Football: WTAMU beats CWU to advance to second round of playoffs
A defensive stop propelled No. 9 West Texas A&M to a 49-42 victory over No. 8 Central Washington in NCAA Division II Super Region Four action at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
WTAMU (11-1) advances to play top seed Abilene Christian next Saturday, November 22, at 12 p.m. in Abilene, Texas. ACU topped WTAMU, 52-35, on Oct. 18 in Canyon.
With 1:08 remaining the game, the Buffalo defense stopped CWU at the WTAMU 22-yard line to preserve the third NCAA playoff win in school history. The Wildcats were five-of-seven on fourth down conversions but could not convert on fourth and 15 with 1:08 remaining on the game.
CWU struck first with a nine-play 70-yard drive on their first possession. The Buffaloes took an 8-7 lead with a 58-yard pass from Keith Null to Charly Martin and a successful two-point conversion by LSC Linebacker of the Year Jared Brock with 2:45 to go in the first quarter.
Keithon Flemming took over the scoring with three rushing touchdowns in the second quarter. He scampered in from the 1-, 4- and 6-yard lines to put WTAMU up 28-21. Seth Hayden added a 35-yard catch and run with 22 seconds to go in the half to send the Buffs into the locker room with a 35-21 advantage.
Hayden increased the Buff lead with a 71-yard score to start the second half. Flemming scored from 15 yards out to put WTAMU ahead 49-28 before CWU scored twice to get within seven points.
Flemming finished with 99 yards on the ground and a career-high four rushing touchdowns. Martin tallied 172 receiving yards with one score, while Hayden had 160 yards and two TD's. Keith Null was 35 of 49 for 463 yards and three scores.
The WTAMU defense was led by Cashmin Thomas with eight tackles, while Anthony Scott had seven stops along with two forced and recovered fumbles.
On the other side of the Super Region Four bracket Pittsburg State defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 33-21, to advance to play at No. 2 seed Northwest Missouri State next Saturday at 12 p.m.
