KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team put together a Hispanic Heritage Night to remember, knocking off the West Texas A&M Buffaloes, 28-21 at home on Saturday night.
The Javelinas (4-1, 2-1 LSC) were led by quarterback Wade Freeman III in his first start of the 2023 season, as the Richmond, Texas native went 14-of-22 through the air for 248 yards passing, and two touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Jaylin Smith led the team in receiving, becoming the first TAMUK wide out to eclipse 100-yards receiving in a game this season totaling 110 on three catches with a touchdown.
"It was special tonight," said Freeman following the win. "It has been a long time coming, and it means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to my teammates who have been with me through some hard times that I have had the past few years. To come out and get this win and deliver for them is everything."
As a team TAMUK earned a season-high, 402 yards of total offense with the rushing attack led by C.J. Odom, Christian Anderson, and Roger Hagan helping the team tack on 154 yards on the ground with Odom and Hagan tacking on a touchdown each.
Defensively, the "Junkyard Hogs" continued to do what they have done all season, holding WT to only 198 yards of total offense with two sacks and a first quarter interception added by Amos Coleman III.
Khalid Walker and Jaylen Hackney led the team defensively with eight and seven total tackles respectively with Hackney adding a solo sack.
"We knew that in this conference you have to be ready to play every week," said head coach Michael Salinas. "We knew it was going to take four quarters, but I am proud of how our guys responded, made some big plays, and found a way to win tonight."
For the Buffs' the loss drops them to 2-4 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.
How it Happened
Keeping with the trend of the season, it was the Javelina defense that set the tone in the first quarter as Amos Coleman III snagged his third interception of the season on WT's second possession of the game after defensive lineman Xavier Henderson tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage.
The Javelina offense took to the field starting on the WT 30-yard line, and four plays later, C.J. Odom powered his way into the end zone from six yards out to put TAMUK up, 7-0 with 4:08 left in the first quarter.
The next Hog possession then saw them march down the field going 65-yards on ten plays, with 27 of the yards coming via a Freeman pitch and catch with wide receiver Jaylin Smith. Running back Roger Hagan capped the drive off with an eight-yard touchdown run on a pivotal fourth-and-one to put TAMUK up 14-0 in the second quarter.
The Buffs answered with a touchdown of their own on their ensuing drive as running back Montaye Dawson scored from one yard out to put WT on the board with 9:44 remaining in the first half.
WT later tied the game early in the second half, blocking a Javelina punt and returning it for a touchdown.
Later in the quarter, Freeman delivered the lead back to the Hogs with an effortless 42-yard flick of the wrist to Smith once again, who made a difficult over the WT defender before diving into the end zone to put the Javs up, 21-14 at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter.
The Javelina defense stepped up on the ensuing possession as WT went for it on fourth down on the Javelina 33-yard line as Coleman broke up a deep pass attempt to end the threat.
Freeman got his second touchdown pass of the night on Kingsville's first drive of the fourth quarter connecting with a wide-open Jackson Allen down the hash marks for a 28-yard touchdown strike to put TAMUK up by 14.
WT found a response on its next drive via an answered prayer on a fourth and three as quarterback Kanon Gibson floated a pass up down the middle after being pressured that fell just out of Coleman's grasp and into a Buff's hands for a touchdown to cut the deficit to one score.
The Blue and Gold seemed primed to respond in kind as Freeman led TAMUK down the field on a 9-play 55-yard drive to the WT 15-yard line, before fumbling the ball on a scramble turning the ball back over to the Buffs'.
The Hog defense came through however, forcing a turnover on downs near midfield as TAMUK went on to ice the game a first down rush and subsequent kneel securing the, 28-21 conference win.
Up Next
The Javelinas will now prepare to welcome Angelo State to Javelina Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 14) for homecoming with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
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