The WTAMU Buffalo football team advanced in the NCAA Division II Super Region Four tournament with a 33-28 win over Ashland Eagles. The win marks the first time WT advanced to the final round of the tournament.
The weather was cold and snow flurries were off and on for most of the game. WT put points on the board first with a Field Goal after an interception by junior defensive back Curtis Slater. After an Ashland three-and-out, the Buffs scored a touchdown on a 33-yard touchdown from junior quarterback Dustin Vaughan to junior wide receiver Torrence Allen.
The Eagles didn’t get on the board until sophomore running back Anthony Taylor ran for 51 yards and a touchdown, making the score 10-7 with 14:42 left in the second quarter. The Eagle’s special teams stepped up to block a punt on the ensuing WT drive and recovered it for a touchdown, making the score 14-10.
After a Buffs field goal and an Ashland turnover on downs, the Buffs got the ball at their own 37-yard line. The Buffs drove down the field on a 9-play, 63-yard drive that was capped off by a touchdown pass from Vaughan to fellow junior Trevor Hammargren, making the score 19-14 after a failed extra point kick.
Before going into halftime, Ashland scored another touchdown on a 10-yard scoring run from Anthony Taylor making the score 21-19. After the break, Ashland scored on a nine-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a touchdown from senior quarterback Taylor Housewright to senior wide receiver Anthony Capasso. With the score 28-19, WT answered Ashland’s scoring drive with one of their own on another Vaughan-to-Allen touchdown from 14 yards out. After a non-scoring Ashland drive, Vaughan found Allen one more time on the final scoring play of the game making the score 33-28. Torrence Allen finished with 185 yards and three touchdowns.
After giving up 28 points through the first three quarters, the Buffs defense shut down the Ashland offense in the fourth. Led by junior defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks with three of the team’s four sacks, the Buffs defense only allowed 166 yards through the air, while having three interceptions.
Buffs quarterback Dustin Vaughan had 398 yards and four touchdowns, while Ashland quarterback Taylor Housewright had 166 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Khiry Robinson finished with 58 yards after having a career week last week, while Ashland running back Anthony Taylor 158 yards and a touchdown.
The Buffs move on the face Colorado State-Pueblo Saturday, Dec. 4 in Pueblo, Colo.
