Last week the Mustangs played solid defense despite a 38-3 loss. This week the program needed to focus on gaining the offensive yardage as they only totaled only 74 yards at Dixie State. The Mustangs posted 488 yards on offense this week but still came up short in a see-saw battle at Colorado School of Mines, 35-28. The Mustangs are now 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC. The Orediggers improve to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Mines opened the scoring with 3:16 remaining in the first quarter when Adam Saur caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from David Pesek. WNMU's Dakota Woodard (Silver City, NM/Silver High School) (Silver City, NM) found the endzone on a two-yard run at 9:12 in the second period to knot the contest at seven apiece. Saur caught his second touchdown pass of the day, this time from eight yards out, with just over two minutes remaining (2:02) in the second quarter to give the Orediggers a 14-7 halftime advantage.
The Mustangs' Cody House (Tucson, AZ/Cholla HS) (Tucson, AZ) tossed a 12-yard scoring pass to Scotty Crespin (Socorro, NM/Socorro High School) (Socorro, NM) at 11:35 in the third quarter to even the score once again; however, Mines' Tom Kastens' 40-yard touchdown catch late in the third period (4:36) and J.T. Baum's 35-yard scoring run early in the fourth (14:01) provided the Orediggers with a 28-14 cushion.
On Western New Mexico's next drive, the Mustangs needed just one play to get an 84-yard scoring pass from House to John Means (Glendale, AZ/St. Mary's High School) (Glendale, AZ) at 13:43 to cut their deficit to seven. The 84-yard pass was the longest of the day. Returning to his home state, Milt Cherry (Aurora, CO/Eagle Crest High School) (Aurora, CO) plunged one yard into the endzone, his only carry of the game, four minutes later to knot the game at 28.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game, Mines hauled in their third touchdown reception of the contest (31 yards) to seal the victory for Colorado School of Mines.
House completed 28-of-46 passing attempts for 417 yards and two touchdowns for Western New Mexico while Tramell McGill (Phoenix, AZ/Hamilton High School) (Phoenix, AZ) finished with 11 receptions for 115 yards. Means caught seven passes for 156 yards and Woodard had 37 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Cameron Douglas (Glendale, AZ/Independence High School) (Glendale, AZ) posted one interception and led the Mustangs with eight total tackles while Tony Norman (Richmond, CA/Kennedy High School) (Richmond, CA) and Darryl Horne (Mesa, AZ/Dobson High School) (Mesa, AZ) each made seven stops.
On special teams, Salvador Garcia (Anthony, TX/Anthony HS) (Anthony, TX) posted 56 yards on two kick-off returns. His longest of 36 yards came near the end of the second quarter.
The Mustangs have their home opener next week versus Mesa State College. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
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