MONMOUTH, Oregon --- After dropping two contests early in the season in the final quarter, the Western Oregon football team may have this fourth quarter thing figured out.
For the second week in a row, the Wolves ended a game on a high note - this time against West Texas A&M scoring 17 unanswered points in the final 6 minutes and 1 second of the game - capped by a 68-yard pick-six by
Joey Sinclair - to turn a 13-10 deficit into a 27-13 victory Saturday at McArthur Field.
The Wolves (3-4 overall, 2-3 LSC) - who rallied to beat Central Washington last week in the final seconds - led for much of the second and third quarter (thanks to a 69-yard touchdown run by
Andrew Valladares late in the first quarter)Â before the Buffs (4-3, 2-3) took a 13-10 lead with 2:21 left in the third quarter on a 4-yard TD run.
The Wolves tied the game 13-13 after Sinclair returned a punt 31 yards to the WTAMU 30 and
Danny Cossette eventually kicked a 24-yard field goal with 6:01 left in the contest to make it 13-13.
The WOU defense bent, but didn't break and held the Buffs to a 41-yard field goal attempt that was missed with 3:15 left, giving the Wolves the ball at their own 24.
Gannon Winker on second down then hit
Damon Hickok for a 37-yard pass down the sideline to put the Wolves at the WTAMU 41. Winker then found
Logan Reese over the middle two plays later to take the ball down to the Buff 10. After an Omari Land-Dixon 9-yard run took the ball to the 1-yard line, Winker finished it off with a QB sneak to give the Wolves a 20-13 lead with 56 seconds remaining.
The Buffs started driving in the final minute to attempt to tie the game, but on third-and-5 from the 50, Sinclair picked the ball off at the WOU 32 and raced it all the way back for a touchdown with 10 seconds left to close the game out for the Wolves.
The Wolves defense held tough again, allowing just 347 yards on 84 plays (4.1 yards per play) - including allowing 105 yards rushing on 32 attempts (3.3 yards per carry). Three players finished with 10 tackles to lead WOU -
Jaylin Parnell (also had a sack and two quarterback hurries),
Ryan Minniti (alo had three pass breakups, an interception and a quarterback hurry) and
Machiah Lee. Sinclair finished with eight tackles and a pass breakup while
Isaiah Abraham had eight tackles and quarterback hurry.
Offensively, Winker finished with 222 yards passing and two interceptions as Hickok had seven catches for 132 yards. Valladares led the team with 98 yards and a touchdown on the ground while Land-Dixon had 87 yards and Winker added 29.
The Wolves return home next week for homecoming, taking on Eastern New Mexico 1:05 p.m. Saturday at McArthur Field.
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