A 32-yard field goal by Steve Flores (Peoria, AZ/Peoria High School) (Peoria, AZ) with 27 seconds to play gave the Western New Mexico University football team their first win of the season as the Mustangs scored a 42-39 victory against Western State College today in Silver City, New Mexico.
Western New Mexico improved to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in RMAC play. Western fell to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
The Mustangs got on the board first with a Flores field goal from 29 yards. The Mountaineers were the next to score. WSC's Dusten Copeland and Cameron Merrill helped moved the Mountaineers down the field with somewhat ease. Copeland caught four balls for 63 yards on the drive, and junior Tyler Robertson came into the game and took the ball in on a run to the left side from five-yards out to give WSC a 7-3 lead.
A long fumble return by WSC helped set up a 40-yard field goal by Lloyd Tucker pushed the lead to 10-3, before the Mustangs tied the game at 10-10 after four plays and 80 yards. Quarterback Jeff Polley (Bellevue, OH/Bellevue High School) (Bellevue, OH) connected with wide receiver John Means (Glendale, AZ/St. Mary's High School) (Glendale, AZ) and Rod Windsor (Bessemer, AL/Jess Lanier High School) (Bessemer, AL), combining for 59 yards, before sophomore Dakota Woodard (Silver City, NM/Silver High School) (Silver City, NM) rushed in for a three-yard touchdown as the first quarter drew to a close.
WSC was driving toward another score to start the second quarter before linebacker Christian Serena (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro High School) (Scottsdale, AZ) forced a Mountaineer fumble at the 19-yard line.
The Mountaineers got the lead back at 12-10 after the Mustangs snapped the ball over the head of their punter and into the end zone for a safety.
Another long fumble return by junior linebacker Daniel Pennington led to another Tucker field goal and a 15-10 lead with 3:32 to play in the first half.
It looked as if Western New Mexico was going to take the lead going into the locker rooms at half following a 60-yard interception return by Latron Hickson (Miami, FL/Key West High School) (Miami, FL) for a 17-15 lead. But WSC's Merrill and Copeland hooked up from 52-yards out to give the Mountaineers the lead at the half 22-17.
Western State took advantage of the third WNMU fumble of the game on the opening kickoff of the second half to take a 29-17 lead on a one-yard rush. But the Mustangs scored on back-to-back possessions, first off a Thomas Herringshaw (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax High School) (Los Angeles, CA) quarterback sneak and, second, off a 74-yard pass from Polley to Windsor for a touchdown.
However, WSC connected again from 30 yards, to open up the fourth quarter and push the lead back in Western States's favor at 32-31. \
Western State further pushed the lead to 39-31 after a Polley interception was returned for a touchdown, but the Mustangs answered back a few plays later on a 74-yard touchdown Polley pass to Means. WNMU then tied the game at 39-39 on a Polley/Windsor two-point conversion.
Polley connected on 23-of-36 passing attempts, good for 433 yards. Polley passed for more yards in today's game alone than in the three games previously combined. Windsor and Means were Polley's main men, going 208 yards and 160 yards respectively.
Rushing, Woodard averaged 4.1 yards per rush and tallied 66 yards total.
Defensively, Serena led both teams with six solo tackles and six assist tackles. He was followed by WNMU's Richard Deems (Colorado Springs, CO/Harrison High School) (Colorado Springs, CO) who accumulated nine tackles.
The Mustangs are on the road again next weekend. They will travel to Adams State College. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
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