# 2021 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team

The 2021 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by fifth-year head coach Hunter Hughes and played their home games at Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas. The Buffs finished the season with an overall record of 7–4 with an LSC record of 5–2, finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the conference.

## LSC media poll

LSC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 175 (15) |
| 2 | Angelo State | 152 (2) |
| 3 | West Texas A&M | 125 (1) |
| T4 | UT Permian Basin | 112 (5) |
| T4 | Midwestern State | 112 |
| 6 | Eastern New Mexico | 60 |
| 7 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 59 |
| 8 | Western New Mexico | 33 |
    Source:

## Schedule

The Buffs' full schedule was announced on March 18, 2021.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Texas College* | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 73–0 | 5,350 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at UT Permian Basin | Ratliff StadiumOdessa, TX | L 31–42 | 5,771 |
| September 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Western New Mexico | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 42–14 | 5,677 |
| September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 5 Colorado Mines* | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | L 13–21 | 7,398 |
| October 2 | 3:05 p.m. | at Western Oregon* | MacArthur FieldMonmouth, OR | L 38–41 | 3,275 |
| October 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Angelo State | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 31–15 | 9,326 |
| October 16 | 7:00 p.m. | at Eastern New Mexico | Greyhound StadiumPortales, NM (Wagon Wheel) | W 44–24 | 3,382 |
| October 23 | 6:00 p.m. | Texas A&M–Commerce | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX (East Texas vs. West Texas) | L 3–15 | 6,216 |
| October 30 | 7:00 p.m. | at Texas A&M–Kingsville | Javelina StadiumKingsville, TX | W 35–23 | 8,537 |
| November 6 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 21 Midwestern State | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 15–12 | 7,315 |
| November 13 | 11:00 a.m. | Bethel (KS)* | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | W 52–9 | 5,728 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||

### Texas College

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Buffaloes | 28 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 73 |
at Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: September 2
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear skies, 85 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 5,350
* Referee: Jovito Sabal
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | TC | WT |
| First downs | 6 | 24 |
| Total yards | 116 | 557 |
| Rushing yards | 24 | 402 |
| Passing yards | 92 | 155 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:08 | 29:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas College | Passing | Jerry McConico Jr. | 10/19, 92 yards |
| Texas College | Rushing | Diamond Woods | 7 rushes, 27 yards |
| Texas College | Receiving | Derrick Cooper | 4 receptions, 43 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Nick Gerber | 10/11, 150 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Khalil Harris | 7 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Markell Stephens-Peppers | 3 receptions, 57 yards, 2 TD |

### At UT Permian Basin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Falcons | 14 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 42 |
at Ratliff Stadium, Odessa, Texas
* Date: September 11
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 93 °F (34 °C)
* Game attendance: 5,771
* Referee: Robert Newton
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WT | TPB |
| First downs | 26 | 21 |
| Total yards | 386 | 408 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 127 |
| Passing yards | 261 | 281 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:00 | 31:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Nick Gerber | 25/39, 261 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Khalil Harris | 23 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Markell Stephens-Peppers | 4 receptions, 66 yards, TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Passing | Clayton Roberts | 23/32, 281 yards, 6 TD |
| UT Permian Basin | Rushing | Nathan Tilford | 15 rushes, 75 yards |
| UT Permian Basin | Receiving | MJ Link | 8 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TD |

### Western New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mustangs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 42 |
at Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: September 18
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 5,677
* Referee: Joshua Bannerman
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | WNMU | WT |
| First downs | 22 | 19 |
| Total yards | 408 | 479 |
| Rushing yards | 39 | 124 |
| Passing yards | 369 | 355 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:35 | 24:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western New Mexico | Passing | Devin Larsen | 34/53, 369 yards, TD |
| Western New Mexico | Rushing | Bryce Coleman | 14 rushes, 35 yards, TD |
| Western New Mexico | Receiving | Allen Ortiz | 4 receptions, 80 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Nick Gerber | 14/24, 355 yards, 3 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Marcus Lindsay | 5 rushes, 53 yards, 2 TD |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Noah Bogardus | 2 receptions, 93 yards, TD |

