The Buffs trailed most of this game with the WTAMU offense finally finding its flow in the final quarter to score 14 unanswered points for the victory.
WTAMU has won three of its last four games improving to 4-5 overall and 4-3 in the LSC. The Javelinas drop to 5-4 overall and are also 4-3 in the league.
The first half was a defensive slugfest with TAMK leading 7-0 at the half. The Buffs tied it up midway through the third quarter when Kingsville muffed a punt at the goal line that was recovered by Buff defensive back and Caprock graduate Jamel Acosta-Lewis tying the contest up, 7-7.
After falling behind 14-7, a WTAMU offense that had been silent throughout the game woke up early in the fourth quarter.
The Buffs tied the game up 14-14 when quarterback Kanon Gibson delivered a quick slant to T.J. Moore, Jr. who turned on the speed and went 59-yard to paydirt with 7:35 to play.
The Buff defense, which was tremendous all night, forced a Kingsville punt on the ensuing possession, allowing WTAMU to go back to work and that they did. Gibson stayed hot throwing a deep ball to Tucker Swoboda for 45-yards inside the Javelinas 20-yard line.
Three plays later, WTAMU found the endzone and its first lead of the game on a Jamaal Joseph one-yard bruising touchdown that was the eventual game-winning score.
Gibson, who struggled in the first half, turned it on in crunch time completing 9-of-21 passes for 183 yards with a score. He also led the Buffs on the ground carrying it 16 times for 64 yards.
The WTAMU defense was the story limiting the Javelinas to 330 total yards and forcing three turnovers.
Linebacker JT Cavender had another outstanding game with a team-high 11 tackles, six of those solo tackles. Cavender is now sitting at 331 tackles for his career which is the fourth most by any Buffalo passing Adam Shaw (330) and Chris Thomas (329).
The Buffs return back to Canyon for the final home game of the season when they face rival Midwestern State at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bain-Schaeffer Buffaloes Stadium.
