SILVER CITY, N.M. – After spending the first month of the season on the road, the Western New Mexico University football team returns home to face Colorado School of Mines in the Homecoming matchup this Saturday inside Ben Altamirano Field.


Colorado Mines, currently 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and receiving votes in the latest AFCA Poll, comes in winners of two straight pulling of victories over Black Hills State (62-22) and New Mexico Highlands (30-10) to open conference play. In addition to those wins, they also defeated South Dakota Mines (72-6) and lost to No. 11 Carson-Newman on a late field goal, 27-24.


The Orediggers bring a pass-heavy attack to the table, averaging 387 yards per game through the air. They also run the ball well, chewing up 189.2 per contest. Matt Brown leads the time both in the passing game and on the ground, as he has thrown for 1,288 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has run for 366 and five touchdowns. Dan Palmer is next on the list having rushed for 196 yards on 47 attempts with one score. Receiving-wise, Jimmy Ellis has been the main target hauling in 35 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown. Diamond Gillis has six touchdown receptions and Ty Young has four. On defense, Tyler Denson leads the team in tackles with 38, including three tackles for loss, .5 sacks, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.


The Mustangs (0-3, 0-2 RMAC) will counter with Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) who has thrown for 773 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception in 119 pass attempts. Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) leads the team in touchdowns with three, collecting 23 balls for 265 yards. Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) leads in yardage with 326 on 17 catches and the scores. Larry Young II (San Diego, CA/Morse HS) has also caught two touchdowns. On the ground, Abraham Macias (El Paso, TX/Socorro HS) has 126 yards on 33 attempts. Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ) has rushed 23 times for 62 yards. On defense, Adrian Lopez (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Garden Grove ) leads in tackles with 18, while Jerrald Hines (Los Angeles, CA/) has 16 tackles, three for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.


Last season, WNMU jumped out to a 16-0 lead on their way to a commanding 54-28 victory over Colorado Mines in Golden. The Mustangs forced three turnovers and tallied 595 yards. Macias posted two touchdowns, while Glasmann threw for 435 yards and four scores.


WNMU and Colorado Mines will square off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Ben Altamirano Field.