LAS VEGAS, N.M. – In what is usually one of the final games of the regular season, will be the opening of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule this coming Saturday when the Western New Mexico University football team travels to Las Vegas to face in-state rival New Mexico Highlands University in a battle for the Warrior Helmet.

The teams have split the last two meetings with the Mustangs winning in Silver City last year, 43-14, while the Cowboys claimed the game in 2012 in Las Vegas, 58-0. Back in 2010, WNMU won in Las Vegas by a score of 38-13 and have won three of the last four meetings overall in the series.

NMHU (0-2) has dropped their first two games against Eastern New Mexico (44-21) and Northern Arizona (62-23). Lance Orender is now the top quarterback for the Cowboys with Emmanuel Lewis graduating this past year. Orender has thrown for 751 yards that has included six touchdowns and has completed 59-of-100 passes. His main targets have been Tyler Slavin (17 catches for 153 yards and two TD), Vincent Venegas (10 catches for 148 yards) and Harold Smith-Mobley (six catches for 122 yards and two TD). On the ground, Venegas has tallied 68 yards on 14 carries. Nigel Simmons has added 34 yards on 12 attempts.

On defense, Jared Koster has come away with 33 stops, with six for loss and a pair of sacks.

WNMU (1-1) are coming off of a 52-35 win over Arizona Christian this past weekend. Junior Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) has thrown for 598 yards and six touchdowns. He has completed 38-of-70 passes and has just one interception.
Senior Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) has been the main target hauling in 14 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) has added four catches for 120 yards and a score. On the ground, redshirt freshman Marquis Rodgers has carried the ball 27 times for 154 yards and a touchdown. Senior Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ) has added 134 yards on 20 attempts and a touchdown.

On defense, seniors Anthony Avina (Lake Elsinore, CA/Lakeside HS) and Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ) have 10 tackles each to lead the team. Avina also has a sack. Senior Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) has an interception, while seniors Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS) and Cody Hawkins (Show Low, AZ/Show Low) have a fumble recovery each.

WNMU and NMHU will battle at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Perkins Stadium in Las Vegas. Live stats, video and audio will be available for the game.