# 2023 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team

The 2023 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University (WT) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference. Led by first-year head coach Josh Lynn, the Buffaloes played their home games at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas.

## Coaching changes

On November 21, 2022, Hunter Hughes was fired as the Buffaloes' head coach after six seasons. On December 14, 2022, Nebraska–Kearney head coach Josh Lynn was hired as the Buffaloes' new head coach.

## LSC preseason poll

The LSC preseason poll was released on July 27, 2023. The Buffaloes were predicted to finish fifth in the conference.
LSC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Angelo State | 241 (25) |
| 2 | Central Washington | 198 (1) |
| 3 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 174 |
| 4 | Midwestern State | 147 |
| 5 | West Texas A&M | 123 |
| 6 | Western Oregon | 118 (1) |
| 7 | UT Permian Basin | 98 |
| 8 | Eastern New Mexico | 59 |
| 9 | Western New Mexico | 57 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 2:00 p.m. | at Western Colorado* | Mountaineer BowlGunnison, CO | L 6–28 | N/A |
| September 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Adams State* | Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 28–7 | 6,981 |
| September 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Midwestern State | Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 23–0 | 6,726 |
| September 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at UT Permian Basin | Astound Broadband StadiumMidland, TX | L 40–41 $^{OT}$ | 7,018 |
| September 30 | 7:00 p.m. | Western Oregon | Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | L 36–37 | 6,553 |
| October 7 | 7:00 p.m. | at Texas A&M–Kingsville | Javelina StadiumKingsville, TX | L 21–28 | 5,374 |
| October 14 | 7:00 p.m. | Western New Mexico | Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 49–27 | 8,462 |
| October 21 | 8:00 p.m. | at Central Washington | Tomlinson StadiumEllensburg, WA | L 14–30 | 6,998 |
| October 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Angelo State | Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | L 10–27 | 4,972 |
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico | Greyhound StadiumPortales, NM (Wagon Wheel) | L 27–35 | 2,402 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Central time ||||||

## Game summaries
### At Western Colorado

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mountaineers | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Mountaineer Bowl, Gunnison, Colorado
* Date: September 2
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Referee: Cecil Harrison
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WT | WCU |
| First downs | 16 | 17 |
| Total yards | 239 | 324 |
| Rushing yards | 108 | 166 |
| Passing yards | 131 | 158 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:58 | 29:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kyle Brown | 11/26, 95 yards, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Tray'vion McCoy-Gay | 16 rushes, 72 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Kris Sims | 3 receptions, 31 yards |
| Western Colorado | Passing | Drew Nash | 13/27, 158 yards |
| Western Colorado | Rushing | Deyvon Butler | 11 rushes, 61 yards, 3 TD |
| Western Colorado | Receiving | Victory David | 1 reception, 64 yards |

### Adams State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Grizzlies | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: September 9
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 6,981
* Referee: Esrael Silva
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | ASU | WT |
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 215 | 345 |
| Rushing yards | 105 | 199 |
| Passing yards | 110 | 146 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 25:12 | 34:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Adams State | Passing | Connor Underhill | 9/28, 110 yards, TD, INT |
| Adams State | Rushing | Daylen Boddie | 2 rushes, 53 yards |
| Adams State | Receiving | Aaron Johnson | 3 receptions, 46 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 22/29, 146 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Tray'vian McCoy-Gay | 24 rushes, 104 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Tyler Sweet | 6 receptions, 56 yards, TD |

### Midwestern State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mustangs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: September 16
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 6,726
* Referee: Kerry Moore
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | MSU | WT |
| First downs | 10 | 13 |
| Total yards | 103 | 280 |
| Rushing yards | 38 | 205 |
| Passing yards | 65 | 75 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:05 | 31:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Midwestern State | Passing | James Cooper Jr. | 10/25, 65 yards, INT |
| Midwestern State | Rushing | Jalen March | 9 rushes, 18 yards |
| Midwestern State | Receiving | Jalen Austin | 2 receptions, 26 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kyle Brown | 3/10, 59 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Tray'vion McCoy-Gay | 15 rushes, 133 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Noah Bogardus | 2 receptions, 34 yards |

### At UT Permian Basin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 40 |
| Falcons | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 | 7 | 41 |
at Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland, Texas
* Date: September 23
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Hot, 90 °F (32 °C)
* Game attendance: 7,018
* Referee: Joe Greer
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WT | UTPB |
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 380 | 498 |
| Rushing yards | 183 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 197 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 33:40 | 26:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 23/26, 197 yards, 3 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Kanon Gibson | 14 rushes, 123 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Isai Smallwood | 5 receptions, 64 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Kenny Hrncir | 19/40, 319 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Kenny Hrncir | 20 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | Jeremiah Cooley | 5 receptions, 120 yards, TD |
The Buffaloes had a 24–10 lead entering the fourth quarter, but would be outscored 10–24 in the final quarter, with the Falcons tying the game at 34–34 with 15 seconds left in regulation. UTPB started overtime on offense and would score a touchdown to go up 41–34. WT would respond with a touchdown and went for two to end the game, but Kanon Gibson's pass was batted out of the end zone, securing the 41–40 victory for the Falcons.

