The 2023 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University (WT) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference. Led by first-year head coach Josh Lynn, the Buffaloes played their home games at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas.
Coaching changes On November 21, 2022, Hunter Hughes was fired as the Buffaloes' head coach after six seasons. On December 14, 2022, Nebraska–Kearney head coach Josh Lynn was hired as the Buffaloes' new head coach.
LSC preseason poll The LSC preseason poll was released on July 27, 2023. The Buffaloes were predicted to finish fifth in the conference.
Schedule
Game summaries At Western Colorado
Statistics WTWCU First downs 16 17 Total yards 239 324 Rushing yards 108 166 Passing yards 131 158 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 30:58 29:02 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Kyle Brown 11/26, 95 yards, INT Rushing Tray'vion McCoy-Gay 16 rushes, 72 yards Receiving Kris Sims 3 receptions, 31 yardsWestern Colorado Passing Drew Nash 13/27, 158 yards Rushing Deyvon Butler 11 rushes, 61 yards, 3 TD Receiving Victory David 1 reception, 64 yards
Adams State
Statistics ASUWT First downs 13 25 Total yards 215 345 Rushing yards 105 199 Passing yards 110 146 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 25:12 34:48 Team Category Player StatisticsAdams State Passing Connor Underhill 9/28, 110 yards, TD, INT Rushing Daylen Boddie 2 rushes, 53 yards Receiving Aaron Johnson 3 receptions, 46 yardsWest Texas A&M Passing Kanon Gibson 22/29, 146 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Tray'vian McCoy-Gay 24 rushes, 104 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Sweet 6 receptions, 56 yards, TD
Midwestern State
Statistics MSUWT First downs 10 13 Total yards 103 280 Rushing yards 38 205 Passing yards 65 75 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:05 31:55 Team Category Player StatisticsMidwestern State Passing James Cooper Jr. 10/25, 65 yards, INT Rushing Jalen March 9 rushes, 18 yards Receiving Jalen Austin 2 receptions, 26 yardsWest Texas A&M Passing Kyle Brown 3/10, 59 yards, TD Rushing Tray'vion McCoy-Gay 15 rushes, 133 yards Receiving Noah Bogardus 2 receptions, 34 yards
At UT Permian Basin
Statistics WTUTPB First downs 20 25 Total yards 380 498 Rushing yards 183 179 Passing yards 197 319 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 33:40 26:20 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Kanon Gibson 23/26, 197 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kanon Gibson 14 rushes, 123 yards, TD Receiving Isai Smallwood 5 receptions, 64 yards, TDUT Permian Basin Passing Kenny Hrncir 19/40, 319 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Kenny Hrncir 20 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jeremiah Cooley 5 receptions, 120 yards, TD
The Buffaloes had a 24–10 lead entering the fourth quarter, but would be outscored 10–24 in the final quarter, with the Falcons tying the game at 34–34 with 15 seconds left in regulation. UTPB started overtime on offense and would score a touchdown to go up 41–34. WT would respond with a touchdown and went for two to end the game, but Kanon Gibson's pass was batted out of the end zone, securing the 41–40 victory for the Falcons.
Western Oregon
Statistics WOUWT First downs 18 14 Total yards 374 315 Rushing yards 142 105 Passing yards 232 210 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 37:33 22:27 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Oregon Passing Gannon Winker 13/19, 232 yards, 3 TD Rushing Dominique Loggins 32 rushes, 121 yards, TD Receiving Keyvaun Eady 5 receptions, 100 yards, TDWest Texas A&M Passing Kanon Gibson 18/29, 210 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kanon Gibson 12 rushes, 69 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kenneath Redd 4 receptions, 68 yards
At Texas A&M–Kingsville
Statistics WTAMK First downs 10 19 Total yards 198 402 Rushing yards 43 154 Passing yards 155 248 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:01 33:59 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Kanon Gibson 16/27, 155 yards, TD, INT Rushing Montaye Dawson 9 rushes, 25 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Sweet 6 receptions, 72 yardsTexas A&M–Kingsville Passing Wade Freeman 14/22, 248 yards, 2 TD Rushing C. J. Odom 11 rushes, 48 yards, TD Receiving Jaylin Smith 3 receptions, 110 yards, TD
Western New Mexico
Statistics WNMWT First downs 20 22 Total yards 363 409 Rushing yards 73 168 Passing yards 290 241 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 30:36 29:24 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern New Mexico Passing Hunter Davis 27/34, 290 yards, 4 TD Rushing Hunter Davis 17 rushes, 60 yards Receiving Jeremiah Hartfield 8 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TDWest Texas A&M Passing Kanon Gibson 17/18, 236 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tray'vion McCoy-Gay 19 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyrie Tipton 4 receptions, 57 yards, TD
At Central Washington
Statistics WTCWU First downs 13 22 Total yards 259 467 Rushing yards 84 335 Passing yards 175 132 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 21:57 27:56 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Kanon Gibson 9/19, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kanon Gibson 10 rushes, 52 yards Receiving Tyler Sweet 4 receptions, 74 yardsCentral Washington Passing Kennedy McGill 9/16, 132 yards Rushing Tyler Flanagan 26 rushes, 186 yards, TD Receiving Demonte Horton 4 receptions, 54 yards
Angelo State
Statistics ASUWT First downs 20 9 Total yards 513 221 Rushing yards 396 171 Passing yards 117 50 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 34:43 25:17 Team Category Player StatisticsAngelo State Passing Gerald Gardner 5/12, 107 yards, TD Rushing Kason Philips 8 rushes, 115 yards Receiving Kyle Bradford 1 reception, 42 yardsWest Texas A&M Passing Kyle Brown 8/25, 50 yards, 2 INT Rushing Ben McCreary 4 rushes, 94 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Sweet 3 receptions, 37 yards
At Eastern New Mexico
Statistics WTENM First downs 24 20 Total yards 405 510 Rushing yards 130 343 Passing yards 275 167 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:47 31:13 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Weston Eget 15/26, 251 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyrie Tipton 2 rushes, 45 yards Receiving Kenneath Redd 6 receptions, 109 yards, TDEastern New Mexico Passing Mario Sanchez 5/10, 167 yards, TD, INT Rushing Mario Sanchez 20 rushes, 118 yards, 3 TD Receiving Andre Jones 4 receptions, 162 yards, TD
References