After a pair of drives that gained a total of 10 yards, Western Colorado University exploded with its third drive and didn’t look back on its way to a 52-21 non-conference road win over West Texas A&M on Thursday. After that slow start, the No. 11 ranked Mountaineers scored three touchdowns and a field goal on their next four drives.
Western went 94 yards in four plays in just nine seconds on that third drive, capped off by 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Ramon Ruiz from quarterback Josiah Roy.
Roy would finish 9-for-11 in the air with 268 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Western now hosts Angelo State on Thursday, Sept. 3, for the Mountaineers' home opener. The Rams lost to Fort Hays St. last week, 35-14.
Vs West Texas A&M
The opening two drives included a sack, a Western-recovered fumble, and a penalty that negated a first down, but while the Mountaineer offense was trying to get traction, the Western defense was keeping the Buffaloes out of the end zone as Mikey Smith sacked the Buffs' Knox Porter on fourth and one from the Western 1-yard line.
Damien Nevil crashed through the middle for a couple of yards to gain some breathing room when Western took over on its own 4, then Roy hit DJ Allen Jr. on a 40-yard connection down the left sideline. Gabe Schubarth then pushed around the left side for 3 yards, followed by Roy hitting Ruiz at the West Texas 18-yard line with Ruiz galloping in for the score that opened the flood gates.
The defense stepped up again on the ensuing West Texas drive with Ryan Bynarowicz forcing a fumble and recovering it at the Buffs' 12 yard line. Damien Nevil bulled over the right side five plays later and suddenly it was 14-0.
After a field goal by Western's JT Miller, Jack Ward knocked the ball free on West Texas' kickoff return with Zayne Stam recovering it to set the Mountaineers up at the 3 yard line.
It took four plays to push the ball across the goal line, and it was a Ruiz 2-yard quick pass to Blake Kramer on fourth and two that took the Mountaineers past the second quarter's two-minute timeout for a 24-0 advantage.
Western scored touchdowns on its opening four drives of the second half to continue its dominance, only allowing West Texas a score in the third quarter and two more after Western had begun subbing in on both offense and defense.
Stats
In addition to Roy's 9 for 11 night, Nolan McCullough hit on his only pass of the night, a 37-yarder caught by running back Lamonte James.
Nine different receivers caught a pass during the win, but none caught more than two. Allen Jr. led the way, though with 116 yards and a touchdown on one of his two catches while Caden Measner caught one TD pass and accumulated 85 yards on his two receptions. Yasir Berry caught the other TD from Roy on Berry's only catch of the game.
Western would finish with 193 rushing yards, including a 71-yard gallop from McCullough for the Mountaineers' second touchdown in the third quarter.
Ian Loomis led all defenders on the night, coming up with seven solo stops and one assist, along with getting a pass breakup. Bynarowicz was next with 7 solos including a sack and forced fumble and recovery.
Miller honored by RMAC
Western Colorado kicker JT Miller converted all seven point after kicks, added a field goal, and registered six touchbacks of nine kickoffs at West Texas A&M to earn the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Special Team Player of the Week award.
The Mountaineers opened the 2026 season on the road at West Texas, where they rolled to a 52-21 non-conference victory as Miller punched the extra point through on each Western touchdown.
The third scoring drive of the game for the Mountaineers ended with Miller's 32-yard field goal, continuing a string of scoring drives that would reach eight as Western corralled the host Buffaloes.
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