CANYON, Texas (Football) – Arguably the hottest player in all of NCAA Division II the last couple of weeks, junior running back
Greg Pitre became the first player to rush for over 200 yards since
Jonathan Woodson finished with 228 on Nov. 11, 2011 versus Abilene Christian University in Saturday's season finale at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2-9) exploded for 45 points – 35 coming in the first half – but West Texas A&M University (6-4) was able to down the Javelinas, 51-45, in the Lone Star Conference consolation bracket championship.
Pitre finished with a career-high 234 rushing yards on 27 carries and added four catches for 52 yards and two scores.
Myles Carr threw for four touchdowns and finished 19-of-30 with 272 yards, connecting with
Anthony Autry seven times for 145 yards. The other two receiving TD's came from
Torrey Thomas and
Joe Te'o, one of 11 seniors playing in his final collegiate game.
Shawn Vasquez carried the ball four times for 64 yards,
Nick Pelrean returned three kickoffs for 138 yards and defensively, the Hogs registered nine tackles for a loss.
Devonte Williams and
DeMarcus Spurlock led the club with 11 tackles apiece,
Lamont Hills forced a fumble that was recovered by
Zemarcus Green and
Alex Kuyinu added two quarterback hits.
West Texas took a quick 7-0 lead on the first play of the game, a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Javelinas answered back quickly riding the hot streak of Pitre as the Hutto, Texas native took the handoff 58 yards to the Buffs' seven-yard line after the great return by Pelrean. The drive was capped off with a touchdown pass from Carr to Te'o to tie the game with 12:28 left in the first.
Four minutes later, the Javelinas looked to take their first lead of the game when Vasquez seemed to have crossed the plain for a 56-yard score, but the play was overturned and called a fumble, recovered by WT for a touchback. The Buffaloes responded with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended on Geremy Alridge-Mitchell's one-yard TD to take a 14-7 edge.
Pelrean returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards into WT territory (35-yard line). Pitre's 31-yard run put the team inside the five and Te'o scored his second touchdown of the game, this time on the ground, to tie the game at 14 with 2:22 remaining in the opening period.
The rushing attack by the Buffs continued as West Texas A&M scored their second rushing touchdown of the quarter and game with 30 ticks left in the first to regain the lead.
A fumble was recovered by WT only seconds into the second quarter. The Maroon jerseys took advantage of the short field and extended their lead to 14 after Alridge-Mitchell ran the ball in from two yards out.
A comeback ensued with the freshman Pelrean breaking off a 58-yard kickoff return. A key third-down conversion from Carr to Autry for 24 yards moved the chains as the new ball spot was the two and Carr found
Torrey Thomas in the end zone to cut the deficit to 28-21 with 8:54 left until halftime.
On the second play of the next drive for WT, Hills sniffed out a screen pass and forced a fumble and Zemarcus Green pounced on the loose ball to set up the TAMUK offense 28 yards away from the end zone. Carr connected with Pitre twice, including the six-yard score that tied the game at 28 with 6:48 left in the first half.
The Buffs answered right back with an 8-play, 63-yard drive that took 2:26 off the clock to take a 35-28 lead.
With 1:58 showing on the clock, Pitre took the ball 33 yards and Autry followed with a 23-yard reception. Carr found Pitre for the second time in the game, this time a 19-yard completion, to tie the contest yet again, this time at 35 with 49 seconds left until halftime.
The Buffs quickly drove down the field to the TAMUK 18 and attempted a field goal. Connor Hollabaugh missed the 35-yard attempt to the left but the Javelinas were called for running into the kicker. He then nailed the 30-yard kick to give WT a 38-35 halftime advantage.
After going nearly 13 minutes without any points being added to the scoreboard, Carr called his own number and found the end zone with a four-yard rush to give the Hogs a 42-38 lead. His six points capped off a 12-play, 72-yard drive.
Ethan Brinkley answered back with a 30-yard touchdown completion with Xavier Amey as the Buffs regained the lead, but the Javelinas knotted the game at 45 with 8:51 left in the game on
Julio De la Garza's 22-yard field goal.
WT took the six-point lead on Alridge-Mitchell's third rushing TD of the game with 4:35 left. The PAT was missed, allowing the Javelinas an opportunity to take a lead with a TD/successful PAT. However, the comeback hopes ended with an interception.
The Javelinas closed out year one of the
Daren Wilkinson era 2-9, but Pitre ended the season with three consecutive career games and Carr threw for seven touchdowns in the final two games of the season. Showing how close the Javelinas played their opponents, Texas A&M-Kingsville lost seven of its nine games by 10 or fewer points.
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