KINGSVILLE, Texas – A 17-point cushion in the first half wasn't enough to secure the win on Senior Day as the Texas A&M-Kingsville football program had a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter cut off in the end zone when West Texas A&M intercepted the pass from senior
Koy Detmer Jr. (Somerset, Texas) to spoil a four-touchdown day in the Lone Star Conference Showcase matchup.
Hear from head coach
Daren Wilkinson at the postgame press conference at the following link:
LISTEN
The Javelinas (2-8, 1-6 LSC) were up 24-7 on the Buffs (7-3, 4-3 LSC) late in the second quarter, but a pair of rushing touchdowns from Nick Gerber signaled the start to a 28-7 run that handed the Hogs the loss.
Detmer Jr. got the hosts on the board on the game's opening drive as he capped off the possession with a 53-yard strike to redshirt sophomore
Ryan Martinez (Kingsville, Texas) for a 7-0 lead at the 12:36 mark of the frame.
A defensive turnover from the Hogs led into a 35-yard field goal courtesy of freshman
Romario Perez (Corpus Christi, Texas) as redshirt juniorÂ
Tre'Michael Tutt (Channel View, Texas) punched the ball free from Jordan Johnson and it was junior
Jacob Clarkson (Houston, Texas) who fell on the loose ball for TAMUK en route to the 10-0 advantage.
Detmer Jr. connected with Martinez for a second time early in the second following Franklin's second interception of the year on the WT possession. Franklin ran the pass back 48 yards before Detmer Jr. found Martinez in the back of the end zone four plays later for a 17-point lead.
Gerber ran for his first touchdown of the game on the next possession as he broke off a 32-yard run. He added an identical 32-yard rushing scoring at the end of the first half, right after Detmer Jr. found his third passing touchdown on a seven-yard pass to redshirt junior
Alan Smith (Humble, Texas), to make the score 24-14 at the break.
The touchdown to Smith was his second of the year and it ended the longest scoring drive of the season for the Hogs at 15 plays.
Gerber tacked on his final rushing touchdown of the day at the start of the third quarter, this one from six yards out, while a crucial punt return converted excellent field position into seven points for the hosts as Detmer Jr. found Smith for the second time in the game from four yards out. Senior
Donte Ross (Palmdale, Calif.) gathered the punt at the TAMUK 47 yard line and ran it back to the WT red zone that led directly into Detmer Jr.'s fourth passing score.
WT got its final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the first was set up courtesy of a 45-yard interception return from Tobias Harris that led into a six-yard rush from Jordan Johnson. The second came off a 72-yard punt return from Harris as the ensuing TAMUK drive stalled out after three plays to put the visitors up 35-31 with 12:32 remaining in the game.
The Hogs' final chance to score started on their own four yard line with 8:43 to play and it took nine plays to move the length of the field into the Buffs' red zone. Unfortunately, the pass from Detmer Jr. was picked off by Chazz Slatinsky in the end zone and the Javelinas were forced to take the loss at 35-31.
Detmer Jr. finished with 315 yards and four touchdowns on 31 completions for his second 300-yard performance of the year and second four-touchdown performance of his career.
Martinez led the receiving corps with seven catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs.
Tutt led the defensive unit with 16 tackles, 1.5 for loss, while redshirt sophomore
Kason Franklin (Cypress, Texas) added six tackles to his one forced fumble and one interception.
The Javelinas will close the year on the road next week as they travel to Odessa, Texas, to take on UT Permian Basin for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Ratliff Stadium.
Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy. For more information on Javelina football visit JavelinaAthletics.com, or follow the team on Facebook /JavelinaFootball and Twitter @JavelinaFB
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