SAN DIEGO, Calif. – It will be a familiar face when the Western New Mexico University football team opens the 2014 season Saturday. Awaiting the Mustangs will be the University of San Diego, as this will be the fourth straight year in which the teams have faced each other near the beginning of the season.

Since the tradition of facing each other began in 2011, WNMU has come closer and closer each season to pulling off the big victory. In 2011, the Toreros won, 30-10. The following season, it went down to the wire with San Diego holding on for the 34-27 win.

Last season was the closest the Mustangs have come in terms of scoring differential, as they lost by just three, 38-35. WNMU would go back-and-forth with the Toreros, as they came close a number of times. After trailing 10-0 early on, a 72-yard pass from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) to Ronnell Pompey helped open the scoring for WNMU near the end of the first quarter. Down 11 near halftime, the Mustangs rallied to score with 14 ticks to go before the break on a 13-yard pass to Larry Young leaving it just 24-20 at halftime.

Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) would haul in a 25-yard pass midway through the third quarter to boost the Mustangs in front, 27-24. San Diego would answer with a pair of touchdowns to take a 38-27 lead late in the fourth quarter. WNMU didn't go away, as Byrd snagged another pass, this time a four-yard strike to provide the final score of 38-35.

Last year, San Diego went on to go 8-3, including a 5-1 home mark. This season, the game against the Mustangs will mark the season opener for both.

The Toreros feature 13 seniors and 18 juniors. The quarterback position will be open this year with Mason Mills graduating. A redshirt junior in Trey Wheeler has the most experience after transferring in from Simon Fraser. They also have a sophomore and three freshmen.

It will be the same at running back, with Dallas Kessman the only one that saw significant time against WNMU returning this year as a redshirt junior. At wideout, Reggie Bell returns for his senior campaign after pulling in the second-most yards versus WNMU last year going for 105 yards on just three receptions.

On defense, Jamal Agnew collected eight tackles against the Mustangs in 2013 and he returns for his sophomore year.

WNMU features lots of experience across the board at almost every position. Glasmann returns for his junior year at signal caller, while senior Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ) moves to fullback and redshirt freshman Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) will be at running back. The usual suspects lie along the offensive line in junior Michael Coe (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad), senior Zayde Khalil (Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta), junior Jake Costilow and sophomore Zach Andrews, while newcomer German Romero (San Diego, CA/) will look to fill the role of center.

Receiving threats include senior Byrd and senior tight end Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS). Senior Willie Bobbit (Downey, CA/Downey) looks to fill the other wide out position.

A multitude of returners also show up on defense. Junior Dylan Contreras (Litchfield Park, AZ/Peoria) will start at defensive end, while junior Anthony Avina (Lake Elsinore, CA/Lakeside HS) will be at nose. Finishing off the defensive line includes junior Jacob Dexter (Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta) and senior Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS).

At linebacker, familiar faces include seniors Kristian King (Redlands, CA/Redlands East Valley) and Cody Hawkins (Show Low, AZ/Show Low), while freshman Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) fills out the line backing core.

In the secondary, returner Anthony Phillips (Houston, TX/Dobie HS) is back for his senior season, he will be joined by sophomore Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse), who had a breakout first season, along with seniors Deshawn Hathorn (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) and Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ).
Junior Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) is back to handle both the kickoff and punt duties.

WNMU and San Diego will matchup on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific/7 p.m. Mountain. Live audio, stats and video will be available for the game and can be found on wnmumustangs.com