Silver City, NM-- Western New Mexico University's football team raced out to a quick lead but NAIA No. 7 Azusa Pacific took command of the second half to overtake the Mustangs 35-21, Saturday, in Silver City.

The Mustangs fell to 2-6 while Azusa Pacific improved to 7-1.

The Mustangs struck quickly in the game on Hurtis Chinn (Miami, FL/)'s 81-yard pass reception from Tate Gunning (Mesa, AZ/) at the 10:08 mark in the first quarter. The play, which marked the longest play from scrimmage for WNMU in the past two seasons, saw Chinn juke his way down the center of the field as he received key blocks that added to the spectacular catch and run.

Azusa tied the game with 1:04 left in the opening stanza on a 9-yard run from Alex Peltier.

WNMU capitalized on two Eric McClenahan interceptions to score their next two touchdowns, a Valentine Chude (Warren, MI/) 4-yard run and a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Gunning, to move ahead 21-7. Azusa Pacific moved to within one touchdown with less than a minute to go in the first half on a 12-yard run from Peltier.

The Cougars were unstoppable in the second half as they engineered three touchdown drives, getting their impressive ground game untracked with a generous sprinkling of McClenahan passes at key junctions. McClenahan came in after Asuza's first series to relieve starter Sean Davis, who sustained a shoulder injury.

WNMU's Tate Gunning (Mesa, AZ/) went 9-of-18 for 130 yards and one touchdown while McClenahan was 19-of-30 for 206 yards.

WNMU will entertain Fort Lewis on October 30 in the annual homecoming game.