CHADRON, Neb. – The Western New Mexico University football team led into the fourth quarter before Chadron State came back with 21 unanswered to come back to defeat the Mustangs, 41-23, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action inside Elliott Field.


Chadron State College (CSC) ranked No. 24 in the latest Division II poll and receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll got all they could handle from Western New Mexico University (WNMU).


WNMU (4-5, 3-4 RMAC) opened the game with some trickery, going with an on-side kick that was recovered by the Mustangs at their 45. CSC (7-2, 6-1 RMAC) held, even though WNMU tried a fake punt on fourth-and-four, but Dylan Contreras (Litchfield Park, AZ/Peoria) was stopped a couple yards short after catching a pass from Kameron Drawhorn (San Diego, CA/Fallbrook HS).


The defense held strong, as they bent allowing the Eagles to get to the WNMU 28, but didn't break as a missed 45-yard field goal kept the game scoreless five minutes in.


The Mustangs tallied the first points of the game, as what became a common theme of the afternoon was WNMU getting inside the Eagle 10, but the CSC defense kept holding the Mustangs to field goals instead of touchdowns. After big gains of 30 on a pass from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) to Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) and then a Byrd pass of 27 yards to Abraham Macias (El Paso, TX/Socorro HS) had the Mustangs at the Eagle 6. A short rush and then two incompletions forced a Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) 22-yard field goal that was good for the 3-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first quarter.


CSC struck quickly on the ensuing possession, chewing up 72 yards on four plays to find the end zone and take a 7-3 lead with the big play coming on a 48-yard run by Glen Clinton.


WNMU took advantage of a special teams play early in the second quarter to regain the lead. Drawhorn pinned the Eagles deep in their territory on a perfectly placed punt that was downed at the two. WNMU forced a three-and-out and on the punt it only reached the CSC 47 which Bernard Williams caught and returned 41 yards to setup a first-and-goal at the six. On the next play, John De La Rosa (Vinton, TX/Canutillo HS) went in for the rushing touchdown and after McIntire connected on the extra point WNMU was back in front, 10-7, nearly three minutes into the second quarter.


CSC came back once again, as they benefited from a strong special teams play of their own as a 48-yard kickoff return had them out near midfield. Seven plays later, a 35-yard field goal had the game tied at 10 with nine minutes to go before halftime.


WNMU answered, as they slowly moved the ball out near midfield and on a third-and-nine at the WNMU 48, a big roughing the passer penalty kept the drive alive. On the next play from the CSC 37, Glasmann connected with Marquis Sumpter (Oceanside/Falbrook Union HS) for a 37-yard pitch-and-catch and after McIntire was good again on the extra point it was a 17-10 WNMU advantage with six minutes before the break.


The Eagles would close the half on a 10-0 run, tallying a 40-yard field goal on the ensuing possession and then a Mustang fumble had CSC in good field position at the WNMU 49. Two plays later, the Eagles were in the end zone thanks to a 58-yard touchdown pass and went into the locker room ahead 20-17.


WNMU kept coming out of the break, taking the opening kickoff of the second half and marching 69 yards on nine plays, ending with a 23-yard McIntire field goal to tie the game at 20. CSC kept WNMU just out of the end zone on the drive, as the Mustangs were at the one, but a pair of rushes netted minus four yards leading to the field goal.


The teams traded possessions when on the next Eagle possession the Mustang defense delivered a big play, as Clinton busted a 23-yard run, but Eldrick Bright (Deland, FL/Deland HS) caught him and stripped the ball which was recovered by Williams at the WNMU 32. The momentum powered the Mustangs down the field, as 34-yard pass from Glasmann to Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) had WNMU at the Eagle 16. They would get as close as the nine, but were forced to another field goal that was good by McIntire from 27-yards out for the 23-20 WNMU lead with just a minute to play in the third.


Holding a three-point lead into the final quarter, CSC began to make their comeback bid. Converting a pair of third downs, the Eagles found the end zone on a 11-yard run that capped an 11 play, 86 yard drive putting them ahead 27-23 with just under 13 minutes to go in the contest.


WNMU was poised to answer on the ensuing drive, picking up a fourth-and-two at the CSC 34 on a three-yard pass to Byrd. On a third-and-10, Glasmann hit Byrd for 22 yards down to the Eagle nine. Again, down inside the 10 the Eagle defense was tough. As after a fumble was recovered by the Mustangs, an incompletion and a four-yard run setup fourth-and-goal at the three. WNMU went back to the ground game with De La Rosa, but he was stopped just short at the one turning the ball over on downs with eight minutes left.


