WTAMU raced out to a 21-0 lead to start the game, and built up a 29-7 lead by halftime. From there, the Buffs continued to pull away before claiming the Wagon Wheel in back-to-back seasons and for the third time since 2021.

Graduate transfer quarterback RJ Martinez was again splendid. The Austin native was 26-of-43 for 424 yards and five touchdowns. Martinez did throw an interception before intermission, which was negated by the end of the first half.

On defense, junior defensive back Jamel Acosta-Lewis totaled 11 tackles. Of those 11 tackles, the Caprock alumnus and Colorado Mesa transfer tallied five solo stops.

“It’s great, man,” Acosta-Lewis said of keeping the Wagon Wheel in Canyon. “We talked about it all year long, and we were ready for it. We wanted it. We also made it known that that the Wagon Wheel isn’t ours, so we had to go fight for it. We knew we’re going to do whatever we needed to win it.”

Adding to his performance was playing in front of his family and going opposite of his brother, Eastern New Mexico senior linebacker Aaron Acosta-Lewis. 

“All of my family members came down,” Acosta-Lewis said of the proverbial family reunion. “My dad was here. My mom was here. We (both) work hard, just stay down and keep going. It was good seeing my brother grind, and do really well against us. I kept saying, ‘let’s go, Aaron’ from our sidelines.”

To redshirt freshman Jayden Hibbler, who caught four passes for 38 yards and two touchdowns, the offense’s goal is to keep applying pressure on their opponents.

“(Offensive coordinator Justin Bane) wants pressure, and to apply it at all times,” Hibbler said. “We’ll continue to put up 40, 50, 60 plus points every, if we prepare right before the game starts. Football season is long, and coach Bane tells us that this is a playoff game. Once the playoffs come, it becomes easier. We’re just going to be playing football at that point.”

Hibbler, who helped the Buffs regain the trophy last season, said that winning the Wagon Wheel at home felt even better.

“It’s a very different feeling to be able to run to that hill and lift up the Wagon Wheel with your friends and homies that you put in work throughout the season,” said Hibbler. “All of that work had paid off.”

WTAMU head coach Josh Lynn, who had been a part of 15 Wagon Wheel games as a player, assistant coach and head coach, the victory means quite a bit. His current record, spanning across both his tenure with the ‘Hounds and Buffs, is 10-8 overall.

However, according to the Eunice, N.M. native, the Buffs’ latest triumph means more for his players.

“It means a lot,” Lynn Said. “This game is very special to me, just because of my background and all the ins and outs of it. It’s important to me that my players experience it. We had a great week of practice, and thought our defensive coaches had a great game plan going in. WE came out and handled business. We were ready to play.”

The Buffs not only improved to 4-3 overall with a 4-1 record in the LSC, but also improved to 19-18 in the all-time Wagon Wheel series with Eastern New Mexico. The Buffs are gaining momentum, as well, winning their third straight and fourth of their last five outings.

WT now sits second in the league standings, behind No. 10-ranked (AFCA) Central Washington.

Next up for the maroon and white is a back for prime position within the conference taking on UT Permian Basin at 6 p.m., Saturday at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland.

The No. 13-ranked Falcons (5-2, 3-2 LSC) fell to Western Oregon via a 31-28 upset on Saturday at McArthur Field in Monmouth, Ore. The narrow result was UTPB’s second consecutive setback. 

“We have to go into that game as if it’s another playoff game,” Hibbler said. “We have to continue to keep pushing, and pressure creates diamonds. If we apply pressure to them quickly, like we do every other team, we’ll come out with a win.”

To Acosta-Lewis, the WT defense will carry the mentality of starving wolves drowning sheep.

“We’re ready for that game,” said Acosta-Lewis. “The (defensive backs) and I have been talking about that game all year. We’re hungry. We’re starving, and we’re ready to hunt.”

The Greyhounds tumbled to a 1-4 record within the conference’s pecking order, and to 1-6 overall. Eastern New Mexico returns home to take on Western New Mexico for the Chile Bowl, slated for 4 p.m. (Central Time) at Al Whitehead Field at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium in Portales, N.M. 

