SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University football team rode the Homecoming crowd to a 14-7 halftime lead before Colorado Mesa stormed back with 24 unanswered in the second half to defeat the Mustangs, 31-14, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action in front of a large crowd inside Altamirano Field.


It was a struggle early on for either team to find points, as Western New Mexico University (WNMU) finally broke through midway through the first quarter when Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) hit Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) on a quick wide receiver screen pass for the three-yard touchdown and after Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) made the extra point it was a 7-0 lead. The drive took just 1:14 off the clock and the Mustangs went 57 yards on five plays, using mostly bubble screen passes to the wide outs.


The score would remain 7-0 into the second quarter when a bizarre fumble turned the game in the first half for Colorado Mesa University (CMU). Following a three-and-out, WNMU (3-3, 2-2 RMAC) was set to punt from their 29, but the snap never made it to the punter and the ball would be recovered by CMU (2-4, 2-2 RMAC) at the WNMU 10. On the next snap, Jake Cimolino went in for the touchdown and after the extra point, the game was tied at 7 with 11 minutes left in the first half.


WNMU wasted little time answering on the ensuing possession, with Glasmann hitting Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) for a big 41-yard gainer down the middle of the field and later, Glasmann hit Marquis Sumpter (Oceanside/Falbrook Union HS) on a six-yard strike and after McInitre was good again it was 14-7 WNMU with seven minutes to go before the break.


Neither team would score the rest of the half leaving it 14-7 into the second half.


That's when CMU took over, taking the opening drive of the second half 75 yards on 11 plays and capping it with a 14-yard touchdown pass with Jason Haferman hitting DJ Hubbard to tie the game at 14 six minutes into the third quarter.


A missed field goal by the Mustangs on their next possession would leave the Mavericks with 80 yards to go on their next drive and again they drove down the field on 11 more plays when Haferman hit Hubbard for a 19-yard touchdown strike to push the lead to 21-14 with a minute left in the third.


Early in the fourth quarter, CMU would collect a fumble recovery on a pitch that wasn't handled at their 35. In just four plays, Cimolino blew through the line 31 yards for the touchdown and made it 28-14 three minutes into the final quarter.


CMU would later add a field goal on their next drive from 37 yards out to provide the final margin of 31-14.


Although WNMU outgained CMU, 432-351, the story was in the turnover battle with the Mustangs committing four turnovers to zero for the Mavericks.


Abraham Macias (El Paso, TX/Socorro HS) collected 96 yards on 16 carrries, while Glasmann went 31-of-49 for 303 and two touchdowns.  His main target was Sumpter, who hauled in 10 for 95 and a score, while Pompey also had a touchdown to go along with nine receptions and 86 yards.


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


WNMU will hit the road next Saturday when they will play at Western State in Gunnison, Colo., with kickoff set for 1 p.m.