Buffaloes capture wagon wheel win

CANYON, Texas — Junior quarterback Taylor Harris threw for 371 yards and three touchdowns and senior running back Keithon Flemming scored twice, helping West Texas A&M turn back Eastern New Mexico University 34-24 Saturday night in the annual “Wagon Wheel” game between the Lone Star Conference South Division rivals.

WT (2-5, 1-2 South) ended a three-game losing streak, beating the Hounds for the fifth consecutive year. The Buffaloes outgained ENMU 404-331 for the game and took control with 24 unanswered points in the second and third quarters.

With ENMU leading 10-7 after a 21-yard field goal by freshman Taylor Cannon early in the second quarter, the Buffs regained the lead on the second play following the kickoff when Harris hit Brittan Golden on an 85-yard scoring pass.

James Chandler added a 42-yard field goal before Harris found Josephius Martin on a 60-yard TD play with 1:39 left in the half, making it 24-10 at the break.

Harris then hit Flemming with a 15-yard TD toss late in the third quarter, capping a nine-play, 89-yard drive.

The Hounds made the score more respectable on scoring passes of 15 and 21 yards from J.J. Harp to Dominic Preston in the final period. Harp completed 39-of-67 passes for 245 yards in the game, while Harris was 27-of-43.

Flemming finished with 52 yards rushing on 15 carries, and also led the Buffs with 10 catches for 49 yards. Flemming scored on a 1-yard run following the opening kickoff, capping a 59-yard drive in seven plays.

Eleven players caught at least one pass for the Hounds, led by Preston with seven for 81 yards and Arvin Jackson with seven for 48. Griffin carried eight times for a game-high 57 yards rushing.

Terrence Griffin scored on a 2-yard run late in the first quarter to finish a six-play, 54-yard march for the Hounds (2-5, 0-3). ENMU’s Rodney Mitchell then blocked a punt by WT’s Tim Cowdrey, giving the Hounds possession at the Buffs’ 27 late in the period.

The drive stalled at the WT 4, and Cannon’s field goal gave ENMU a 10-7 lead.