KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville football program forced three defensive turnovers and got a long run early in the second en route to a 24-10 win in the home opener of the 2021 season over Western Oregon on Saturday at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
The Javelinas (1-1) reached the 200-yard mark on the ground for the first time since the 2019 season and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Wolves (0-2).
The Hogs struck first in the contest as redshirt freshman
Gilbert Garza (Weslaco, Texas) booted a 24-yard field goal late in the opening frame for a 3-0 lead. The Wolves matched that with a 34-yard field goal from Daniel Cossette at the 13:10 mark of the second quarter for an evened count at 3-3.
A 50-yard burst from redshirt sophomore
Christian Anderson (Cypress, Texas) was in order for the Javelinas on the very next possession as he took the feed at midfield and found a seam up the left hash for a 10-3 advantage.
WOU had another opportunity to put points on the board with another 34-yard attempt from Cossette but the try caromed off the right upright for a seven-point edge favoring the hosts at the break.
Both sides traded punts for their respective opening drives in the third quarter, but a sack from redshirt-sophomore
James Perez (New Braunfels, Texas) on Ryan Worthley knocked the ball loose and it was classmate
Cameron Cauthen (Mont Belvieu, Texas) who scooped it at the six-yard line and took it the rest of the way for a defensive score as 17-3 lit up the scoreboard with 5:14 remaining in the quarter.
The Hogs had an opportunity to seal the game midway through the final quarter as their 38-yard pass was taken down to the goal line before a loose ball tumbled into the end zone in the hands of the Wolves with 8:28 remaining in the game.
The miscue made little difference in the grand scheme of things as graduate student
Shane Johnson (Houston, Texas) reached across the goal line later on and the Wolves tacked on a mercy score to make the final 24-10, securing the first win for head coach
Mike Salinas and the first win since the 2019 season.
The Javelina offense finished with 214 yards on the ground, most since they finished with 237 in a 70-35 loss to Midwestern State on October 19, 2019.
With the win, the Javelinas look forward to their Lone Star Conference opener on the road next week as they face Eastern New Mexico on September 18.
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