Box Score KEARNEY, Neb. – After falling behind by 20 early on, the Western New Mexico University football team gave #10 Nebraska-Kearney all they could handle before falling to the Lopers, 27-14, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


UNK (8-1, 7-1 RMAC) scored on their first three possessions in the first quarter, collecting two rushing touchdowns and then a passing touchdown with five minutes to play in the first quarter for an early 20-0 lead, as the Lopers missed the first PAT attempt.


But, just like in games past, WNMU (4-5, 3-4 RMAC) came charging back to give UNK a scare.


With the clock dwindling toward halftime, the Mustangs finally got a drive going pinned at their own 13.


David Ingram (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge HS) found Daveon Barner (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Polytechnic) for a big 18-yard pass play on second-and-14 to move the ball out to the 27 and then on top of that, a personal foul on the Lopers moved the ball out to the 42.


 After two plays gained zero yards, Ingram connected with Shamone Fletcher (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) for 18 yards and a first down at the UNK 40.


Faced with a third-and-eight at the 38, Ingram again had a big pass play up his sleeve, hitting Sal Garcia for a 21-yard strike and another big chain mover down to the 17.


Two incompletions setup a third-and-10 at the 17 and Fletcher got open catching the pass from Ingram for the touchdown and after Kameron Drawhorn (San Diego, CA/Fallbrook HS) made the extra point, it was a 13-point game, 20-7, with under two minutes to play.


UNK answered with a big drive before the half, going 77 yards on just seven plays to take a 27-7 lead into the locker room.


WNMU had the first big break go their way in the third quarter.


After Ingram was sacked on a fourth-and-two at the UNK 46, the Lopers turned around and fumbled to ball on the next play that was recovered by the Mustangs' Ryan Cummings (Carson, CA/Lakewood HS) right around midfield.


The offense began to move the ball, with Barner rushing the ball two times for 11 yards and after Ingram was sacked for a loss of six, he came back to complete a 20-yard pass to Fletcher for a first down at the Loper 26.


Following an incompletion, Abraham Macias (El Paso, TX/Socorro HS) blew through the hole and nearly found the end zone, just getting tripped up at the one for a 25-yard scamper and a first-and-goal.


But, the Mustangs turned the ball over on the next snap, as Barner lost the handle, fumbling the ball at the one, which was recovered by Jason Wilcox of the Lopers to turn away a big scoring opportunity.


The Mustang defense wasn't discouraged, as they came through with another big play on the next Loper possession.


After a three-yard run moved the ball to the four, Shad Bride broke an 11-yard run, but then was hit by Drawhorn, who forced a fumble that was again recovered by Cummings at the UNK 15.


The offense would quickly be faced with a fourth-and-14 at the UNK 19 when Ingram stood in the pocket and delivered a perfect pass over the middle to Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) for a first down at the Loper two.


The Mustangs again struggled down by the goal line, as the ensuing snap was fumbled, but the Mustangs were able to get back on the ball at the two.


Macias then tried to get into the end zone, not once, but twice, getting down to the one of the first attempt, then being stopped at the one on third down.


Faced with a big fourth-and-goal, the Mustangs went to play-action and Ingram tried to hit Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) on the near side of the end zone, but the ball was batted away by Jack Douglas turning the ball over on downs.


The Mustang defense came through with another turnover early in the fourth quarter.


With the Lopers just across midfield, Nicholas Cook (Winnetka, CA/Bishop Alemany HS) stepped in front of a Jake Spitzlberger pass and returned the interception nine yards to the WNMU 49.


This time the offense cashed in on what would be a lengthy drive.


WNMU was faced with a fourth down right away on the drive and Ingram rushed for two yards on a fourth-and-one to keep the drive going at the UNK 40.


Later, the offense was faced with a third-and-18 at the 33, and a 17-yard pass from Ingram to Markis Sumpter (Oceanside, CA/Fallbrook High School) moved the ball to the 16 for another fourth-and-one.


