2025 Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot Game Day: Dec. 6, 2025

Aerial-minded West Texas A&M to face Arkansas Tech in Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot

Media Contact: Raymond Linex

Two up-and-comers have eyes for Corsicana in December, as West Texas A&M and Arkansas Tech have a date set for the Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot. For the offensive-minded fan, it has the best of both worlds – a balanced attack versus an all-out aerial onslaught.

The eighth NCAA Division II postseason game in Corsicana history is scheduled for noon on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Corsicana ISD’s Community National Bank & Trust Stadium. The Buffaloes and Wonder Boys are both making their first appearances.

Each is looking to add to the upward projection of their respective programs. Both improved two wins over last year in very competitive conferences and will face each other for the first time ever.
West Texas A&M (7-4) from the Lone Star Conference (LSC) posted its best season since 2021, in large part thanks to the nation’s No. 1 passing offense. Buffaloes quarterback RJ Martinez has thrown for 3,715 yards and 33 touchdowns and also leads the team with seven TDs on the ground. WT averages 37.9 points per game.
Arkansas Tech (7-4) of the Great American Conference (GAC) prefers sharing the load. The Wonder Boys average 176 yards through the air, 164 on the ground, and are led by running back Bryson Roland, a freshman from just down State Highway 31 in LaVega. Roland, the recent GAC Player of the Week (Nov. 1), averages 6.7 yards per carry and had 80 yards against No. 2 Harding and the nation’s No. 1 defense on Saturday to become the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher in a decade.
“Corsicana has truly become a December destination for outstanding DII football programs,” Heritage Bowl Committee Chairman Aric Bonner said. “Last year, we had the fantastic double overtime thriller, and this year, we had a lot of teams that wanted to be here.
“We are thrilled to welcome West Texas A&M and Arkansas Tech to town to continue to grow this game, right here in Navarro County.”
The Buffaloes are led by third-year coach Josh Lynn, who relocated to Canyon, Texas after a successful run at Nebraska-Kearney. WT’s stock has risen since a 1-3 start, concluding with a thrilling comeback win over Angelo State Saturday, 45-44. The Buffs trailed 44-31 to start the fourth quarter.
“We’re a fun team to watch. We’re explosive and we like to throw the ball around,” Lynn said. “… You can expect a team that has gotten better every week through the course of the season.
“This is another opportunity, and we are extremely appreciative.”
Three of the Buffs’ four losses came to playoff teams (No. 16 Western Colorado, No. 6 Central Washington, and most recently No. 17 Texas-Permian Basin) and the other to perennial DII power Colorado School of Mines.
Under the direction of first-year coach Roy Thompson, the Wonder Boys started 3-0 before an inexplicable loss to Arkansas-Monticello. In the competitive GAC, teams play an 11-team all-conference schedule, and seven of the 12 finished with winning records, creating a logjam behind national power Harding for places. Arkansas Tech topped perennial GAC contenders Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist, where Thompson had spent the last half-decade as defensive coordinator.
“We’re very excited to be able to come to Corsicana and play in this bowl game,” Thompson said. “You work all year to hopefully make it to the postseason. …
“(Fans) are going to see a team that plays extremely hard, plays with passion, and plays the game the right way.”
The two teams will arrive in Corsicana Thursday, Dec. 4 and attend a Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot banquet at Navarro College’s Cook Center. On Friday, a full day awaits with high Five Friday at Corsicana public school campuses, walk-throughs, a movie, and the community pep rally at 5:30 p.m. in downtown at the big Christmas tree.

To learn more about the Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot and for tickets, visit http://www.heritagebowl.org.

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