Javelinas fall 21-14 at home
The Javelinas came off a 21-14 victory over the Western Oregon Wolves and moved to 5-3 on the season as they returned home to face the West Texas Buffaloes, which resulted in a 14-21 loss Saturday.
This was a game marked by strong defense and special teams, with some big offensive plays on both sides.
In the first half, the Javelinas’ defense forced three turnovers on downs, two punts, and an interception by standout junior linebacker Jaylen Hackney. Although, like West Texas, the Javelina offense struggled to get things going early.
The Javelinas punted two times, attempted a 54-yard field goal that was blocked, and another 34-yard attempt that missed wide right. The offense did meet paydirt once with the help of a 32-yard run by junior running back Lawrence Starks and a 26-yard reception by junior Zaraivion Armendarez. Then the drive capped off with a 5-yard touchdown by Starks.
The Javelinas entered halftime up 7-0.
To start the second half the Javelinas drove into field goal range kicking and missing a 45-yard attempt. The Buffaloes gained two first downs before being forced to punt, but the ball bounced off a Javelina player and was recovered in the end zone by the Buffaloes for a touchdown. With a successful extra point, the game was tied 7-7.
The Javelinas answered back with a methodical drive killing nearly six minutes off the clock. Junior quarterback Jalen Brown would find the endzone after a 29-yard completion to Jackson Allen and a 17-yard completion to Jacory Logan, putting the Javelinas on top 14-7.
That would be the last time the Javelinas got a taste of pay dirt.
West Texas would pull back into the game in the fourth quarter with a 59-yard catch and run for a touchdown. The Javelinas would get the ball back game tied 14-14, but were forced to punt, going three and out and giving the Buffaloes the ball back at their 37-yard line.
The Buffaloes would complete a deep ball for 45 yards putting them in Javelina territory. They would then punch it in with their quarterback scrambling for a 17-yard touchdown. The Javelinas would trail for the first time down 14-21.
The Javelinas would get the ball back with 3:18 left in the game but would have four straight incompletions giving West Texas the ball back in a favorable field position.
The heavily depended on Javelinas’ defense stepped back onto the field looking to force a stop. Their prayers would be answered by forcing the Buffaloes to attempt a field goal and miss, giving the Javelinas one last chance to tie the game. But a 60-yard hail mary fell incomplete ending the game – Javelinas 14 Buffaloes 21.
The Javelinas fell to 5-4 on the season and 4-3 in conference play.
After the game, when asked who the starting quarterback would be moving forward, coach Mike Salinas said “JB (Jalen Brown) and Teague (Teague Sedtal)” both do well.
“JB had a good week coming off the momentum of last week. We decided to go with him as the starter today. He competed his butt off; we just didn’t play as well offensively to get the win,” Salinas said. “We talk about not getting caught up in the emotions of the game and don’t talk about momentum much.
“Our defense played hard. Getting a stop late, not giving up. Guy missed a field goal late. We just didn’t have enough time in the game and again that’s on me as the coach,” Salinas concluded.
The Javelinas travel to Western New Mexico for their final road game on Nov. 9.
