, 81 yards |
| Midwestern State | Receiving | Breion Evans | 4 receptions, 77 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ben Arbuckle | 21/28, 181 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 30 rushes, 177 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Eppy Henriques | 2 receptions, 52 yards |

### At No. 8 Texas A&M–Commerce

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 8 Lions | 6 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 36 |
| Statistics | WT | TAMUC |
| First downs | 12 | 19 |
| Total yards | 284 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | 43 | 124 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 234 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:51 | 34:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ben Arbuckle | 26/39, 241 yards, 4 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Trent Canion | 4 rushes, 18 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Devon Paye | 10 receptions, 73 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Luis Perez | 17/23, 230 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Richard Cooper | 26 rushes, 105 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Darby Smith | 3 receptions, 84 yards |

### Angelo State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Statistics | ASU | WT |
| First downs | 18 | 8 |
| Total yards | 246 | 137 |
| Rushing yards | 190 | 71 |
| Passing yards | 56 | 66 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 42:00 | 18:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Angelo State | Passing | Jake Faber | 8/13, 56 yards, TD |
| Angelo State | Rushing | Josh Stevens | 30 rushes, 119 yards, TD |
| Angelo State | Receiving | Josh Stevens | 5 receptions, 40 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ben Arbuckle | 11/23, 66 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Trent Canion | 9 rushes, 40 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Junior Pomee | 1 reception, 25 yards, TD |

### At Western New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Buffaloes | 13 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 37 |
| Mustangs | 14 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 30 |
| Statistics | WT | WNMU |
| First downs | 16 | 26 |
| Total yards | 348 | 443 |
| Rushing yards | 38 | 251 |
| Passing yards | 310 | 192 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 20:59 | 39:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Ethan Brinkley | 14/26, 208 yards, 3 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Devon Paye | 12 rushes, 63 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Chris Gilchrist | 8 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| Western New Mexico | Passing | Javia Hall | 20/40, 195 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Western New Mexico | Rushing | DeAndre Williams | 27 rushes, 127 yards, 2 TD |
| Western New Mexico | Receiving | Xavier Ayers | 7 receptions, 75 yards |