WNMU had some troubles on defense Saturday versus Sul Ross State University, but it was still enough to get by the Lobos, 35-32. This is the first win of the season for the Mustangs. They are now even at 1-1.
WNMU found themselves down early in the game, allowing the Lobos to post four quick first downs and a catch in the end zone. The Mustangs did, however, prevent Sul Ross' extra point freebee courtesy of the big choppers of Mitch Knoy (Bakersfield, CA/Bakersfield High School). This was not the first you would hear of Mitch Knoy (Bakersfield, CA, Bakersfield High School, Bakersfield Junior College), though, on special teams. He later blocked another point after attempt in the second quarter.
The 6-0 Sul Ross lead only lasted 18 seconds. On the first Mustang offensive play of the day, Chris Voller (Albuquerque, NM, Valley High School) connected with Brendon Tunstall (Chandler, AZ, Corona Del Sol High School) for a 67-yard touchdown. Overall, Voller was 9 for 15 on the day, throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Voller's 67-yard launch to Tunstall was not the longest throw or touchdown of the day though. He posted two 80-yarders later in the game.
The Mustangs went up 14-6 at the 14:13 mark of the second quarter after kicker Colin Lund (Mililani, HI, Mililani High School, New Mexico State University) looked over to his left just before he was to punt it and found wide-open Jordon Dancer (Peoria, AZ, Peoria High School, Jamestown College) for the score.
Voller then got the chance to post his first of two longest passes and touchdowns of the season. With 3:01 left to play in the first stanza, the Mustang offense was on a momentum high. WNMU's Aaron Kleinpeter (Phoenix, AZ, Red Mountain High School, Mesa Community College) placed the offense on their own 20-yard line after he put his mitt up in the air to block field goal. Voller was able to find Salvador Garcia (Anthony, TX, Anthony High School) for an 80-yard touchdown on the next play. The Mustangs were up by 15.
The Mustang lead was cut to nine with just one second left in the half. The Lobos marched down the field for 77 yards in 11 plays. Like the first quarter, though, Knoy blocked the extra point. The scoreboard read 21-12 at the half.
WNMU adjusted their offense in the second half to feature new quarterback Antoine Young (Oakland, CA, Encinal High School, Chabot College). Still new to the systems, Young could not make much happen on his first drive. The Lobos got the ball on their own 40-yard line. Sul Ross was just one yard away from the goal line when WNJU's Joey Bertrand (Bakersfield, CA, Centennial High School, Bakersfield Junior College) forced a Sul Ross fumble in the end zone to call a touchback.
Returning to the field, Voller, on the first play of the drive once again, found Tunstall for another bomb. This time it was for 80 yards. WNMU was up, 28-12, with 7:54 left to play in the third.
The two teams traded touchdowns to close out the quarter, but then the Mustang offense and defense got cold. The Lobos scored two consecutive touchdowns. The home team could not convert on the extra point and an attempted two-point conversion. It was a good thing, though, because that would have tied the game. The Lobos were within three, 35-32, with 2:13 left to play.
WNMU hoped to run out the clock once they got the one first down they needed. It didn't happen. They were forced to give the ball back to the team in red with 20 seconds remaining.
Feeling the pressure and the clock winding down, the Lobos went to the air with a floater. WNMU's Anthony Phillips (Houston, TX, Dobie High School) swooped up to intercept the rainbow and returned it 23 yards. The Mustangs did not have to get a first down this time. They were able to wind down the clock and the victory with a knee.
Sul Ross led in nearly every statistical category including first downs (WNMU 16, SRSU 29), offensive yards (WNMU 506, SRSU 599), and time of possession (WNMU 23:31, SRSU 36:29). In the end, it was the turnovers and missed kicks that cost Sul Ross the game.
Tunstall finished the day with two touchdowns and 158 yards on three receptions. Garcia led the way in all-purpose yardage. He had 125 yards receiving, 34 yards on kick returns, and 63 yards on punt returns, totaling 222 yards.
Defensively, Bertrand led the way for WNMU. He had nine solo tackles and two assist tackles along with one forced fumble. Jacob Cross (Bakersfield, CA, Centennial High School, Bakersfield Junior College) followed with ten total tackles. He also had 1.5 tackles for a loss of 11 yards.
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