The Wildcats improved to 5-0 at home on Saturday and 6-4 on the year with a 31-10 victory over Utah Tech University.
The 5-0 home record accomplished the team’s No. 1 goal for every season–to go undefeated at home.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” Will Shaffer said. “It’s always good to see something that you manifest and work so hard to achieve come to fruition.”
Shaffer, senior linebacker from Tempe, Arizona, has been a Wildcat for two seasons, going 10-1 at Anthony Stadium.
“It’s special,” Shaffer said. “Wildcat Stadium, it’s a special place. Every time we step in, it’s a different energy.”
The victory over the Trailblazers featured four interceptions for the Purple and White defense, one of which was by Shaffer and two being returned to the end zone for touchdowns.
“We talk about it every week,” Shaffer said. “Attack the ball. Tips and overthrows, we have to get those.”
Dorian Plumley, senior defensive back from El Reno, Oklahoma, had two interceptions in the game, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
“That guy’s a baller,” Shaffer said. “He came in here with Coach Patterson’s first [portal] recruiting class, and he’s stuck it through. I’ve been able to see him mature and just overall increase his game and his football IQ. He just loves the game of football.”
Plumley’s interceptions were his second and third of the year and his first career touchdown. Zion Fonua, junior linebacker from Euless, had the other interception return for a touchdown, both the first of his career.
The Wildcat offense struggled throughout the game but started to build momentum in the second half. E.J. Wilson, senior running back from Tampa, Florida, rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, leading the way for the Wildcat stable for the second consecutive week.
“He’s got great balance and he’s got really good vision,” Head Coach Keith Patterson said. “He just continues to trend up, and we need him to continue to do that.”
The Wildcats honored 31 seniors on Saturday who were either graduating or exhausting their eligibility at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Four of those seniors have been with Patterson since being recruited out of high school in his first recruiting class. Those four seniors, Rovaughn Banks, Jr., redshirt junior running back from Tulsa, Oklahoma; Alex Bowman, Jr., redshirt senior defensive lineman from Dallas; Joziah Fogle, senior offensive linemen from Spring; and Chidubem Lebechi, redshirt junior tight end from Katy, have gone 17-4 at home over their collegiate career.
“It’s just something special,” Patterson said.
The Wildcats move to 5-1 in conference play with two games to go, both on the road. The first in Richmond, Kentucky, versus Eastern Kentucky University, followed by the regular season finale in Conway, Arkansas, against the University of Central Arkansas Bears on Nov. 22.
“We just got to take it one play at a time,” Shaffer said. “We just have to make sure we do everything in our power to go and win both of these games.”