### Western Oregon

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolves | 7 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 37 |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 36 |
at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: September 30
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,553
* Referee: Joshua Bannerman
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WOU | WT |
| First downs | 18 | 14 |
| Total yards | 374 | 315 |
| Rushing yards | 142 | 105 |
| Passing yards | 232 | 210 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 37:33 | 22:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Oregon | Passing | Gannon Winker | 13/19, 232 yards, 3 TD |
| Western Oregon | Rushing | Dominique Loggins | 32 rushes, 121 yards, TD |
| Western Oregon | Receiving | Keyvaun Eady | 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 18/29, 210 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Kanon Gibson | 12 rushes, 69 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Kenneath Redd | 4 receptions, 68 yards |

### At Texas A&M–Kingsville

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Javelinas | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Javelina Stadium, Kingsville, Texas
* Date: October 7
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 74 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 5,374
* Referee: Kyle Fuehrer
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WT | AMK |
| First downs | 10 | 19 |
| Total yards | 198 | 402 |
| Rushing yards | 43 | 154 |
| Passing yards | 155 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:01 | 33:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 16/27, 155 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Montaye Dawson | 9 rushes, 25 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Tyler Sweet | 6 receptions, 72 yards |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing | Wade Freeman | 14/22, 248 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Rushing | C. J. Odom | 11 rushes, 48 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Receiving | Jaylin Smith | 3 receptions, 110 yards, TD |

### Western New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mustangs | 0 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 27 |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 49 |
at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: October 14
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 60 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 8,462
* Referee: Tony Acosta
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WNM | WT |
| First downs | 20 | 22 |
| Total yards | 363 | 409 |
| Rushing yards | 73 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 290 | 241 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:36 | 29:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western New Mexico | Passing | Hunter Davis | 27/34, 290 yards, 4 TD |
| Western New Mexico | Rushing | Hunter Davis | 17 rushes, 60 yards |
| Western New Mexico | Receiving | Jeremiah Hartfield | 8 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 17/18, 236 yards, 3 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Tray'vion McCoy-Gay | 19 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Tyrie Tipton | 4 receptions, 57 yards, TD |

### At Central Washington

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Wildcats | 3 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 30 |
at Tomlinson Stadium, Ellensburg, Washington
* Date: October 21
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT/6:00 p.m. PDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 65 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,998
* Referee: Cameron McNie
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WT | CWU |
| First downs | 13 | 22 |
| Total yards | 259 | 467 |
| Rushing yards | 84 | 335 |
| Passing yards | 175 | 132 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 21:57 | 27:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kanon Gibson | 9/19, 111 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Kanon Gibson | 10 rushes, 52 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Tyler Sweet | 4 receptions, 74 yards |
| Central Washington | Passing | Kennedy McGill | 9/16, 132 yards |
| Central Washington | Rushing | Tyler Flanagan | 26 rushes, 186 yards, TD |
| Central Washington | Receiving | Demonte Horton | 4 receptions, 54 yards |

### Angelo State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 7 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| Buffaloes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: October 28
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
* Game attendance: 4,972
* Referee: Xavier Velazquez
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | ASU | WT |
| First downs | 20 | 9 |
| Total yards | 513 | 221 |
| Rushing yards | 396 | 171 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 50 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 34:43 | 25:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Angelo State | Passing | Gerald Gardner | 5/12, 107 yards, TD |
| Angelo State | Rushing | Kason Philips | 8 rushes, 115 yards |
| Angelo State | Receiving | Kyle Bradford | 1 reception, 42 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Kyle Brown | 8/25, 50 yards, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Ben McCreary | 4 rushes, 94 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Tyler Sweet | 3 receptions, 37 yards |

### At Eastern New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 27 |
| Greyhounds | 0 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
at Greyhound Stadium, Portales, New Mexico
* Date: November 4
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 63 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 2,402
* Referee: Grady Dale
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WT | ENM |
| First downs | 24 | 20 |
| Total yards | 405 | 510 |
| Rushing yards | 130 | 343 |
| Passing yards | 275 | 167 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:47 | 31:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Weston Eget | 15/26, 251 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Tyrie Tipton | 2 rushes, 45 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Kenneath Redd | 6 receptions, 109 yards, TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing | Mario Sanchez | 5/10, 167 yards, TD, INT |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing | Mario Sanchez | 20 rushes, 118 yards, 3 TD |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving | Andre Jones | 4 receptions, 162 yards, TD |