CSC fed off the stop, striking quickly on just three plays, as after a short four-yard run, a 63-yard run and then a 32-yard pass had them in the end zone to extend the lead to 11, 34-23, with seven minutes to play.


WNMU looked for a big play on the next drive, but on third-and-four out near midfield Glasmann's pass was intercepted at the Eagle 29. Again, CSC took advantage striking quickly on five plays, going 62 yards for another touchdown to provide the final margin, 41-23.


Yardage was aplenty for both teams with CSC outgaining WNMU, 539-420, with the Eagles holding a 313 to 121 advantage on the ground, while WNMU held a 299-226 edge through the air. Red zone points were the big difference maker with CSC converting all three trips inside the 20, with two going for touchdowns, while WNMU was four-of-five, with only one resulting in a touchdown and three field goals.


Glasmann connected on 22-of-41 for 271 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, he was sacked twice. The Mustang defense wasn't able to sack Jonn McLain, as he connected on 20-of-29 for 226 and three touchdowns. Byrd was the main target bringing down nine for 94 yards. Sumpter added 89 yards and a touchdown on five total grabs.


On the ground, Macias led the attack with 14 carries for 64 yards, while De La Rosa was right behind with a 13 carry, 60 yard and one touchdown effort. Clinton had a big game for the Eagles rushing for 245 yards on 24 attempts.


Fernie De La Rosa (Vinton, TX/Canutillo HS) led the defense with eight total tackles, six solo.


WNMU will return home this Saturday when they will host Black Hills State for Senior Day with kickoff set for 12 p.m. New Mexico Highlands defeated Black Hills State, 46-31, earlier today.
 
       Western New Mexico vs Chadron State (Oct 27, 2012 at Chadron, NE)
 
  Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score
  -----------------    -- -- -- --   -----
  Western New Mexico..  3 14  6  0  - 23       Record: (4-5,3-4)
  Chadron State.......  7 13  0 21  - 41       Record: (7-2,6-1)
 
  Scoring Summary:
  1st 08:23 WNMU - Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) 22 yd field goal, 7-68 1:50, WNMU 3 - CSC 0
      06:57 CSC - Kyle Vinich 7 yd pass from Jonn McLain (Alex Ferdinand kick), 4-72 1:20, WNMU 3 - CSC 7
  2nd 12:30 WNMU - John De La Rosa (Vinton, TX/Canutillo HS) 6 yd run (Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) kick), 1-6 0:05, WNMU 10 - CSC 7
      09:37 CSC - Alex Ferdinand 35 yd field goal, 7-33 2:45, WNMU 10 - CSC 10
      06:04 WNMU - Marquis Sumpter (Oceanside/Falbrook Union HS) 37 yd pass from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) (Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) kick), 8-75 3:33, WNMU 17 - CSC 10
      03:45 CSC - Alex Ferdinand 40 yd field goal, 8-45 2:11, WNMU 17 - CSC 13
      01:22 CSC - Chapman Ham 58 yd pass from Jonn McLain (Alex Ferdinand kick), 2-49 0:42, WNMU 17 - CSC 20
  3rd 10:49 WNMU - Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) 23 yd field goal, 9-69 4:06, WNMU 20 - CSC 20
      01:18 WNMU - Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) 27 yd field goal, 8-59 3:25, WNMU 23 - CSC 20
  4th 12:54 CSC - Michael Madkins 11 yd run (Alex Ferdinand kick), 11-86 3:19, WNMU 23 - CSC 27
      07:16 CSC - Nathan Ross 32 yd pass from Jonn McLain (Alex Ferdinand kick), 3-99 1:01, WNMU 23 - CSC 34
      03:19 CSC - Michael Madkins 38 yd run (Alex Ferdinand kick), 5-62 2:44, WNMU 23 - CSC 41
 
                                     WNMU      CSC
  FIRST DOWNS...................       20       25
  RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............   35-121   37-313
  PASSING YDS (NET).............      299      226
  Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  43-24-2  29-20-0
  TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   78-420   66-539
  Fumble Returns-Yards..........      0-0      0-0
  Punt Returns-Yards............     1-41     1-17
  Kickoff Returns-Yards.........    6-119    6-133
  Interception Returns-Yards....      0-0     2-19
  Punts (Number-Avg)............   3-46.3   2-33.5
  Fumbles-Lost..................      2-1      2-2
  Penalties-Yards...............     9-79     7-86
  Possession Time...............    31:44    28:16
  Third-Down Conversions........  4 of 16  5 of 12
  Fourth-Down Conversions.......   2 of 4   0 of 1
  Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      4-5      3-3
  Sacks By: Number-Yards........      0-0      2-4