It was a great day to be a Mustang as the Mustang football team found victory on homecoming versus the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys, 29-16.
WNMU found themselves down early, 3-0, after the Cowboys marked a 48-yard field goal on their opening drive. On the teams' next drives, each traded turnovers. First senior quarterback Jeff Polley (Bellevue, OH/Bellevue High School) (Bellevue, OH) found his pass in the hands of NMHU's Carlos Alvarado. Then on the next play the Mustangs regained position after Theo Bystry (Tucson, AZ) forced and recovered a Cowboy fumble.
Following the recovery, WNMU found the end zone after a Thomas Herringshaw (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax High School) (Los Angeles, CA) three-yard pass complete to tight end Chris Cook (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro High School) (Tucson, AZ). The Mustangs were on top 6-3 with 11:03 remaining in the first quarter after a blocked WNMU point after.
The Cowboys quickly answered with a touchdown of their own on their next drive courtesy of a 58-yard pass to LaFerrell Payne, which put NMHU on the Mustangs 12-yard line and great scoring position.
With 5:25 remaining in the first, WNMU's senior Chaz Scott (Chandler, AZ/Hamilton High School) (Chandler, AZ) intercepted an Alex Aispuro pass and ran it back for 14-yards to tack on another six points for WNMU. This time Steve Flores (Peoria, AZ/Peoria High School)' (Peoria, AZ) point after was good, giving the Mustangs the lead for good.
WNMU found themselves in good field position nearing the end of the first quarter after a 28-yard punt return by Tremaine Cox (Tucson, AZ/Tucson High School) (Tucson, AZ). Seven plays later Tramell McGill (Phoenix, AZ/Hamilton High School) (Phoenix, AZ) ran in for the eight-yard touchdown. The Mustangs finished the first quarter ahead, 20-10.
The score remained that way throughout the second quarter and most of the third until Flores tacked on three more points after a 23-yard field goal with :22 remaining.
Late into the fourth quarter, Cox was able to return another NMHU punt for 68 yards. This time he made it into the end zone, putting the Mustangs ahead by 19.
The Cowboys wouldn't go down without a fight though. On the last play of the game, NMHU scored off a nine-yard rush from Ronnie Simpson to make the final score 29-16.
Offensively, the Mustangs threw for 174 yards and rushed for 56. Herringshaw led the way with 77 yards on the ground. Polley completed 16 of his 28 attempts, good for 129 yards. The Cowboys were more successful than the Mustangs on the ground, registering 115 yards. They went 140 yards in the air.
Christian Serena (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro High School) (Scottsdale, AZ) and Maurice Wells (Tucson, AZ/Cienega High school) (Tucson, AZ) led the Mustangs defensively, tallying nine and seven tackles respectively. They also combined for 3.5 tackles and a loss of 30 yards and two sacks totaling 27 yards.
The Mustangs are off next week. They will return to action in two weeks on the road.
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