The 2013 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team represented West Texas A&M University in the 2013 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Buffaloes were led by first-year head coach Mike Nesbitt. The team played its home games at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon, Texas. The Buffaloes finished the season with an overall record of 11–3 with a LSC record of 4–2, finishing third in the conference.
The team received a bid to the NCAA Division II Playoffs as the sixth seed in Super Region 4, losing to Grand Valley State 28–35 in the quarterfinals; to date, this is the last season the Buffaloes have made the Division II playoffs. For the 2013 season, Nesbitt served under the interim tag before being named the Buffaloes' full-time head coach following the season.
Senior quarterback Dustin Vaughan broke the program record for passing yards and passing touchdowns. Vaughan was one of three finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Vaughn would ultimately finish second in voting.
Offseason Coaching changes On August 22, just weeks before the team's opening game, the university announced that head coach Don Carthel had been fired. According to the press release, Carthel was dismissed for misleading university officials about buying tickets for two players on the football team and instructed the players to lie about where the tickets came from.
Mike Nesbitt, who had been originally hired as assistant head coach and offensive line coach, was named the Buffaloes' interim head coach. Nesbitt had previously served as the Buffaloes' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
Preseason LSC media poll The LSC media poll was released on July 29, 2013. The Buffaloes were predicted to finish first in the conference.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries At Western State (CO)
Statistics WTAMUWSCU First downs 30 14 Total yards 562 267 Rushing yards 88 18 Passing yards 474 249 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 31:39 28:21
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 37/57, 470 yards, 6 TD Rushing Geremy Alridge 11 rushes, 50 yards Receiving Torrence Allen 12 receptions, 206 yards, 2 TDWestern State Passing Brett Arrivey 22/33, 177 yards, 2 TD Rushing Arius Norris 4 rushes, 13 yards Receiving Travis Haney 7 receptions, 113 yards, TD
Vs. No. 18 Chadron State (LSC Football Festival)
Statistics CSCWTAMU First downs 25 23 Total yards 464 462 Rushing yards 242 109 Passing yards 222 353 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 33:49 26:11
Team Category Player StatisticsChadron State Passing John McLain 28/40, 222 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Glen Clinton 24 rushes, 143 yards, TD Receiving Chapman Ham 8 receptions, 61 yardsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 29/41, 353 yards, TD Rushing Aaron Harris 17 rushes, 103 yards, 2 TD Receiving Torrence Allen 8 receptions, 124 yards
Texas A&M–Commerce
Statistics TAMUCWTAMU First downs 23 31 Total yards 331 590 Rushing yards 64 82 Passing yards 267 508 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:09 33:51
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Tyrik Rollison 15/29, 258 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Aaron Fields 4 rushes, 31 yards Receiving Vernon Johnson 3 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 36/62, 508 yards, 4 TD Rushing Geremy Alridge 4 rushes, 44 yards, TD Receiving Anthony Johnson 9 receptions, 181 yards, TD
At Texas A&M–Kingsville
Statistics WTAMUTAMUK First downs 25 14 Total yards 419 188 Rushing yards 118 96 Passing yards 301 92 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 26:51 33:09
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 25/33, 227 yards, TD Rushing Jamison Sterns 6 rushes, 44 yards Receiving Jace Jackson 6 receptions, 72 yardsTexas A&M–Kingsville Passing Aaron Bueno 13/23, 92 yards, TD Rushing Cornelius Shackelford 14 rushes, 47 yards Receiving C. J. Griggs 2 receptions, 24 yards
Central State
Statistics CSUWTAMU First downs 17 32 Total yards 305 663 Rushing yards 126 169 Passing yards 179 494 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 36:08 23:52
Team Category Player StatisticsCentral State Passing Michael Wilson 16/32, 124 yards, INT Rushing Michael Wilson 15 rushes, 52 yards Receiving Zach Thomas 6 receptions, 59 yardsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 33/41, 438 yards, 7 TD Rushing Aaron Harris 6 rushes, 82 yards, TD Receiving Anthony Johnson 8 receptions, 114 yards, TD
At No. 21 Tarleton State
Statistics WTAMUTSU First downs 22 30 Total yards 360 560 Rushing yards 105 133 Passing yards 255 427 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 32:05 27:55
