KINGSVILLE, Texas – Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-0, LSC 4-0) defeated Western New Mexico (3-3, LSC 2-2) 21-17 in what was a tightly contested Lone Star Conference showdown on Saturday night.
After giving up the first 14 points of the game, the Javelinas would score 21 of the next 24 points to walk away with the win on Hispanic Heritage Night at Javelina Stadium.
"I'm proud of the way our guys fought tonight," said Javelina head coach
Mike Salinas. "We said coming in that it was going to take maximum effort for all four quarters, and these guys gave that so it feels great to come away with the win tonight."
The Hogs pounded the Mustang defense on the ground rushing for 176 total rushing yards, 135 of which came courtesy of running back,
Christian Anderson who rushed for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries, good for 8.4 yards per carry.
The win puts the Javelinas one win away from tying for their best start since 2009 when they started 7-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Javs fell behind quickly to start the game, as Mustang quarterback Devin Larsen led WNMU down the field for touchdowns through the air on their first two drives of the game.
TAMUK would get on the board late in the first quarter on a fast three-play, 66-yard drive that was capped off by a five-yard rush by Anderson to bring the Javelinas within one score at 14-7 with less than two minutes in the first.
The Javelina offense would strike again on their next possession as quarterback
Jacob Cavazos found wide receiver
Jason Gaines over the middle on a slant route before Gaines would outrun the entire Mustang secondary down the sideline to even the score at 14 a piece early in the second quarter.
WNMU would get a late field goal in the first half to retake the lead after a 16-play 70-yard drive, putting the Mustangs up 17-14 at the end of the first half.
The second half would be a much different half, as neither defense would give up any points in the third quarter.
Kingsville's
Gilbert Garza looked to even the game late in the third quarter, but his 44-yard field goal attempt would come up just short, hitting the crossbar.
The Hogs would break through though on their first drive of the final quarter going 82 yards on 10 plays as Anderson would break a 28-yard run off the right side to the endzone to put the Javelina's up 21-17.
TAMUK's defense would handle the rest, shutting out the explosive Mustang offense, and recording one interception thanks to defensive back
Amos Coleman.
While the Javelina offense would not put any more points on the board, they would dominate time of possession while wearing out a fatigued Mustang defense running the ball.
Larsen would look to be the hero for the Mustangs getting the ball back with 2:22 left to go on their own half, but the Javelina defense stood tall forcing a turnover on downs and allowing the offense to run out the clock securing the 21-17 victory.
WHO LED THE WAY
UP NEXT
Next week, the Javelinas celebrate homecoming by welcoming the Falcons of UT Permian basin to Javelina Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
Stay up-to-date with everything related to Javelina football throughout the 2022 season by following the program on Twitter and Instagram at
@JavelinaFB and see recent news on Facebook at
/JavelinaFootball. Watch your Javelinas live on the
Javelina Sports Network.
Get the Official Javelina Athletics Mobile App today! Download it on the App Store or Get It on Google Play to keep up with all the news, scores, and updates of your favorite Javelinas.
