Quarterback in black uniform throws a football during a game, with a referee in stripes in the background. — West Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Knox Porter (9) releases a pass toward an open receiver during the first half of a Lone Star Conference game between the Buffaloes and Midwestern State, held on Saturday at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon. [Tyler Anderson/ Press Pass Sports]

Going into their Lone Star Conference matchup against Midwestern State, the West Texas A&M football team had an opportunity in front of them. Should the Buffaloes win in front of the home crowd, they would continue that momentum captured in the league opener last week and be able to climb back to even keel.

In the 39th meeting between the two programs, the Mustangs had other plans. More specifically, Midwestern State redshirt junior quarterback Kaden Brown had other plans.

In a league tilt held on Saturday evening at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Brown set a school passing record to spoil WT’s “Black Mode” contest with a 41-31 decision.

Brown slung the rock all over the yard, going 29-of-43 for 475 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, the Mustangs tallied up a staggering 673 yards of total offense.

Three football players in white and maroon uniforms dive toward a loose football on the turf. — West Texas A&M junior linebacker and Palo Duro graduate Kamron Brown (26) falls on the loose ball fumbled away by Midwestern State running back Joseph Dodds (5) during the first quarter of a Lone Star Conference matchup between the Buffaloes and Mustangs, held on Saturday at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon. [Tyler Anderson / Press Pass Sports]

The Buffs did win the turnover battle, recovering two fumbles and yielding no fumbles or interceptions. However, Midwestern State dominated the time of possession with 39:57 of total game clock, compared to the Buffs’ 20 minutes handling the pigskin.

Midwestern State’s victory marked the first time since 2018 that the Mustangs defeated the Buffs. Midwestern State also picked up its first win inside of Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, which opened in 2019.

WT head coach Josh Lynn noted that the defense had a tough time corralling the Mustangs. Over the course of the game, Midwestern State was 13-of-21 on third down and went 2-of-2 on fourth down.

“First off, (Midwestern State is) a good football team, they outplayed us,” Lynn said. “We couldn’t get off the field defensively when we needed to. I thought we did some good stuff offensively, and special teams were lights out. But, at the end of the day, we have to get off the field, get some defensive stops and get the ball in the endzone.”

Football player in black West Texas A&M uniform runs with ball as defender in white MSU jersey reaches in. — West Texas A&M receiver Trace Clarkson looks for yards after making a catch against Midwestern State on Saturday night. [Tyler Anderson/ Press Pass Sports]

West Texas A&M fell to 1-3 overall, with a 1-1 record within the LSC standings. Originally selected eighth in the LSC preseason poll, Midwestern State now shares the top of the league’s pecking order by improving to 2-0 in the LSC and 3-1 overall.

The Buffaloes will look to bounce back against Texas A&M-Kingsville in a contest slated for 7 p.m. next Saturday at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville. The Javelinas (2-2, 2-0 LSC) defeated Western New Mexico by way of a 52-14 decision on Saturday at Ben Altamirano Field in Silver City, N.M.

For Lynn, the Buffs need to generate a strong start to take some pressure off of the defense.

“We have to look back at the first half,” Lynn said. “We scored in the first series, but didn’t score again (until the second half). We have to do more offensively in the opening stretch.”

The Mustangs will face Western Oregon at 2 p.m. next Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls. The Wolves (2-2, 0-2 LSC) were stunned by Angelo State in a 29-28 nailbiter at McArthur Field in Monmouth, Ore.

WT indeed opened the game by scoring the first touchdown, a flea flicker converted into a 36-yard touchdown connection between sophomore quarterback Knox Porter and wideout Trace Clarkson at the 12:03 mark. The score was set up by a fumble recovery by junior linebacker and Palo Duro alumnus Kameron Brown.

The Mustangs countered with a touchdown midway through the initial stanza and another score with 4:55 to go in the first half. WT did cut the Midwestern State lead down to four, thanks to a 38-yard field goal from senior kicker and Bowling Green transfer Alan Anaya.

At intermission, the Buffs trailed 14-10.

WT briefly took a lead in the third quarter, as senior running back Tory Simmons struck paydirt from two yards out. As Anaya’s kick split the uprights with 12:26 on the clock in the third, the Buffs held a 17-14 advantage.

Quarterback in a white Mustangs uniform with number 2 holding a football and scanning the field during a game. — Midwestern State junior quarterback Kaden Brown (2) looks to pass during the first half in an LSC showdown between the Mustangs and West Texas A&M, which took place on Saturday at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon. Brown completed 29 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns in the Mustangs’ 41-31 decision over the Buffaloes. [Tyler Anderson / Press Pass Sports]

Midwestern State tuckered the WT defense by this point, though, rattling off a 27-7 run. By the 6:21 mark of the fourth quarter, the Mustangs built up a 41-27 lead. WT didn’t go quietly, as redshirt freshman Isaiah Orlandi ran a kickoff back for a 94-yard house call with 6:08 remaining in the game.

Unfortunately for the Buffs, the offense was unable to bridge the gap and the defense just couldn’t prevent the Mustangs from chewing up yardage and clock.

Clarkson led the receiver corps with 100 yards and one touchdown on seven catches, followed by senior receiver Antoine Sullivan’s 62 yards on three catches and senior tight end Brennan Ray’s 48 yards on one catch. Senior wideout J.B. Mitchell III snagged two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.

On the ground, Simmons picked up 55 yards and a score on nine carries. Senior running back Contae Cason had 24 yards on seven rushing attempts.

Junior defensive back Miles Hill led the Buffs on defense with 15 total tackles, followed by sophomore defensive back Munterrius Ellis’ 11 tackles and senior Caleb Giles’ 10 tackles. Brown had a fumble recovery alongside junior defensive back Phineas Allen. Freshman defensive back Dayton Navy forced the fumble recovered by Allen.

Aiding Brown’s record setting performance for Midwestern State was junior wideout Fabian Baez, who reeled in six catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore receiver Tyler Brown snagged four passes for 83 yards, while senior wideout Malakai Matthews recorded seven catches for 67 yards. Sophomore receiver Case Peacock caught three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Midwestern State junior running back Joseph Dodds rushed for 120 yards on 24 carries, and redshirt freshman CJ Anderson led the Mustang defense with 10 tackles.