CANYON, Texas A feeling out opening pair of drives that gained a total of 10 yards exploded with the third drive when No. 11 Western Colorado scored three touchdowns and a field goal on the next four drives before finishing off a 52-21 non-conference road victory Thursday evening over host West Texas A&M.
Western went 94 yards in four plays in just nine seconds on that third drive, capped off by 50-yard catch and run touchdown by
Ramon Ruiz from quarterback
Josiah Roy.
Roy would finish 9-for-11 in the air with 268 yards and 4 touchdowns.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western Colorado def. West Texas A&M, 52-21
Records: Western 1-0, West Texas 0-1
Location: Buffalo Stadium, Canyon, Texas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The opening two drives included a sack, a Western-recovered fumble, and a penalty that negated a first down, but while the Mountaineer offense was trying to get traction, the Western defense was keeping the Buffalo's out of the end zone as Mikey Smith sacked the Buffs' Knox Porter on fourth and one from the Western 1-yard line.
- Damien Nevel crashed through the middle for a couple of yards to gain some breathing room when Western took over on its own 4, then Roy hit DJ Allen Jr. on a 40-yard connection down the left sideline. Gabe Schubarth then pushed around the left side for 3 yards, followed by Roy hitting Ruiz at the West Texas 18-yard line with Ruiz galloping in for the score that opened the flood gates.
- The defense stepped up again on the ensuing West Texas drive with Ryan Bynarowicz forcing a fumble and recovering it at the Buffs' 12 yard line. Damien Nevil bulled over the right side five plays later and suddenly it was 14-0.
- After a field goal by Western's JT Miller, Jack Ward knocked the ball free on West Texas' kickoff return with Zayne Stam recovering it to set the Mountaineers up at the 3 yard line.
- It took four plays to push the ball across the goal line, and it was a Ruiz 2-yard quick pass to Blake Kramer on fourth and two that took the Mountaineer past the second quarter's two-minute timeout for a 24-0 advantage.
- Western scored touchdowns on its opening four drives of the second half to continue its dominance, only allowing West Texas a score in the third quarter and two more after Western had begun subbing in on both offense and defense.
NUMB#RS
- In addition to Roy's 9 for 11 night, Nolan McCullough hit on his only pass of the night, a 37-yarder caught by running back Lamonte James.
- Nine different receivers caught a pass during the win, but none caught more than two. Allen Jr. led the way, though with 116 yards and a touchdown on one of his two catches while Caden Measner caught one TD pass and accumulated 85 yards on his two receptions. Yasir Berry caught the other TD from Roy on Berry's only catch of the game.
- Western would finish with 193 rushing yards, including a 71-yard gallop from McCullough for the Mountaineers' second touchdown in the third quarter.
- Ian Loomis led all defenders on the night, coming up with seven solo stops and one assist, along with getting a pass breakup. Bynarowicz was next with 7 solos including a sack and forced fumble and recovery.
UP NEXT
Western hosts Angelo State on Thu., Sept. 3 for the Mountaineers' home opener at Mojo Field in Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex.
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