Box Score DURANGO, Colo. – After falling behind early, the Western New Mexico University football team was forced to play catch up throughout the game and after getting within three, Fort Lewis College was able to respond with a big fourth down stop and late touchdown to defeat the Mustangs, 38-28, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


It wasn't the start WNMU (0-3, 0-2 RMAC) was looking for, as on the second play from scrimmage, a fumble gave FLC (2-2, 1-1 RMAC) the ball at the Mustang 23. Seven plays later, the Skyhawks found the end zone for the 7-0 lead nearly four minutes in.
FLC struck quickly on their next possession, as a punt had the Skyhawks back at their 26 and after a nine yard run, a 65-yard pass ended in another touchdown to move the lead to 14-0 nearly halfway through the first quarter.


The Mustang defense came through with a big play late in the first quarter when Deshawn Hathorne stepped in front of a Max Baiz pass and intercepted it at the FLC 35 and returned it down to the 18. The Mustangs would then have to come up with a big play, as FLC kept WNMU out of the end zone on three plays inside the six leaving it fourth-and-goal at the four. WNMU went for it and Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) lofted a perfect pass to the back corner of the end zone to Larry Young for the score and after Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) added the extra point it was a 14-7 game at the end of the first quarter.


After the defense made a play on the last possession, the WNMU special teams was ready for a big play and Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) delivered as he returned a punt 70 yards to pay dirt and following the extra point from McIntire the game was tied at 14 early in the second.


FLC came back with a seven play touchdown drive to regain the lead at 21-14 and later FLC extended the lead back to 14 as a sack and forced fumble was returned for a touchdown leaving the Skyhawks ahead at the break, 28-14.


FLC got the ball first in the second half and drove for a field goal to push the lead to their largest of the day at 31-14.


WNMU refused to go away, as on the ensuing drive WNMU was faced with a fourth-and-one at their 26 and instead of punting the Mustangs went for it and the up-man Michael Ball (West Covina, CA/Rowland) took the snap for nine yards and a first down. The Mustangs then ran the ball four straight plays to move the ball to the FLC 45 as Abe Macias chewed up 20 yards. With the run in the minds of the Skyhawks, WNMU went with a play action pass and Glasmann hit a streaking Byrd down the sidelines for a 45-yard touchdown leaving WNMU behind by 10, 31-21, midway through the third.


The teams would trade possessions to run out the third quarter. WNMU began to move the ball before the end of the quarter and with the ball at the FLC 42 and third-and-nine on the down marker, Glasmann aired it out again this time to Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) who snagged the pass and then made a move to finish the 42-yard touchdown pass leaving WNMU down just three at 31-28 with still 13 minutes to play.


Each team would stop the other on the ensuing possessions and after the WNMU defense forced another punt, Byrd came through with another big return this time one of 41 yards to place the ball at the FLC 47 with still six minutes to play. WNMU would get nine yards on the first three plays and were faced with a fourth-and-one at the FLC 38. WNMU went with a quarterback sneak and Glasmann lost the ball that was recovered by FLC ending the drive.


That would propel the Skyhawks as they completed a 13-yard pass on third-and-10 and then a 31-yard run on third-and-13 had FLC at the WNMU nine. The Mustang defense would stop the first two attempts, but on third down a seven-yard pass found the end zone putting FLC ahead, 38-28.


WNMU would move the ball to the FLC 41 on the next drive, but would later turn the ball over on downs leaving FLC with the 10-point win.


WNMU held the edge in total yards (379-351), while turnovers were a big stat as WNMU had five to two for FLC. Macias led the rushing attack chewing up 66 yards on 17 carries, while Glasmann completed 21-of-40 for 262 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Byrd had 123 yards and one touchdown on 10 receptions, while Pompey added five catches for 90 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Dante Sellers (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley HS) had a big game with seven solo stops and one sack.


WNMU will return home for the home opener and Homecoming matchup this week against the Colorado School of Mines with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. at Altamirano Field this coming Saturday. The Orediggers defeated New Mexico Highlands, 30-10, earlier Saturday and are 3-1 on the season.


Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Western New Mexico.. 7 7 7 7 - 28 Record: (0-3,0-2)
Fort Lewis.......... 14 14 3 7 - 38 Record: (2-2,1-1)

Scoring Summary:
1st 11:35 FLC - Doyle Bode 4 yd pass from Max Baiz (Connor Fraser kick), 7-23 2:23, WNMU 0 - FLC 7
08:22 FLC - Aaron Holt 65 yd pass from Max Baiz (Connor Fraser kick), 2-74 0:43, WNMU 0 - FLC 14
00:00 WNMU - Larry Young 4 yd pass from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) (Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) kick), 6-18 3:07, WNMU 7 - FLC 14
2nd 13:12 WNMU - Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) 70 yd punt return (Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) kick), , WNMU 14 - FLC 14
10:28 FLC - Max Baiz 6 yd run (Connor Fraser kick), 7-100 2:44, WNMU 14 - FLC 21
01:10 FLC - Dalten Lane 25 yd fumble recovery (Connor Fraser kick), , WNMU 14 - FLC 28
3rd 12:43 FLC - Connor Fraser 38 yd field goal, 9-53 2:17, WNMU 14 - FLC 31
08:16 WNMU - Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) 45 yd pass from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) (Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) kick), 9-83 4:22, WNMU 21 - FLC 31
4th 13:39 WNMU - Ronnell Pompey (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax Senior HS) 42 yd pass from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) (Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) kick), 7-55 3:13, WNMU 28 - FLC 31
02:09 FLC - Aaron Holt 7 yd pass from Max Baiz (Connor Fraser kick), 9-64 2:39, WNMU 28 - FLC 38

WNMU FLC
FIRST DOWNS................... 21 18
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 41-117 38-144
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 262 207
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 40-21-1 27-15-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 81-379 65-351
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 1-25
Punt Returns-Yards............ 5-110 1-8
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 7-138 1-16
Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-17 1-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 5-44.4 7-45.4
Fumbles-Lost.................. 5-4 1-1
Penalties-Yards............... 13-135 7-85
Possession Time............... 32:35 27:25
Third-Down Conversions........ 3 of 16 4 of 15
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 3 of 5 1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 1-1 3-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 3-24 2-12