Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University football team reclaimed the Warrior Helmet Trophy in dominating fashion as they rolled past New Mexico Highlands University, 43-14, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action inside Altamirano Field.


It started early for WNMU (4-6, 4-5 RMAC) as the Mustangs were able to hold NMHU (2-9, 1-8 RMAC) on downs on their first possession and after Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) pinned the Cowboys deep in their own territory at the six, NMHU went with a delayed draw that was read by the Mustangs as Anthony Avina (Lake Elsinore, CA/Lakeside HS) forced the fumble and Dakota Furr (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan HS) recovered in the end zone for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead five minutes in.


Following an NMHU three-and-out, the offense collected a big fourth-and-two at the NMHU 26 when Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) hit Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) for a nine-yard reception for the first down. Two plays later, Glasmann found Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) for a 22-yard touchdown to boost the lead to 14-0 near the end of the first quarter.


The strong first quarter continued, as the WNMU defense held the Cowboys again on downs and moved the ball quickly with an 18-yard pass to Larry Young on third down and then on second-and-eight at the NMHU 29, Glasmann found Byrd for a 29-yard score and a 20-0 lead at the end of the quarter as the extra point was missed.


NMHU would get on the board early in the second quarter when D. Whittington stepped in front of a Glasmann passed and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown leaving WNMU ahead, 20-7.


It would remain 20-7 at halftime and the Mustangs would strike early in the third quarter as Glasmann hit a streaking Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) down the sidelines for a 35-yard touchdown and 26-7 lead just two minutes into the third.


The teams traded possessions when WNMU would strike again near the midway point of the quarter as another big conversion helped fuel the offense when Glasmann found Byrd over the middle for 44 yards on third down for a first down at the NMHU 12. On the next snap, Abe Macias went nearly untouched for the score and a 33-7 lead with five minutes to play in the third.


NMHU would post their final score of the game on the next possession when they scored on just two plays leaving it a 33-14 game.


WNMU would get great field position on the ensuing drive as a personal foul moved the ball back to the NMHU 20 and gave John De La Rosa (Vinton, TX/Canutillo HS) plenty of room on the return as he went 45 yards down to the 35. Three plays later, Glasmann again hooked up with Pompey for a 30-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 40-14 with still three minutes left in the third.


After that, an early field goal in the fourth quarter by McIntire would provide the final margin as he hit from 24 yards out for the 43-14 win.


Macias, in his final game as a Mustang, rushed for 101 yards on 23 attempts and one touchdown. Glasmann completed 18-of-40 for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Byrd led the way with six catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Pompey, in his final game as a Mustang, had the other two touchdowns along with three catches for 78 yards.


Eldrick Bright (Deland, FL/Deland HS), Dante Sellers (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley HS), in his final game as a Mustang and Cody Hawkins (Show Low, AZ/Show Low) led the team in tackles with five apiece. Bright led in solo tackles with four. WNMU dominated in most categories in time of possession (37:37-22:23), turnovers forced (6-1), and rushing yards (101-37). They also went a perfect three-for-three in red zone chances.


It was the last game for 12 WNMU seniors in Pompey, Sellers, Macias, Jerrald Hines (Los Angeles, CA/), Nicholas Cook (Winnetka, CA/Bishop Alemany HS), Rob Robles (Ontario, CA/), Hanipale Seuga (Banning, CA/), Blake Cuero (Houston, TX/Marshall), Jose Flores (Ontario, CA/Ontario HS), Moises Barragan (Palm Springs/Palms Springs HS), Jarret Yargus (Bagdad, AZ/Bagdad HS) and Mike Davis (Lancaster, CA/Antelope Valley HS).


With the win, WNMU finishes in a tie for fifth in the RMAC along with Colorado Mesa.