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STEPHENVILLE – The No. 7 Tarleton Texans needed a strong game on Saturday to put themselves in a chance to win over the West Texas A&M Buffaloes in the final regular season game. However, the Texans did not take advantage of turnovers and turned the ball over themselves, leading to a 49-35 loss in Stephenville.

The two teams tied with Texas A&M-Kingsville and Midwestern State for the Lone Star Conference South Division title while Tarleton, TAMUK and MSU tied for the LSC overall conference title.

The Buffaloes (6-5) ended the season with five straight wins to claim the share of the division title as the Texans fell to 9-2 overall.

The Buffs tallied 99 yards rushing and 536 yards passing to total their 635 yards while the Texans gained 443 yards, including 375 yards passing and 68 yards on the ground.

The 536 yards through the air was the most ever allowed by the Texans, breaking a record of 473 set by the Buffs on Oct. 29, 1994.

Tarleton turned the ball over on a fumble and an interception while forcing a fumble and grabbing an interception as well, but the Texans didn't do anything with the gifts, and the Buffs did. WTAMU scored after a muffed punt and then a blocked punt, both in the third quarter.

The first half was even with the score tied at 14 all at the break, but after the Texans had outscored opponents 100-8 in the third quarter, the Buffs exploded for 28 points in the third 15-minute segment as the Texans only put seven on the board.

The Buffs took the ball 90 yards on 14 plays to open the contest when Keithon Flemming punched the ball in from six yards out. James Chandler added the extra point to give the visitors a 7-0 leads with 8:32 on the clock.

On the second play from the line of scrimmage for the Texan, quarterback Scott Grantham hit Jahmeel Hobson for a 55-yard strike. Hobson was tacked at the five, and three plays later, Grantham handed the ball to Keith Demby which scored from two yards out. Garrett Lindholm added the point after to tie the game at seven with 6:09 on the clock.

The Buffs were driving inside Tarleton territory when McNeal Uwajah forced a fumble by Tyson Williams and Tarleton's Jeremy Sifford recovered the fumble.   However, the Texans were forced to punt, and Kyle Hopf put the ball 47 yards down the field inside the five when Tarleton downed the ball at the WTAMU two-yard line.

WTAMU's Taylor Harris then hit Brittan Golden for a 92-yard touchdown strike to put the visitors up by six. Chandler's kick put the Buffs ahead, 14-7.

With the Buffs driving, Matt Knicky intercepted another Harris pass, this one at the Tarleton one-yard line. Tarleton got inside Buff territory, but again, the Texans had to punt. 

With 4:08 on the clock, Chandler attempted a 53-yard field goal that was well short of adding to the Buff lead. Tarleton then took the ball 64 yards on seven plays to score when Grantham hit Hobson for a touchdown. Lindholm tied the score with the kick, and the score was tied at 14 with 43 ticks left in the first half.

 Both defenses forced punts on the first drives of the second half, but as WTAMU punted, Devin Guinn muffed the fair catch, and the Buffs recovered the ball on the Tarleton 15-yard line. Four plays later, Flemming punched the ball in from the one to return the lead to the visitors. Chandler's kick gave the Buffs a 21-14 lead with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter.

WTAMU then took a two-score lead with 6:37 on the clock when Harris found Golden on a bubble screen, and the receiver found the endzone. After Chandler's kick, the Buffs led 28-14. 

On Tarleton's next drive, the visitor's forced a punt that was downed at the Buffaloes' 10-yard line. However, a holding penalty was called on Tarleton forcing another punt. This time, Hopf's punt was blocked, and on the first play, Harris found Stephen Burton on a 25-yard touchdown pass. Chandler's kick made it 35-14 West Texas A&M.

On the ensuing drive, Grantham threw a later to Demby who then found Guinn all alone downfield for a 51-yard touchdown with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter. Lindholm added the extra point to pull Tarleton within 14, 35-21.

Lindholm's kick was a short pooch that went out of bounds, and the officials placed the ball at the 40-yard line. Burton then caught a 37-yard pass to the Texans' seven. Four plays later while facing a fourth and one, Flemming punched it in. Chandler's kick was good, and the Buffs led 42-21 with 1:09 left in the third.

Hobson caught a 48-yard pass from Grantham to put the Texans inside the 10-yard line. Facing a fourth and goal, a pass interference penatly in the end zone gave the Texans a fresh start inside the five. Demby then leaped over the pile to give the Texans another touchdown with 12:26 remaining in the game. Lindholm's kick made the score 42-28.

With 9:33 on the clock, Guinn caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Grantham. The touchdown was set up with a 43-yard flea-flicker pass from Grantham to Guinn to the Buff 10-yard line. After Lindholm's kick, Tarleton trailed 42-35.

The Buffs took the next drive 79 yards on seven plays when Tyson Williams caught a 21-yard pass from Harris with 6:08 on the clock. The kick was good, and the WTAMU led returned to 14, 49-35.

Tarleton was driving with just over five minutes remaining when Guinn was pushed down from behind and Curtis Jefferson caught the interception, but no flag was thrown. On second down, Knicky sacked Harris for a loss, and then the WTAMU quarterback was called for unsportsmanlike conduct to make it third and 37. Tarleton then forced a punt, and Guinn was interfered with on the catch.

The Texans faced a fourth and 10 at the Buffs' 44-yard line, and an incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs, and WTAMU claimed the upset.

Grantham threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns while Guinn had eight catches for 161 yards and two scores and Hobson had three receptions for 109 yards and a score.

Marcus Phillips led the Texans with 16 total tackles, including seven solo and nine assisted stops. Alonzo Horton had nine tackles for second on the team while Tarleton had six tackles for a loss of minus-44 yards, including one sack for minus-14 yards.

Harris threw for 536 yards and four touchdowns while Flemming ran 23 times for 108 yards and caught eight passes for 73 yards. Golden had six receptions for 201 yards and two scores while Williams had eight catches for 148 yards and a score.

WTAMU was led by Curtis Jefferson and Jordan Smith with nine tackles each. Both had six solo and three assisted stops while the Buffs recorded four tackles for a loss of minus-30 yards, including one sack for minus-nine yards.

The Texans will now await a bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The seeds for the postseason will be announced at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8 on ESPNews. If Tarleton does not make the NCAA Playoffs, the Texans could be invited to the Kanza Bowl in Topeka, Kan. on Dec. 5.