Ingram kept it for a sneak and got just enough for the first down.


Two incompletions would bring up a third-and-10 in which Ingram calmly found Garcia for 11 yards and a first-and-goal at the four.


The next snap, Ingram found Sumpter for a four-yard touchdown pass and after Drawhorn made the extra point it was a 13-point game, 27-14, with just under 10 minutes to play in the game.


The Mustang defense forced a punt out near midfield that pinned the offense back at their four.


The offense would come up with a couple of big plays, the first on a third-and-three at the 11, Ingram ran for eight yards and a first down out to the 19.


Later, a third-and-10 still at the 19, Ingram found Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) for 15 yards and another first down out to the 34.


Faced with a third-and-19 at the 25, Ingram connected with Byrd for 10 yards out to the 35 which brought up a fourth-and-nine at the 35.


Having to go for it, Ingram had time to throw and threw a dart down the middle of the field to Garcia for a 46-yard pickup to the UNK 19.


The Loper defense then came through with some big stops.


After Ingram missed an open Pompey in the end zone on first down, back-to-back incompletions with pressure in Ingram's face brought up fourth down.


WNMU called a timeout and on the fourth-and-10, Ingram's pass to the corner of the end zone was incomplete for Pompey turning the ball over on downs.


WNMU would put together another late drive on their next possession, but ran out of time at the UNK 22 ending the game with the Lopers hanging on for the 27-14 victory.


The numbers were pretty close in several categories, as UNK outgained WNMU by just 30 yards (425-395), while WNMU had most of theirs through the air (369) to 189 for UNK.


UNK went 50 percent on third downs (10-20), while WNMU went eight-for-26.


Turnovers were also big in the game, with WNMU committing three, one interceptions and two fumbles to six for UNK, two interceptions and four fumbles.


Individually, Barner and Macias led the ground attack, with Barner chewing up 32 yards, to 27 for Macias.


Passing-wise, Ingram completed 37-of-72 passes for 364 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.


Fletcher hauled in seven for 73 yards and a score, while Sumpter added seven catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Byrd also had six receptions for 77 yards and Pompey six for 38.


Defensively, Jacob Cross (Bakersfield, CA/Centennial HS) led the team with 11 total tackles (four solo), while Bernard Williams had nine, Dashaun Briggs (AZ/) eight and Cook seven.


WNMU will return home this coming Saturday when they will host New Mexico Highlands University in the battle for the Warrior Helmet and it will also be senior day for the Mustangs with kickoff set for 12 p.m. at Ben Altamirano Field.


The Mustangs claimed the Helmet with a 38-13 victory last season in Las Vegas.

 
  Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score
  -----------------    -- -- -- --   -----
  Western N.M.........  0  7  0  7  - 14       Record: (4-5,3-4)
  Nebraska-Kearney.... 20  7  0  0  - 27       Record: (8-1,7-1)
 
  Scoring Summary:
  1st 11:50 UNK - Rustin Dring 16 yd run (Sam Simon kick failed), 8-68 3:10, WNMU 0 - UNK 6
      07:48 UNK - Stephan Rush 2 yd run (Sam Simon kick), 12-65 2:56, WNMU 0 - UNK 13
      05:08 UNK - Brett Klein 4 yd pass from J. Spitzlberger (Sam Simon kick), 8-38 2:28, WNMU 0 - UNK 20
  2nd 01:56 WNMU - S. Fletcher 17 yd pass from David Ingram (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge HS) (K. Drawhorn kick), 11-87 3:56, WNMU 7 - UNK 20
      01:04 UNK - J. Spitzlberger 18 yd run (Sam Simon kick), 7-77 0:45, WNMU 7 - UNK 27
  4th 09:45 WNMU - Markis Sumpter (Oceanside, CA/Fallbrook High School) 4 yd pass from David Ingram (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge HS) (K. Drawhorn kick), 16-51 4:26, WNMU 14 - UNK 27