Aug. 16, 2008

CANYON, Texas - The West Texas A&M football team concluded their first week of Fall drills with a controlled scrimmage Saturday morning. The scrimmage, held in cool, drizzly conditions that had some fans sitting under blankets in the Kimbrough Memorial Stadium stands, saw the Buffs' first-team offensive and defensive units appear in good form during what was the team's first game-like simulation.

"I really think we're in good shape for this time of year," said WT head coach Don Carthel. "The first-team offensive line has come together very well, as has the first-unit defensive line. Our skill players looked very sharp today, as well. The second team still has some work to do, but they have been hampered with some key players having missed time due to injuries or illness."

Offensively, the Buffs' tallied four touchdowns. First-team quarterback Keith Null (senior, Lampasas, Texas) was 8-of-13 for 86 yards passing and connected with receiver Carl Johnson (senior, Houston, Texas) for a 25-yard strike. Reserve QB Taylor Harris was 7-of-13 for 101 yards and one TD, that being a 17-yard completion to Brittan Golden (R-Freshman, Denver City, Texas). Freshman Kyler Hill accounted for the third aerial TD, a 48-yard strike to Marcus Brigham (junior, Fort Worth, Texas). Hill threw for 145 yards, completing 14-of-25 with three interceptions. Senior Matt McIntyre completed six-of-nine passes for 47 yards with a long of 23.

Receiver Seth Hayden (senior, Picayune, Miss.) had three receptions for 51 yards, Preston Branch (sophomore, Amarillo, Texas) had three catches for 43 yards, Keithon Flemming (senior, Mesquite, Texas) had three for 21 and Wade Langley (R-freshman, Lampasas, Texas) grabbed three for 28 yards. Brigham led the squad with 64 yards receiving, while all-America Charly Martin (senior, Farmington, N.M.) had two catches for 44 yards.

The WT special teams showed its form, with kicker James Chandler (junior, London, England) connecting on both of his field goal attempts (31 and 46 yards). Punter Cort Johnson killed a pair of punts inside the 15-yard line, while return specialist Wayne McKnight broke two kickoffs in excess of 30 yards.

Defensively, Zane Farris (sophomore, Nazareth, Texas) registered five solo stops and was in on 1.5 sacks while outside linebacker Chris Brown (freshman, Amarillo, Texas) contributed four solo tackles. The defenses' five interceptions were registered by defensive back Kortney McDow (freshman, Abilene, Texas), back Keyon Kiles (senior, Long Beach, Calif.), linebacker Kevin McCluskey (R-freshman, Waxahachie, Texas), back Cashmin Thomas (senior, Fresno, Calif.) and back Caleb Randolph (R-freshman, Crosby, Texas).

"We're about where we need to be," coach Carthel said. "We've still got a bit of work to do, but we still have nearly two weeks to get ready for our opening game."

The Buffs next scrimmage will be Thursday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m.  WT opens the 2008 season Thursday, August 28 when they travel to Grand Junction, Colo., to face Mesa State. The game, slated for an 8 p.m. CDT start, will be televised locally by KAMR-TV with radio broadcast by KGNC-AM, Flagship station of the Buffalo Radio Network.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING:  McKnight 2-14, Flemming, 2-10, Hayden 1-9, Tillman 4-4, Thompson 4-1 (1TD), R. Johnson 1-1.

PASSING:  Hill 14-25-145-3 INT (1 TD), Harris 7-13-101-0 (1TD), Null 8-13-86-0 (1 TD), Marsh 2-6-50-2 INT, McIntyre 6-9-47-0, Hicks 2-6-16-0.

RECEIVING:  Brigham 2-64 (1 TD), Hayden 3-51, Martin 2-44, Branch 3-43, C. Johnson 2-35 (1 TD), Golden 2-31 (1 TD), Langley 3-28, Thompson 2-24, Flemming 3-21, Ruffins 2-12, A. Clark 2-12, Tillman 2-11, R. Johnson 2-4.

DEFENSIVE STATS (Tackles/Sacks/INT/PBUs): Farris 5 (1.5 sacks), C. Brown 4, McDowell 3 (1 INT), S. Smith 3 (1 PBU), Sims 3 (1 sack), McClusekey 3 (1 INT), Campbell 2 (2 sacks), Peterson 2, L. Hicks 2 (1 sack), Brock 2, Bedley 2, Bullitt 2, Grimslid 2, Wampler 1 (1 sack), Manley 1, J. Young 1, R. Sanders 1, D. Johnson 1, Steward 1 (1 PBU), Shakoor 1, Evans 1, B. Davis 1 (1 PBU), Peterson 1, Randolph 0 (1 INT), Kylers 0 (1 INT), C. Thomas 0 (1 INT).