By Nick Eatman

The first six games resulted in five losses, with a scoring average of just 21 points a game.

   The last five games have seen five straight wins, with the offense scoring nearly 45 points per outing.

   So what's the biggest difference for the West Texas A&M turnaround? You don't have to look very far.

   It's no coincidence that senior running back Keithon Flemming has played just five games this year - the last five - and has directly impacted the Buffaloes offense in a major way.

   While there are many other reasons WTAMU has turned things around and will play in Saturday's Lower Kanza Bowl against Nebraska-Omaha in Topeka, Kan., the biggest reason has to be Flemming.

   After suffering a dislocated elbow injury in the final scrimmage before the start of the season, Flemming immediately thought his playing days were done.

    "I've never had an injury to this extent, so the first thing that pops into my head is that my career is over," Flemming said. "I've never been one to have an injury keep me out of playing, so I really didn't know how to react to it. I thought at first I wasn't going to play anymore."

   Instead, he missed the first six games of the season. And while the pain in his elbow was bad enough, having a front-row seat to his team's struggles was even worse for Flemming.

   Needless to say, the running back made up for lost time. With his team at 1-5, already suffering as many losses this season as the previous three years, Flemming immediately went to work as soon as he was cleared to play.

   In a five-game stretch, Flemming rushed for 438 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns, but also caught 35 passes for 270 yards and three scores. All of that was good enough to earn a share of the LSC South Offensive Back of the Year award. Flemming, who split the award with Midwestern State quarterback Zack Eskridge, said he never could've dreamed to win any awards after missing the first half of the year.

    "Yeah, my coaches told me and I was shocked," he said. "I called my dad and told him. It was surprising to me. I'm very thankful for it. It just shows that I kept believing in the coaches and the system and kept working hard."

   Not only that, but Flemming said he gained a new appreciation for not only his coaches and teammates, but the game itself.

    "It gave me a different perspective on the game of football," Flemming said. "I've said this is one of the best football teams that I've ever been on, as far as character. They kept fighting even when I was on the sidelines. That's where I think I became more of a vocal leader. That's something I wanted to work on and I got the chance to do that more on the sidelines when I was hurt."

   But Flemming played an integral part in helping the Buffaloes offense crank it up in the final half of the season. With him in the lineup, West Texas averaged 44.8 points per game and offensive explosions of 66 against Northeastern State and then 49 in the season-finale against Tarleton State.

   While Flemming obviously played a huge role in the turnaround, he doesn't take all of the credit.

   "I think we just came together," said Flemming, who played three seasons at WTAMU after transferring from the University of Wyoming. "We were able to just do a lot of things. We had more confidence in the offense. Defenses had to respect the running game a little more. It wasn't just me, we had some injuries on the offensive line. But it was amazing to see the maturity of this team.

   "From the first six games, to the last five games, this was a completely different team."

   More than any one player or position, Flemming said the coaching staff, led by head coach Don Carthel, should get the most credit for the Buffaloes resurgence this season.

   "I commend the coaching staff, too. They never threw in the towel," he said. "We kept fighting all year and we turned it around. We played like we were fighting for a national championship or a playoff spot."

   Instead, it's a bowl game. And considering the starting point for this season, Flemming said that's just as good.

   "The atmosphere around here is full of excitement," he said. "Just to be guaranteed another football game is great, especially for the seniors. A lot of these guys have never played in December before. I've been fortunate to be there when (Wyoming) played UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl. So I know what it's like. And it's very similar now. Everyone is excited and we're working very hard in the weight room and practice. We're just excited that our season isn't over yet."