It has been quite a while since the WNMU fans has seen their football team run the ball for the majority of the game, but it is a new, young team this year. The Mustang coaching staff decided to show their rushing game as they ran for 404 yards Saturday afternoon versus Sul Ross State. It proved successful as the purple and gold came out on top, 48-33.

The Mustangs started on the ground immediately. Kevin Breaker (Stockton, CA, Lincoln High School, Delta College) held the ball for the first six plays and 50 yards. With WNMU on the Sul Ross five-yard line and a third down play, Travis Lundy (Lake Jackson, TX, Brazoswood High School) ran the ball into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. Colin Lund's (Mililani, HI, Mililani High School, New Mexico State University) point after attempt was good.

The WNMU defense was strong on their first go-around. They limited the Sul Ross offense to just four plays and 18 yards. This allowed the Mustangs to have good field position and another chance to score. With just under three-minutes to play in the first quarter, quarterback Dennis Havrilla (North Concord, CA, Mt. Diablo High School, University of Nebraska - Kearney) and Breaker combined for 66 rushing yards to put the score at 14-0.

The Lobos' John Williams put his team in good field position with a 33-yard kickoff return following the Breaker touchdown. Like the Mustangs, the Lobos kept the ball on the ground and found the end zone with 1:53 left on the clock. A two-point conversion put the Lobos within six.

WNMU head coach Bernie Busken decided to give his big rusher, Breaker, a rest in the beginning of the second quarter. James Brown (Tallahassee, FL, Amos P. Godby High School, New Mexico Military Institute) received the first four handoffs for 20 yards. Lundy and Breaker finished off the drive with a touchdown. Lund missed his point-after attempt. The Mustangs were up 20-8.

Sul Ross took their time on their next possession as they completed 13 plays and 47 yards in nine minutes. The drive ended with a one-yard rushing touchdown. The Lobos were inching closer, 20-15.

With just 46 seconds left in the half and a fourth and six play for WNMU, the Lobos stepped up their defense. WNMU's Havrilla threw his first interception of the season and watched Sul Ross' Devin Hudson run it into the end zone. The Lobos were ahead, 22-20, but it did not take long for the Mustangs to regain the lead. Havrilla found Rene Estrada (El Paso, TX, Canutillo High School) at the Sul Ross eight-yard line for a 29-yard catch. Havrilla then ran the ball in for the touchdown. His two-point conversion attempt was no good. The Mustangs walked into the locker room at the half up 26-22.

A 48-yard return on the opening kickoff of the second half put Sul Ross in great field position, but the Mustang defense held the Lobos at the 26-yard line. The Lobos were forced to go for the field goal. Mike VanWagner's field goal attempt was good. Sul Ross was down by one.

Midway through the third quarter, the Mustangs rushed the ball nearly the entire length of the field. They finally tacked on six points with 1:30 left in the quarter. Breaker posted his second touchdown of the game. Lund's extra point was blocked, but the Mustangs still had the 32-25 lead.

Back to back Sul Ross fumbles gave the Mustangs a nice cushion to work with. Lund tacked on a 28-yard field goal with 12:28 remaining in the game, and Havrilla found Salvador Garcia (Anthony, TX, Anthony High School) in the end zone 14 seconds later.

Each team tacked on another rushing touchdown to end the game, 48-33. The Mustangs are now 1-0 on the season.

Breaker finished the day with 177 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Havrilla went 11 for 16 as quarterback. Garcia posted 203 all-purpose yards.

On defense, Jaime Trujillo (North Hollywood, CA, J.H.F. Polytechnic High School, Los Angeles Valley College), Buster Thede (Arvada, CO, Pomona High School), Terron Sumpter, Jr. (Fallbrook, CA, Fallbrook High School), and Derrick Perrault (San Diego, CA, Helix High School, Grossmont College) each recorded six tackles. Aaron Kleinpeter (Mesa, AZ, Red Mountain High School, Mesa Community College) and Cooper Bowman (Los Lunas, NM, Los Lunas High School, University of New Mexico) followed with five.

For Sul Ross, Dominque Carson rushed for 138 yards. Chris Redding and Devin Hudson combined for 24 of the team's 62 tackles.

The Mustangs are home again next weekend for their conference opener against the Colorado School of Mines. Kickoff is set for 12:00 noon.

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