CANYON, Texas  Western Colorado football will try to make it two in a row Saturday night, seeking to open the season with a second victory while also looking to down West Texas A&M University for the second straight season.

The 15th-ranked Mountaineers won their opening game at home, and last season defeated the Buffaloes by a margin of 28-6.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• The Mountaineers scored touchdowns on their opening three drives last Saturday against visiting Midwestern State (Texas). A Mustangs kick-off return TD and a late 10-play drive, however, allowed MSU to head into the halftime break with a 24-21 advantage.
• Western came out of that recess, though, ready to roll, registering two TD drives and a field goal in the third quarter to forge a 38-24 lead. The Mustangs tried to rally with a field goal and fourth-quarter TD drive, but were stopped on downs in Mountaineer territory in the final minute to preserve Western's season-opening win.
• Quarterback Drew Nash threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions to spearhead the passing attack, and also led the Mountaineers in rushing, courtesy of a 68-yard TD gallop in the first quarter.
• Daniel Parsek caught six of Nash's passes, totaling 74 yards in receptions, while Braeden Hogan and Caden Measner each nabbed a TD toss from Nash.
• Kaden Stewart paced the defense with eight solo tackles and one assist, one sack, and three tackles for loss.
• Kendall Lightfoot—a second-team selection to the 2024 D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List—added a pick six and a sack for the Mountaineer D.

WEST TEXAS A&M HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• The Buffaloes started the season with a 42-21 road win over host Sul Ross State, but were brought back down to earth in their second game, dropping a 41-13 decision to host and fifth-ranked Colorado School of Mines.
• West Texas led 21-7 at halftime of their win at Sul Ross, but were outscored 27-7 in the loss at Mines.
• Over the first games the Buffaloes are averaging 241 yards per game on the ground while adding 167 yards per game through the air.
• Quarterback Sean Johnson posts a very strong 118.84 QB rating, connecting on 65 percent of his passes for 335 total yards and two touchdowns.
• Johnson is also the team's leading rusher with 227 net yards on the ground, running to paydirt five times. Tre'Jon Henderson complements the attack with 116 net yards and one touchdown.
• Zorian Stanton and Tyrie Tipton have been Johnson's favorite targets in the passing game, pulling down 10 and 8 catches, respectively. Stanton and Shea Whiting each caught one of Johnson's TD throws.

UP NEXT

• Western returns to the Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex for its next game, hosting Adams State on Sept. 21.
• The Mountaineer homecoming game is also the 77th Colorado Classic matchup between the Mountaineers and Grizzlies. Western has won the past three games by an average score of 40-15.