Box Score ARVADA, Colo. – Trailing by 16 in the fourth quarter, the Western New Mexico University football team mounted a comeback tying the game late when No. 16 Colorado School of Mines tallied the final points and held the Mustangs out on their final possession to preserve the 44-37 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon. Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) set a new career-high in receiving yards going for 183 yards on 14 receptions.

It didn't take long for WNMU (2-4, 1-3 RMAC) to score in the first quarter. After the defense forced a quick three-and-out, a third-and-eight from the WNMU 44 turned into a 56-yard TD pass from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) to Byrd for the 7-0 lead nearly three minutes in.

CSM (6-0, 4-0 RMAC) converted a fourth-and-one on the next drive after a WNMU penalty for 12 men on the field that would end up leading to a 11 play, 99-yard TD drive to tie the game after Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) had pinned the Orediggers with a punt at the one.

Several turnovers by each team would follow to end the first quarter and early in the second, CSM took advantage of good field position to convert a 44-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead with 8:39 to play in the half.

The Mustang defense came through with a big turnover a few possessions later as Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) tallied his second pick of the season at the CSM 25. It would end up being one of the four turnovers forced by the defense on the day.

With the good field position, Glasmann would find Willie Bobbit (Downey, CA/Downey) for a 25-yard score and a 14-10 lead with still five minutes to play in the second quarter.

There would still be fireworks left in the half as each team went on scoring drives. The Orediggers went 60 yards in seven plays to take a 17-14 lead. Still with three minutes to go before halftime, the Mustangs answered with a 10 play drive that chewed up 71 yards. WNMU was faced with a big fourth-and-one at the CSM 42 when they turned to Michael Coe (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) who fought through for the one yard gain and first down. After 18 yards passing in two plays to Byrd, Glasmann found Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) for four yards and a TD to give WNMU a 21-17 lead at halftime.

CSM came out scoring out of the break, posting a field goal, touchdown, field goal and another touchdown all in the third quarter to turn a four-point deficit into a 37-21 advantage.

WNMU then turned the fourth quarter into their quarter just like CSM did with the third. A missed long field goal by the Orediggers gave WNMU the ball at the WNMU 39. Six plays later, Byrd snagged a 12-yard pass from Glasmann for the TD. The Mustangs elected to go for two to try and make it a one possession game and Rodgers, instead of running, passed to Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) for the two-point conversion and a 37-29 score with still 13:29 to play.

The Mustang defense came up big later in the quarter. After the teams traded punts, a fumble on the punt return by WNMU was recovered by the Orediggers at the Mustang 36. The defense would only allow eight yards and after a fourth-and-two pass fell incomplete, it turned the ball back over on downs to the Mustangs with 8:40 to play.

This time WNMU would cash in. Byrd was the main target, hauling in the first four complete passes for gains of 11, 3, 8 and 10 that moved the ball to the 38 of CSM. Following a pair of incompletions, Byrd got loose for a 35-yard pass play down to the three. Rodgers would do the rest, as he would carry it in from there leaving the deficit at two, 37-35. Glasmann this time would call his own number and rush it in for the two-point conversion to knot the score at 37 with 5:28 to play.

The Oredigger offense would respond, going 80 yards on eight plays in 2:34 to regain the lead at 44-37 with three minutes to play.

The WNMU offense would end up getting two chances to tie. The first possession would end up in an interception at the CSM 39. The Mustang defense would only allow four yards and a punt that had the ball at the WNMU 26 after a 10-yard return by Byrd.

WNMU looked to be ready to take it in to tie with passes to Bobbit and Rodgers netting 18 yards out to the 44. A 13-yard pass to Courtney had the ball at the 39 of CSM. Two incomplete passes followed and with time running out, Glasmann looked to throw it to the end zone, but would be sacked running out the clock and giving the Orediggers the victory.

The teams combined for over 1,000 yards with CSM holding a slight edge (531-509). Both teams used the aerial attack where the Orediggers held a 413 to 377 edge, while WNMU had a 132 to 118 advantage on the ground.

Rodgers picked up 101 yards on the ground without any lost yardage on 17 attempts and one score. Glasmann threw for 377 yards, completing 35-of-63 and four touchdowns. Byrd had a monster game going for 183 yards on 14 receptions and two scores to set a new career-high in yards. Rodgers added 38 yards on five receptions and one score, while Bobbit also had a TD on four catches for 55 yards.

Justin Dvorak threw for 413 yards and four scores, while Tevin Champagne rushed for 103 yards and a score. Cole Spurgeon brought in 10 passes for 171 yards and a TD.

On defense, Eldrick Bright (Deland, FL/Deland HS) and Guillory led the way in tackles with eight, while Kole Kadavy posted 18 tackles for the Orediggers.

WNMU will return home this coming Saturday when they will host Colorado Mesa at 12 p.m. inside Ben Altamirano Field. The Mavericks defeated New Mexico Highlands, 31-19, earlier Saturday. Fort Lewis also knocked CSU-Pueblo from being undefeated after a 23-22 victory in Durango that leaves Colorado Mines as the only undefeated team left in the RMAC.