Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – Similar to last week, the Western New Mexico University football team was faced with a deficit, this time 19 points in the second half. Over the span of 18-plus minutes, the Mustangs put up 30 points to come back and shock the Adams State University Grizzlies, 40-36, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
Each team tallied touchdowns in the first quarter, as the Grizzlies found pay dirt nearly four minutes in and later, WNMU (4-5, 3-4 RMAC) would answer with a 21-yard
Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) TD to knot the score at seven midway through the opening quarter. It would be the start of a huge afternoon for Rodgers as he would tally a season-high 222 rushing yards and also brought in 51 receiving yards.
After that rushing score, the Mustangs would get just a field goal, a 39-yarder by
Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) over the remaining part of the first half. During that time, ASU (3-6, 2-5 RMAC) tallied 15 points to take a 22-10 halftime lead.
The Grizzlies continued to control the play out of the break, tallying a 16-yard TD run at the 6:58 mark of the third quarter to push the lead to 19, 29-10.
WNMU would then start a furious comeback over the remaining quarter and a half of action. On the ensuing drive,
Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) would connect with
Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) for a big seven-yard reception on third-and-three to prolong the drive.
Shiane Tupua (Oceanside, CA/Banning) would add another first down on third down with a short two yard run that would setup a Glasmann keeper, as he faked the handoff and went in untouched for the seven-yard score. The extra point would be blocked after a penalty leaving the deficit at 13, 29-16.
The Mustang defense forced a quick three-and-out and the offense wouldn't waste any time moving right back down the field once again. The drive looked to be in trouble, faced with a third-and-13 at the WNMU 17, Glasmann eluded the pressure and found Rodgers wide open on the far sideline for an 18-yard catch and first down. That would ignite the drive as Rodgers took the next snap 21 yards to the ASU 44. Then as the teams switched ends for the start of the fourth quarter, Glasmann quickly connected with Courtney as he fought off the defender to haul in a 39-yard score. The Mustangs then lined up for the extra point, but the snap was low and
Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) had to improvise. He avoided several tacklers and then found Courtney wide open in the end zone for the two-point conversion leaving the Mustangs down by just five, 29-24, with still 14:52 to play in the game.
The Mustang express on offense wouldn't stop after that drive either. The WNMU defense would force another three-and-out giving the offense the ball at the WNMU 37. Rodgers would pick up a third-and-six scampering for seven yards to keep the drive moving at the ASU 41. A few plays later, Glasmann found a wide open Smith down the seam for a 24-yard reception and after the extra point, WNMU had come all the way back to take a 30-29 lead.
The lead would extend to four on the next drive as McIntire drilled a 32-yard field goal for the 33-29 advantage at the 4:17 mark.
ASU, after being shut down for most of the second half, came to life on their next drive. The Grizzlies would go five plays in just 1:34 to move 75 yards and regain the lead, 36-33, with 2:50 to play.
That left plenty of time for the red hot Mustang offense to again move down the field. Beginning at the WNMU 25, Rodgers would take the first three snaps going 18 yards out to the 43. Later, a Glasmann pass across the middle to the speedy
Tracy McNair (San Diego, CA/Morse) would go from being a short completion, to a 21-yard gain as McNair turned the corner to out run several Grizzly defenders down to the ASU 28. Glasmann would then air it out the hit
Larry Young II (San Diego, CA/Morse HS) in stride down to the three. Tupua took the next two snaps and after getting to the one, he would find the end zone on the next carry to help WNMU regain the lead, 40-36, with just 43 seconds to play.
ASU would attempt to comeback after completing a pass to the ASU 35, on the next pass
Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) came through with his second interception on the day and fifth of the season to seal the win for the Mustangs.
WNMU would score on all but two drives in the second half, the first was a turnover on downs and then after scoring on the next five possessions, they would run out the clock with the last one. WNMU ran 31 more plays than ASU (96-65), held the advantage in total yards (618-459) and in time of possession (34:37-25:13).
Rodgers set a season-high with 222 rushing yards on 32 carries that included a TD. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry. Glasmann connected on 23-of-45 for 347 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Courtney caught four for 59 yards and a score, Rodgers added four for 51 yards,
Willie Bobbit (Downey, CA/Downey) had three for 79, Young II had three for 40,
Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) had three for 39,
Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) had three for 28, Smith had two for 30 and a TD and then McNair had one for 21 yards.
Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) and
Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS) led the way with seven tackles each, while Dembrowski had two tackles for loss. Guillory tallied three tackles and two interceptions. Wilson had two sacks, while
Kevin Montgomery (Albuquerque, NM) added one.
Michael Carl and Addie Brown led ASU on the ground as both tallied two rushing scores. John Reed and Wesley Brandon led the Grizzlies with 12 tackles each.
WNMU will hit the road this coming Saturday as they will play at Chadron State College beginning at 12 p.m. The Eagles won at New Mexico Highlands, 52-38, earlier today.