### No. 5 Colorado Mines

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Orediggers | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: September 25
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 7,398
* Referee: Jeffrey Bell
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | CSM | WT |
| First downs | 22 | 13 |
| Total yards | 321 | 316 |
| Rushing yards | 193 | 130 |
| Passing yards | 128 | 186 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 36:28 | 21:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado Mines | Passing | John Matocha | 15/22, 128 yards, TD, INT |
| Colorado Mines | Rushing | Michael Zeman | 29 rushes, 121 yards |
| Colorado Mines | Receiving | Josh Johnston | 3 reception, 32 yards, TD |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Nick Gerber | 12/23, 186 yards, TD, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Khalil Harris | 15 rushes, 82 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Hunter Kaufman | 2 receptions, 77 yards, TD |

### At Western Oregon

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
| Wolves | 7 | 14 | 0 | 20 | 41 |
at MacArthur Field, Monmouth, Oregon
* Date: October 2
* Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
* Game attendance: 3,275
* Referee: Jeffry Davis
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| West Texas A&M | Passing |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving |
| Western Oregon | Passing |
| Western Oregon | Rushing |
| Western Oregon | Receiving |

### Angelo State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 15 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: October 9
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 9,326
* Referee: Joel Williams
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Angelo State | Passing |
| Angelo State | Rushing |
| Angelo State | Receiving |
| West Texas A&M | Passing |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving |

### At Eastern New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 44 |
| Greyhounds | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
at Greyhound Stadium, Portales, New Mexico
* Date: October 16
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT/6:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 68 °F (20 °C)
* Game attendance: 3,382
* Referee: Tony Acosta
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| West Texas A&M | Passing |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving |
| Eastern New Mexico | Passing |
| Eastern New Mexico | Rushing |
| Eastern New Mexico | Receiving |

### Texas A&M–Commerce

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
at Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: October 23
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 6,216
* Referee: Dal Watson
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | TAMUC | WT |
| First downs | 18 | 15 |
| Total yards | 290 | 233 |
| Rushing yards | 104 | 135 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 98 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 32:30 | 26:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Miklo Smalls | 21/38, 186 yards, INT |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Rushing | Carandal Hale | 12 rushes, 31 yards |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Receiving | Matt Childers | 7 receptions, 76 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Nick Gerber | 12/25, 98 yards, 2 INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Brandon Blair | 16 rushes, 60 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Noah Bogardus | 1 reception, 30 yards |

### At Texas A&M–Kingsville

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
| Javelinas | 2 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 23 |
at Javelina Stadium, Kingsville, Texas
* Date: October 30
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C)
* Game attendance: 8,537
* Referee: Robert Newton
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| West Texas A&M | Passing |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Passing |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Rushing |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | Receiving |

### No. 21 Midwestern State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Mustangs | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
at Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: November 6
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 7,315
* Referee: Joe Horn
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | MSU | WT |
| First downs | 22 | 20 |
| Total yards | 356 | 322 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 205 |
| Passing yards | 250 | 117 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:28 | 32:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Midwestern State | Passing | Dillon Sterling-Cole | 26/45, 250 yards, TD, INT |
| Midwestern State | Rushing | Dillon Sterling-Cole | 8 rushes, 44 yards |
| Midwestern State | Receiving | Jayden Moore | 4 receptions, 62 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Passing | Nick Gerber | 12/23, 117 yards, INT |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing | Jarrod Compton | 30 rushes, 160 yards |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving | Noah Bogardus | 3 receptions, 53 yards |

### Bethel (KS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Threshers | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 52 |
at Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
* Date: November 13
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 5,728
* Referee: Jason Hickey
* Box score, Recap
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Bethel | Passing |
| Bethel | Rushing |
| Bethel | Receiving |
| West Texas A&M | Passing |
| West Texas A&M | Rushing |
| West Texas A&M | Receiving |