Box Score SPEARFISH, S.D. – Holding just a seven-point lead at halftime, the Western New Mexico University football team exploded for 24 points in the second half to run away with the 38-14 victory over Black Hills State University Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play inside Lyle Hare Stadium.


WNMU (3-6, 3-5 RMAC) came out running, as they took the opening kickoff and ran 12 plays, all on the ground, that ended with a five-yard touchdown run by Abe Macias for the early 7-0 lead six minutes in. During the drive that chewed up 87 yards, Macias had a pair of big runs that went for 15 and 23.


The Mustang defense came up with a pair of turnovers on successive drives for BHSU (1-8, 1-6 RMAC) as Deshawn Hathorne picked off a Ward Anderson pass at the WNMU 49 and later, Dante Sellers (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley HS) caught a tip pass for an interception at the Mustang 31.


But, the Yellow Jacket defense stiffened, not allowing any points on the turnovers which in turn allowed the offense to respond for their first score late in the quarter on a 37-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven.


It looked like the teams would go into the break tied at seven when WNMU recorded a big play inside their 20 as Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) hit Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) for 31 yards for a first down on third-and-four to move the chains and fuel the offense.
Glasmann would hit Macias for 13 yards on the next play and then Macias rushed for 16 more down to the BHSU 21. After an incompletion, John De La Rosa (Vinton, TX/Canutillo HS) gained 14 on the ground to the seven and then Glasmann found Pompey in the end zone with just a minute left in the first half to give WNMU a 14-7 lead at halftime.


The Yellow Jackets responded to start the second half as they moved 70 yards on just six plays to tie the game back up at 14 just two minutes into the third quarter.


After that, WNMU took over. The Mustangs would answer on their next drive with Glasmann hitting Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) for a 22-yard reception, which led to Macias carrying the ball three straight times for 25 yards down inside the BHSU 10. The Yellow Jackets limited the Mustangs to just four yards on the next three plays leading to a fourth-and-two at the five. Macias would get the call and he would get more than just the first down, as he found the end zone for the touchdown and after the extra point moved in front, 21-14, with eight minutes to play in the third.


The WNMU defense forced a quick three-and-out and the offense continued with the momentum. They moved 60 yards, with 44 coming on a Glasmann pass to Pompey that set up a 39-yard field goal by Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) for the 24-14 WNMU lead with five minutes to play in the third.


The Mustang offense scored on the third straight possession when Glasmann hit Macias for a 23-yard touchdown for a 31-14 lead with 13 minutes to play in the game. The drive started with another pass to Pompey, this one for 11 yards and later an 11-yard strike to Cole Coffeen (Springerville, AZ/Round Valley) and a 16-yard rush from Macias setup the TD pass.


Eldrick Bright (Deland, FL/Deland HS) gave WNMU three interceptions as he picked off an Anderson pass on the next BHSU drive. WNMU would nearly score on their fourth straight drive, but were stopped on downs at the BHSU 14.


With time running down, the WNMU defense forced a BHSU turnover on downs deep in their own territory, as a sack on fourth down gave the Mustangs the ball already in the red zone at the BHSU 11. Two plays later, De La Rosa scampered nine yards for the touchdown to provide the final score of 38-14.


WNMU dominated across the board as they outgained BHSU, 563 to 375, including a 244 to 133 edge on the ground. Time of possession also went with the Mustangs as they had the ball for 38:02 and ran 18 more plays.


Macias had a big game as the senior carried the ball 38 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns. De La Rosa had 52 yards on 14 attempts with one score. Glasmann completed 20-of-31 for 319 with two touchdowns. Pompey showed why he is in the top-10 in the nation in receiving yards per game as he caught eight passes for 167 yards with a touchdown. Byrd also had five for 51. On defense, Jerrald Hines (Los Angeles, CA/) had eight tackles, four solo, to lead the team.


The win snapped a seven-game road losing streak with the last win coming last season on Oct. 13 at Western State, 28-0.


The Mustangs will close the 2013 season at home next Saturday when they welcome in-state rival New Mexico Highlands to Altamirano Field with kickoff set for 12 p.m. No. 3 CSU-Pueblo defeated New Mexico Highlands, 47-21, earlier today.