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 25/43, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Aaron Harris 17 rushes, 66 yards, TD Receiving Torrence Allen 5 receptions, 74 yardsTarleton State Passing Jake Fenske 25/42, 388 yards, 3 TD Rushing Zach Henshaw 22 rushes, 107 yards Receiving Le'Nard Meyers 8 receptions, 168 yards, 2 TD
Angelo State
Statistics ASUWTAMU First downs 27 25 Total yards 554 519 Rushing yards 256 48 Passing yards 298 471 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 35:41 24:19
Team Category Player StatisticsAngelo State Passing Kyle Washington 22/36, 298 yards, TD Rushing Kyle Washington 11 rushes, 106 yards, TD Receiving Joey Knight 9 receptions, 106 yards, TDWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 32/58, 471 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Geremy Alridge 10 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Torrence Allen 12 receptions, 199 yards, 2 TD
At McMurry
Statistics WTAMUMCM First downs 28 40 Total yards 693 708 Rushing yards 241 300 Passing yards 452 408 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 27:29 32:31
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 27/40, 452 yards, 6 TD, INT Rushing Aaron Harris 11 rushes, 136 yards, TD Receiving Anthony Johnson 5 receptions, 97 yards, TDMcMurry Passing Gabe Rodriguez 28/46, 344 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Rushing Paxton Grayer 12 rushes, 159 yards, 2 TD Receiving Greg Livingston 8 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TD
Eastern New Mexico
Statistics ENMUWTAMU First downs 24 23 Total yards 380 484 Rushing yards 232 12 Passing yards 148 472 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:02 26:58
Team Category Player StatisticsEastern New Mexico Passing Jeremy Buurma 8/16, 148 yards, TD Rushing Christian Long 27 rushes, 121 yards, 3 TD Receiving Ricky Milks 2 receptions, 49 yardsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 38/57, 472 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Geremy Alridge 2 rushes, 19 yards Receiving Torrence Allen 11 receptions, 158 yards, 2 TD
West Georgia
Statistics UWGWTAMU First downs 25 25 Total yards 435 546 Rushing yards 290 167 Passing yards 145 379 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 35:11 24:07
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Georgia Passing Austin Trainor 4/9, 83 yards Rushing Quan Jones 19 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving Malcolm Johnson 1 reception, 56 yardsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 29/41, 370 yards, 6 TD Rushing Aaron Harris 16 rushes, 145 yards, 2 TD Receiving Torrence Allen 5 receptions, 97 yards, TD
At Midwestern State
Statistics WTAMUMSU First downs 22 14 Total yards 315 284 Rushing yards 65 123 Passing yards 250 161 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 30:57 29:03
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 23/46, 250 yards, 2 INT Rushing Aaron Harris 13 rushes, 38 yards Receiving Torrence Allen 7 receptions, 94 yardsMidwestern State Passing Jake Glover 10/18, 116 yards, INT Rushing Keidrick Jackson 25 rushes, 132 yards, TD Receiving Mark Strange 7 receptions, 117 yards
At No. 10 Indianapolis (NCAA Division II First Round)
Statistics WTAMUINDY First downs 28 17 Total yards 435 312 Rushing yards 115 122 Passing yards 320 190 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 34:15 25:45
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 37/47, 320 yards, 3 TD Rushing Aaron Harris 13 rushes, 59 yards Receiving Torrence Allen 15 receptions, 146 yards, TDIndianapolis Passing Connor Barthel 19/37, 190 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Klay Fiechter 16 rushes, 67 yards Receiving Greg Johnson 5 receptions, 64 yards
At No. 7 Ohio Dominican (NCAA Division II Second Round)
Statistics WTAMUODU First downs 30 24 Total yards 530 392 Rushing yards 114 143 Passing yards 416 249 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 37:12 22:48
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 39/52, 416 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Geremy Alridge 18 rushes, 76 yards Receiving Torrence Allen 11 receptions, 145 yards, TDOhio Dominican Passing Mark Miller 20/33, 249 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Brandon Schoen 14 rushes, 65 yards Receiving Nate Weeks 6 receptions, 103 yards
At No. 4 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)
Statistics WTAMUGV First downs 23 22 Total yards 434 295 Rushing yards 37 76 Passing yards 397 219 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 33:03 26:57
Team Category Player StatisticsWest Texas A&M Passing Dustin Vaughan 36/56, 397 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT Rushing Aaron Harris 16 rushes, 46 yards Receiving Anthony Johnson 11 receptions, 165 yards, 2 TDGrand Valley State Passing Heath Parling 16/32, 219 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Chris Robinson 16 rushes, 48 yards Receiving Kirk Spencer 4 receptions, 77 yards, TD
Personnel
References