CANYON, Texas - No. 5 West Texas A&M wideout Charly Martin scored two of his three touchdowns in the third quarter as the Buffaloes pulled away for a 42-14 win over No. 17 Midwestern State Saturday night at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
Martin, who finished the game with seven receptions for 176 yards and three touchdowns, raced 65 yards on a pitch-and-catch from Keith Null just under five minutes into the second half, then laid out for a 35-yard TD late in th qaurter as the West Texas A&M expanded a 21-14 halftime advantage to 35-14 bulge going into the final quarter.
Null completed 34-of-50 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns as the Buffs rolled up 506 yards of total offense against the Mustangs, who were allowing just 234.2 yards.
West Texas A&M jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter as Null hit Seth Hayden for a 5-yard score at the 10:05 mark in the first quarter, then found Martin in the end zone from 9 yards out 5 seconds into the second quarter.
The Mustangs responded with a two-play, 71-yard drive keyed by
Zack Eskridge's 51-yard run to the WT 13-yard line. Eskridge worked the option pitch on the next play for a 13-yard TD run by
Marcus Mathis to close the Buffs' advantage to 14-7.
After the Buffs converted a five-play, 71 yard drive with a Null's third first half TD pass on a 12-yard strike to Wayne McKnight, the Mustangs rallied for their longest drive of the season.
MSU converted four third downs on a 13-play, 68-yard drive that spanned 7:50 and was capped by a 1-yard plunge by Eskridge to pull the Mustangs within 21-14 at halftime.
But it was all Buffs in the second half.
Eskridge paced the Mustangs' rushing attack with 54 yards on seven carries, while true freshman
Lester Bush ran for 25 yard on seven carries in his collegiate debut.
Eskridge completed 11-of-25 passes for 127 yards and interception, while
Tyron Morrison led the receiving corps with three receptions for 28 yards.
The Mustangs, who fell to 4-1 and 1-1 in the Lone Star Conference South Division, play host to Tarleton State for Homecoming next week at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
West Texas A&M improved to 6-0 and 2-0.