The Mustangs (2-5, 1-4 LSC) edged Sul Ross State with a 45-42 result in the Battle for the Golden Tumbleweed, which took place on Saturday at Ben Altamirano Field in Silver City, N.M.

WT wasted no time in lighting up the scoreboard, as Martinez connected with wideout Drew Zamar for a 66-yard touchdown in the Buffs’ first play from scrimmage. Within nine seconds, the Buffs established a 7-0 lead, and set the tone for the rest of the game.

“We kind of start every game with throwing those quick screens,” Lynn said of the explosive start. “We had a (good) matchup over there. We knew that we could fake that screen and shoot (Zamar) up the middle. Sure enough, he was wide open. That was awesome.”

The Buffs struck twice more, the first at the 5:02 mark in the initial period and the other with 11:24 left until halftime. Both times, Martinez fired passes to Hibbler, resulting in a 21-yard touchdown and a two-yard score.

“My receivers did an excellent job in blocking,” Hibbler said, recalling his two TDs. “I love them for that. I had to show them love after the play. To be honest, it’s impossible to do without your teammates. On my wide open pass, my receivers ran in routes, which made it hard for the defender to make his way through.”

“I want to give a shout out to my quarterback, RJ Martinez,” added Hibbler. “I love him. His instinct and the way he prepares inspires me on my preparation throughout the week. “He’s a professional.”

Early in the second quarter, WT had put together a three-score lead. ENMU did respond with 6:11 remaining until the break, as Demarion Finch completed a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a six yard touchdown.

However, the Buffs countered 57 seconds later. Martinez found redshirt sophomore receiver Zach Phipps up the middle. Phipps then evaded Greyhound defenders before scoring from 42 yards out. Following those six points, graduate receiver Trevin Edwards pulled off some trickery, allowing WT to tack on another two points to preside over a 29-7 lead with 5:18 left until halftime.

WT also put together a strong two-minute drill on offense, before Martinez’s pass was intercepted by ENMU linebacker Matthew Quartieri. From their own 13 yard line, the Greyhounds only had 14 seconds left to operate, before settling for a knee and heading into the locker room.

The Buffs opened up the second half with the same jolt as the first moments of the game, with Martinez finding Phipps in the back corner of the endzone for a 11-yard touchdown. With 8:52 left in the stanza, WT finished off a five-play, 66-yard drive in a timespan of 1:26 to extend their lead to 36-7.

It took until the final stretch for the Greyhounds to score their next seven, with Finch going up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown run. Trailing 36-14 with 11:12 left, it was too little, too late for ENMU.

With 8:54 to go in the game, the Buffs sealed the game with a nine yard touchdown run from junior running back Gene Sledge. Sledge ended the game with 79 yards and the nine-yard TD on nine carries.

Thanks to a 43-14 lead, the score became final when WT allowed its reserves to partake in the game’s concluding plays.

Zamar led the Buffs’ receiver corps with 99 yards and one TD on three catches, followed by Sean “Fats” Johnson’s 68 yards in three receptions and Phipps’ 64 yards and two scores in four catches. Edwards totaled four catches for 55 yards, as redshirt sophomore tight end Spencer Henslee reeled in two receptions for 45 yards.

Graduate wideout Jamir Roberts picked up four catches for 35 yards.

Alongside Acosta-Lewis on defense was redshirt sophomore Miles Hill, who recorded 10 total tackles. Senior David deMenezes collected nine tackles, and redshirt sophomore Javin Cash chipped in with eight tackles. Junior Andre Johnson and redshirt freshman Matthew Bryant each had one quarterback sack, and junior Jahmek Armstrong forced one fumble.

Junior cornerback Cam Manahan registered one interception for WT.

Finch paced ENMU, gaining 129 yards and two TDs on 27 carries, as Gerry Gomez caught nine passes for 64 yards. Quartieri led the Greyhound defense with nine total tackles, followed by seven tackles each from Aaron Warren and Amarillo native Aaron Acosta-Lewis.         

Check out the boxscore

For a full look at West Texas A&M’s win over Eastern New Mexico, please check out the boxscore https://gobuffsgo.com/sports/football/stats/2025/eastern-new-mexico/boxscore/11288