SILVER CITY, N.M. – Having nearly come back to defeat nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines this past weekend, the Western New Mexico University football team will set their sights on Colorado Mesa University when they make the trip to Altamirano Field this Saturday at 12 p.m.
CMU has won their last two and hold a 4-2 overall record and 3-1 mark inside the RMAC. Last weekend they bested New Mexico Highlands (31-19) and then won at Black Hills State the week prior (48-31).
Andrew Cota has taken over as the quarterback for the Mavericks having thrown for 734 yards and six touchdowns having played in all six games. He has been the main signal caller for CMU the past two weekends guiding the team to a pair of victories. The main receiving threats have been Ian Juede who has brought in 28 passes for 305 yards and three scores, all of which lead the team. Daniel Perse has added 15 catches for 279 yards and two touchdowns. DJ Hubbard leads the rushing attack going for 331 yards on 73 attempts with a TD. Cota leads the team in rushing scores with four, tallying 242 yards on 55 attempts. On defense, Marcus Cross leads the team with 39 stops, 3.5 sacks and also has an interception and forced fumble. Dustin Rivas has six interceptions. The team has forced 10 fumbles, recovering six, while picking off 11 passes.
The Mustangs are 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the RMAC after narrowly coming back to defeat the Orediggers last week, 37-44. WNMU scored 16 in the final quarter to tie the game late before Colorado Mines held on for the win.
Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) had another big game going for 183 yards and a couple of scores on 14 catches. He set a career-high for yards in the game.
Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) continues to air it out having completed 138-of-274 for 1,903 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averages 317.2 yards per game. Byrd now has 42 catches for 712 yards and eight scores. Running back
Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) is second in receiving with 19 catches for 236 yards and three TDs.
Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) also has three touchdowns, along with 15 catches for 234 yards.
Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) has brought in 17 passes for 202 yards and two TDs.
Willie Bobbit (Downey, CA/Downey) and
Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) also have TD receptions. On the ground, Rodgers has gone for 477 yards on 95 attempts with two touchdowns.
Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ) has added 260 yards on 49 carries and a score.
Preston Blincoe (El Centro, CA/Imperial) and
Michael Coe (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) have added rushing touchdowns as well.
On defense,
Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS) leads the way with 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and also has a forced fumble and recovery.
Cody Hawkins (Show Low, AZ/Show Low) is second in tackles with 32, while
Kristian King (Redlands, CA/Redlands East Valley) and
Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) have added 30 each.
Anthony Avina (Lake Elsinore, CA/Lakeside HS) leads the team in sacks with three, while
Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) has two interceptions.
Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ) leads the team in passes broken up and defended with six each.
In terms of individual rankings in the RMAC, Rodgers is fifth in yards per game, Glasmann is third in passing yards per game and seventh in efficiency, Byrd is second in receptions per game, second in receiving yards per game, Glasmann is fourth in total offense, Byrd is seventh in scoring,
Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) is seventh in scoring per game, Blincoe is first in kick return yards per game average, Byrd is fourth in all purpose yards, McIntire is tied for first with a perfect extra point percentage, Avina is tied for fifth sacks, and King is first in fumbles recovered.
Last year, Colorado Mesa held off the Mustangs to take a 22-17 victory. Back in 2012 in Silver City, the Mavericks came away with a 31-14 victory. CMU holds a two-game winning streak in the series as WNMU came away with the 33-21 win in Grand Junction back in 2011.
Live stats, audio and video will be available for the game.
