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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
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Football

Mustangs Held Scoreless in Second Half

Junior Christopher Miranda
The WNMU football team wanted to finish their 2009 season as the lone team to place eighth in the conference, but instead they had to settle for a tie at the bottom with Fort Lewis College and New Mexico Highlands University after Fort Lewis stormed past the Mustangs, 40-21.

All three teams closed out their season with a 1-8 in the RMAC.

WNMU produced very little offense in the first quarter as regular starting quarterback Dennis Havrilla (North Concord, CA, Mt. Diablo High School, University of Nebraska - Kearney) was forced to leave the game because of injury. This allowed the Skyhawks to attack with two touchdown passes from Tim Jenkins to Justin Johnson.

WNMU posted their first touchdown of the day with 1:27 left in the first quarter. Christopher Miranda (Peoria, AZ, Peoria High School, Phoenix Community College) capped off a six-play, 68-yard drive with a 28-yard reception from replacement quarterback Chris Voller (Albuquerque, NM, Valley High School).

Fort Lewis extended their lead to ten at the top of the second quarter when Nate Soucie's 26-yard field goal attempt was good, but WNMU answered quickly. The purple and gold posted four first downs on the next drive. Voller ended the drive with a touchdown pass. This time it went to CJ Gardner (Safford, AZ, Safford High School, Arizona State University) for 20 yards.

The Mustangs took their first lead of the game with 2:39 left in the half. Kevin Breaker (Stockton, CA, Lincoln High School, Delta College) rushed the ball into the end zone for his first and only touchdown of the day. Breaker finished with 58 yards on the ground.

Fort Lewis ran 13 quick plays in the final two minutes of the quarter. Strong defense by Terron Sumpter, Jr. (Fallbrook, CA, Fallbrook High School), Buster Thede (Arvada, CO, Pomona High School), and Byron Reischl (Tombstone, AZ, Tombstone High School, Grand Canyon University) limited the Skyhawks to only a field goal. WNMU walked into the half with a 21-20 lead.

Two Mustang turnovers in the second half prevented any scoring by the visiting team and gave all the momentum to the home team. The Skyhawks posted ten points in the third quarter and ten more in the fourth to give them their first win in conference play.

WNMU struggled with penalties throughout the game. They recorded 14 penalties for 102 yards. Fort Lewis only saw two flags for 28 yards.

Voller threw for 21 completions on 39 attempts. Miranda was Voller's main target. He caught six balls for 91 yards and one touchdown.

Three Mustang players posted great numbers on defense. Thede led both defenses with 11 tackles. Sumpter and Derrick Perrault (San Diego, CA, Helix High School, Grossmont College) each recorded 10 tackles. All three combined for five tackles for a loss and 35 yards.

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