Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – Sixteen Western New Mexico University football players went out on top with a 34-31 victory over Black Hills State University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon.

Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) threw for 350 yards and two scores as Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) caught both with seven catches for 182 yards. Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) and Glasmann added two more scores with rushing touchdowns.

It started right away for WNMU (5-6, 4-5 RMAC) as Glasmann would hit Byrd on the second play from scrimmage for 79 yards for the touchdown and the early 7-0 lead just a minute in.

BHSU (3-8 2-7 RMAC) would answer with an eight play, 75 yard drive to tie the game at seven.

The Mustang offense would roll down the field again on their next possession with big plays coming on a 20-yard pass to Byrd, 18-yard pass to Larry Young II (San Diego, CA/Morse HS) and then a 21-yard rush by Rodgers setting up a Glasmann one-yard keeper on third-down to push WNMU back in front, 14-7, near the midway point of the first quarter.

The Yellow Jackets would come back to tie again early in the second quarter and then late in the half, the Mustangs mounted a drive beginning at midfield. On fourth-and-six, a holding penalty on BHSU gave WNMU a big first down. Several plays later, Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) would connect on 26-yard field goal to give WNMU a 17-14 lead at the break.

The Yellow Jackets would get the ball first to start the second half and after a five minute drive would cash in with three points on a 37-yard field goal to once again tie the game, this time at 17.

Then the Mustang offense would go on a quick 14-0 spurt with a little help from the defense. After a WNMU punt, BHSU was faced with a third-and-five and on a pass that missed the intended receiver, Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ) was right on the spot to intercept the pass and return it down to the BHSU 12. On the next play, Rodgers broke free around the left side of the line to cruise in for the score and 24-17 lead.

The Mustang defense came through with a quick three-and-out which gave the ball back to the offense at the WNMU 31. On the next snap, Glasmann found Byrd for another big play, this one 69 yards to the end zone and a 31-17 lead with 6:37 to play in the third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets wouldn't go away, though, coming away with a big special teams play as they forced a fumble on the punt return that was recovered in the end zone for a TD to make it a seven point game, 31-24.

It would remain that way into the fourth quarter when the Mustang offense would chew up 6:17 off the clock on 14 plays that resulted in a McIntire 27-yard field goal for the 34-24 lead with 3:50 to play in the game.

BHSU struck right back on one play after a touchback, a 75-yard pass from Ward Anderson to Anthony Eboreim made it a 34-31 game.

WNMU would trim a couple of minutes off the clock before punting the ball back to the Yellow Jackets with two minutes to play and one timeout.

The defense stood tall forcing two incompletions, then after a sack, Anderson would try to pick up the 12 yards needed with a scramble but would be tripped up a yard short turning the ball back to the Mustangs and allowing them to run out the clock for the victory.

WNMU held a 476-413 advantage in total yards and a 33:51-26:09 advantage in time of possession. Outside of Byrd's big game, Young II caught nine passes for 90 yards, Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) had five for 49 and Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) had four catches for 28. On the ground, Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ) had 13 carries for 37 yards. On defense, Anthony Phillips (Houston, TX/Dobie HS) had six tackles to lead the team.

Anderson passed for 322 yards and two scores, but was also intercepted twice as Deshawn Hathorn (Temecula, CA/Chaparral)e added the other interception.

It was senior day for the sixteen seniors that were honored before the game in Deshawn Hathorn (Temecula, CA/Chaparral), Anthony Phillips (Houston, TX/Dobie HS), Cody Hawkins (Show Low, AZ/Show Low), Oscar Ceniceros (Canutillo, TX/Canutillo HS), Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ), Willie Bobbit (Downey, CA/Downey), Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly), Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS), Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ), Kristian King (Redlands, CA/Redlands East Valley), Eldrick Bright (Deland, FL/Deland HS), Adrian Lopez (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Garden Grove ), Gregory Elliott II (San Diego, CA/Army Navy Academy), Zayde Khalil (Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta), Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) and Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS).