Box Score







SILVER CITY, N.M. – Behind a dominant defense and big offensive plays, the Western New Mexico University football team recorded their first win of the season in style with a 25-22 victory over Colorado School of Mines Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action during Homecoming at Ben Altamirano Field.


Colorado Mines (3-2, 2-1 RMAC) opened the scoring with a 42-yard field goal on the opening possession of the first half. WNMU (1-3, 1-2 RMAC) responded by marching right down the field. Following an incomplete pass, Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) took an end around and sprinted 10 yards for the first down. After Abe Macias chewed up eight yards on two carries, Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) hit Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) down the middle for a 39-yard strike all the way down to the Mines' 18. After a four-yard run by Macias, Glasmann found Courtney again in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown pass to move WNMU in front, 6-3, with six minutes to go in the first quarter.


The teams would then trade several possessions when the Mustangs got another drive started early in the second quarter after Byrd returned a punt 18 yards to the WNMU 41. The first play of the second quarter witnessed Glasmann getting solid protection again from the offensive line and he hit a streaking Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) for 49 yards down to the CSM 6. The next play, Glasmann kept it himself after a good read-option fake to Macias and scored the touchdown to move WNMU in front, 12-3.


CSM would come back with another field goal, as the WNMU defense kept CSM out of the end zone and they settled for a 32-yard field goal trimming the deficit to six at 12-6 with 10 minutes to go in the first half.


WNMU began another solid drive toward the end of the half after receiving the ball at their 22 with 3:23 to play. On third-and-seven at the 25, Glasmann came through with a big first down completion to Pompey for 15 yards to the WNMU 40. The Mustangs would convert another third down, this time on a third-and-three when Glasmann found Byrd for a four-yard strike and another first down. Courtney then came through with a 19-yard pass down the seam again carrying defenders to the CSM 30. With the ball at the CSM 13, following an incomplete pass and the clock at 40 seconds, WNMU mixed it up and went with a draw to Macias and he went 13 yards almost untouched to the end zone to push the lead to 18-6 at the half.


Pompey turned on the jets early in the third quarter to increase the Mustang lead to the largest of the game. After getting the ball back at the Mustang three, WNMU went with a rush to Macias for four yards before Glasmann threw a perfect strike down the near sidelines just over the defenders outstretched hands that hit Pompey in stride and he turned on the burners going 93 yards for the score leaving WNMU ahead 25-6.


Early in the fourth quarter, the Orediggers began to comeback, scoring on a one-yard rush by backup quarterback Joe Schneider making it a 25-12 game.


The Mustang defense came back with a crucial stop with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, after CSM moved the ball all the way to the WNMU one for a first-and-goal. After a false start, three straight incompletions brought up fourth-and-goal from the six. The Orediggers went with a quick pass that netted just four yards as Helamana Semo (Vailoa, American Samoa/Leone) and Jerrald Hines (Los Angeles, CA/) combined for the big stop at the two yard line to turn the ball over on downs.


CSM would come back, however, collecting a safety two plays later and then drove for a score on the ensuing drive following the free kick to pull within three at 25-22 after connecting on the two-point try.


That left it all up to an onside kick with just 43 seconds remaining and Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) came through with the recovery at the CSM 42 ending the game and giving the Mustangs the victory.


WNMU held the edge in total yardage, going for 455 to 411 for CSM. WNMU went for 334 in the air. The defense held CSM starting quarterback Matt Brown to just 93 yards, as he came in averaging over 350 yards a game on the season. Glasmann threw for 334 and two touchdowns, completing 18-of-31. On the ground, Macias chewed up 97 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown. Pompey pulled down seven passes for 226 yards and a score, while Courtney had 90 yards on five catches and a touchdown.


On defense, Nick Cook led the team with 12 tackles, six solo, while Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS) had 10 tackles a .5 sacks.


WNMU will return to action this coming Saturday when they will play at Colorado Mesa with gametime in Grand Junction set for 1 p.m. The Mavericks edged New Mexico Highlands, 22-17, earlier today.