Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – Following a scoreless first quarter, the Western New Mexico University football team exploded for 24 points in the second quarter. The Mustangs looked to be ready to run away with the victory before Fort Lewis College clawed their way back in the second half to fall just short, 24-17, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
WNMU (2-3, 1-2 RMAC) was on the move late in the first quarter and used a Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) 36-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead 10 seconds into the second quarter.
That would open the flood gates for the offense. On the next drive, Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) would hit Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) on a quick out and after a great block by Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly), he sprinted down the near sidelines eluding two defenders for the 45-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead at the 11:13 mark.
The Mustang defense would come up with a big forced fumble by Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) that would be recovered by Kristian King (Redlands, CA/Redlands East Valley) at the WNMU 38. On the very next snap, Glasmann looked deep and found a wide open Byrd who would glide into the end zone for a 62-yard TD and 17-0 advantage with still 10:41 to play in the half.
WNMU still had a score left in them before halftime. Faced with a third-and-seven at the FLC 47, Glasmann hit Willie Bobbit (Downey, CA/Downey) for a big first down on a 24-yard pickup to the 23. Following a run by Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra), Glasmann found Byrd again, this time for a 20-yard score for a 24-0 lead with 1:12 to play before the break.
The Mustangs looked ready to take the 24-point lead into halftime when FLC (1-4, 0-3 RMAC) came back with a five play, 75 yard drive capped by a 34-yard TD pass to leave the score, 24-7, at halftime.
The second quarter was all Mustangs, outgaining FLC, 189-67 through the air and 232 to 120 overall.
It would be a different story in the second half. Both teams struggled to gain offensive traction in the early parts of the third quarter. The Skyhawks would cash in on a solid punt return for a 43-yard field goal to get to within 14, 24-10, with five to play in the third.
That would end up being all the scoring in the quarter, as the Mustang defense came up with several big stops to turn the ball over on downs.
In the fourth, WNMU would make a defensive stand at the 30. FLC went for it on fourth-and-three and got no gain on the play with Brandon Chelette (Fontana, CA/Carter) recording the stop. On the next drive for the Skyhawks, they would find the end zone on a 35-yard pass to trim the lead down to seven, 24-17, with still 5:35 to play.
Following a Mustang punt, the FLC offense kept moving down the field as a 37-yard pass had them setup with a first-and-goal at the WNMU nine. A rush for no gain on first down, was followed by a short completion down to the five. On third down, a fade pass to the end zone was knocked away by Delvon Wingfield (Buena Park, CA/Buena Park). With a fourth-and-goal to go at the five, FLC tried to get a quick pass into the end zone when Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ) was waiting to knock it away to turn the ball over on downs.
The game wasn't over yet, however, as the Skyhawks still had all three of their timeouts. After WNMU ran the ball twice and netted one yard, a big third-and-nine awaited WNMU at their six. Glasmann heaved it down the near sidelines to a streaking Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) who was able to dive and make a rolling catch at the WNMU 44 for a first down. That allowed WNMU to run out the clock for the victory.
WNMU held a 413 to 347 advantage in total offense, including a 284-193 advantage through the air. Glasmann completed 21-of-38 for 284 with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Byrd brought in five passes for 117 yards and two scores. Smith added four catches and 58 yards along with a TD. Ayers had four for 46 and Bobbit three for 31. On the ground, Rodgers ran for 86 yards on 19 carries.
Jordan Doyle threw for 117 yards and a score, while backup QB Trevor Bonifasi threw for 76 yards and a score in the fourth quarter for the Skyhawks.
On defense, Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS) led the team in tackles with 10, while Anthony Avina (Lake Elsinore, CA/Lakeside HS) added eight and Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) with seven. Ryan Ross led FLC and all players with 12 stops.
WNMU will hit the road this coming Saturday as they will play at Colorado School of Mines at 12 p.m. The Orediggers, ranked 17th in the latest AFCA Poll, defeated New Mexico Highlands today in a shootout, 42-35, to remain unbeaten (3-0) in the conference.
