Bolivar, MO -- Western New Mexico University's long bus ride to Bolivar, MO didn't turn out as expected Saturday as the Mustangs watched Southwest Baptist University score touchdowns on their first three possessions, and the Bearcats blitzed and ran their way to a 31-14 victory over WNMU in both team's second game of the season.

Each team moved to 1-1 on the 2004 campaign.

WNMU only managed some containment of SBU's explosive running game late in the second quarter, but by that time the damaged had been done. The Bearcats were well in control of a game that saw them score three touchdowns in 11 plays, burning just under seven minutes of the game clock. SBU scored on runs of 56 and 42 yards and returned an errant Marques Reischl (Tombstone, AZ/Tombstone High School) pass 23 yards to the WNMU one-yard line.

The quick deficit took the running game out of play for WNMU which allowed the Bearcats to play aggressive pass defense, giving the WNMU quarterbacks different looks and blitz packages, and generally reeking havoc with WNMU's controlled passing attack.

The Mustangs used three quarterbacks on the night, and the first two were shutout. Reischl, a senior and the starter last week in last week's victory against Angelo State, started the game but was ineffective, serving up SBU's final score of the first half. Sophomore Kyle Meshnark made his first appearance of the year in the second quarter, but could only manage 10 completions in 22 attempts and didn't fare any better than Reischl as he threw two interceptions. Finally, Tate Gunning (Mesa, AZ/) appeared and quickly moved the Mustangs in for a quick score with a 51-yard toss to Jason Allison (Bayard, NM/Cobre High School). Gunning struggled in WNMU's next two possessions, but engineered another TD drive capped off by Stephon King (Austin, TX/)'s one-yard plunge late in the game.

The Mustangs passed for 251 yards in the game but could manage just 85 yards in the rushing department. The lack of ground game thrown in with six turnovers is a very difficult combination to overcome and Southwest Baptist was in the right place at the right time to secure the victory.

WNMU is open in week three which will give the Mustangs the opportunity to get some offensive linemen healthy, as well the chance to settle a quarterback situation that was further muddled against SBU.

The squad will travel to Winona State (Minn) in two weeks.