Box Score GUNNISON, Colo. – Trailing by eight at the break, the Western New Mexico University football team outscored Western State Colorado University 28-10 in the second half to pull away for the 48-38 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon.

The win by the Mustangs in now the fifth straight against the Mountaineers.

It was all WSCU (3-5, 2-4 RMAC) early on, as they scored 14 points midway through the first quarter.

WNMU (3-5, 2-4 RMAC) would begin to get things going after the Mountaineers missed a 44 yard field goal. On the ensuing drive, it would take the Mustangs just five plays to find the end zone. Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) would find Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) for a 12-yard gain and then a 40-yard strike to Larry Young II (San Diego, CA/Morse HS) that went for a touchdown for the first Mustang points with a minute left in the first quarter.

The Mustang defense would come through with a big play on the next Mountaineer drive. With WSCU looking to answer right back with a first-and-goal at the seven, Brett Arrivey's pass was intercepted by Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) and returned 64 yards to the WSCU 35. With the great field position, the Mustang offense would cash in to tie the game. WNMU came through with a pair of big conversions, with Glasmann finding Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ) for six yards and a first down on third-and-six. Later, a fourth-and-goal at the one the Mustangs turned to Shiane Tupua (Oceanside, CA/Banning) who would find the end zone to tie the game at 14 with nine minutes to go before halftime.

After the Mountaineers answered with a 75-yard run by Austin Ekeler, the 21-14 score would hold up until later in the second quarter. Beginning at their 39, WNMU would march down the field with big third down conversions on a five-yard pass to Young II and then a 22-yard toss to Smith to move the ball to the WSCU 12. Glasmann would hit Cole Coffeen (Springerville, AZ/Round Valley) for a 10-yard TD pass to pull WNMU to within one as the ensuing extra point was blocked.

With just a minute left before halftime, the Mountaineers had one score left in them as Ekeler got free for another big run, this one 61 yards to provide the final points of the first half as WSCU held a 28-20 lead.

WSCU would score the first points of the second half settling for a short 22 yard field goal to move the advantage to 11, 31-20. From that point on, the Mustangs would control the game.

Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) would get loose on the next Mustang possession, breaking free for a 68-yard run for a TD leaving it a 31-27 game with 8:15 to play in the third.

The Mustang defense would force a three-and-out on the next Mountaineer possession and WNMU would take their first lead on the ensuing drive. After a pair of passes to Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) netted 17 yards, Young II hauled in a 33 yarder to the WSCU 30. With the drive appearing to be over on third-and-six at the WSCU 16, a roughing the passer penalty gave WNMU a first down and they would turn that flag into seven points as Barnes went in from seven yards out on a pass from Glasmann to give WNMU a 34-31 lead with still three minutes to go in the third.

Both defenses would force punts over the next few drives until WNMU began to pull away with a drive early in the fourth quarter.

With the ball at the WNMU 41 following an 18-yard punt return by Byrd, the offense went to work. After a first down, a personal foul had the ball at the WSCU 33. Byrd would then account for 18 yards through the air and then an 11-yard toss to Young II had the ball at the four. On third-and-goal at the two, Glasmann called his own number and found pay dirt to extend the lead to 10, 41-31, with nine minutes to go in the game.

The Mountaineers looked ready to cut into the deficit, but like earlier in the game, a big red zone turnover would stall the drive. With WSCU at the WNMU 12, Arrivey was again intercepted, this time by Avery Crump (Los Angeles, CA/Verbum Dei).

WNMU would again turn the turnover into points moving right down the field to score on seven plays. On the drive, Glasmann found Byrd for 38 yards and later a 28-yard pass to Willie Bobbit (Downey, CA/Downey) had the ball at the WSCU 15. Young II would haul in a 14-yard pass down to the one that Barnes would later finish off with a rushing score for the 48-31 lead with two minutes to play.

The Mountaineers would score a late TD to provide the final margin of 48-38.

Both offenses piled up yards with WSCU holding a 622-574 edge in total yards. WNMU led through the air (400-289), while WSCU held the 333-174 edge on the ground. WNMU held the 2-1 turnover margin that was big as WNMU turned that into a 14-0 scoring advantage and both WSCU turnovers occurred in the red zone.

Glasmann accounted for four TDs as he threw three and rushed for another. He completed 39-54 for 400 yards. It was the second time this season he has gone for 400-plus in a game. Byrd tallied 15 catches for 135 yards. Bobbit added seven for 58, Young II seven for 126 and a score and Smith with four for 43. Rodgers went over 100 yards for the fourth time this season with 138 yards on 20 attempts and one score.

Ekeler collected 254 yards and three TDs for WSCU.

On defense, Kristian King (Redlands, CA/Redlands East Valley) had six tackles, five solo.

WNMU will return home this coming Saturday when they will face Adams State with kickoff set for 12 p.m. The Grizzlies defeated New Mexico Highlands, 41-34, earlier today.