LAS VEGAS, N.M. – In a game that put on display 97 points, nearly 1,300 yards, a new career-high in passing yards for junior Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) and a pair of conference passing records ended up going to New Mexico Highlands University. The Cowboys claimed the 59-38 victory over the Western New Mexico University football team in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon.

If the first quarter had been any indication of what was to come, it appeared to be a defensive struggle. In the opening stanza that tallied zero combined points, WNMU (1-2, 0-1 RMAC) had five possessions, with four punts and a turnover on downs. NMHU (1-2, 1-0 RMAC) had the ball four times and had a pair of punts and two turnovers on downs. Even though points were hard to come by in the quarter, both offenses did chew up yards with the Mustangs tallying 113 to 98 for the Cowboys.

NMHU would tally the first points early in the second quarter capping an 11 play, 80-yard drive with a 13-yard pass for the 7-0 lead at the 11:24 mark.

The scoring wouldn't stop from this point on, as the Cowboys struck again following an interception that led to a quick TD pass and a 14-0 lead.

It wouldn't take the Mustangs long to answer. Following a nine-yard run by senior Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ), Glasmann hit senior wide out Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) for a 71-yard touchdown and after junior Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) added the extra point it was a 14-7 game with still seven minutes to go before halftime.

Senior linebacker Kristian King (Redlands, CA/Redlands East Valley) came up large on the next defensive series. With the Cowboys out near midfield, he was able to force a fumble on a completed pass and recover the ball at the NMHU 49. Just like the other drive, it wouldn't take the WNMU offense long to reach the end zone as the first play after the turnover Glasmann found sophomore receiver Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) for a 49-yard TD to tie the game at 14.

The Cowboys would again string together 14 straight points like they did to start the second quarter to regain a 28-14 lead near halftime. That was enough time for the Mustangs to move down the field and get in range for a McIntire field goal attempt. He would convert from 42 yards out to send the game into halftime with the Cowboys in front, 28-17. The teams used the air, with WNMU throwing for 195 to 185 for NMHU in just the second quarter.

While the second quarter featured nearly half of the games points, there was still plenty of action to come in the second stanza.

NMHU opened the second half strong, putting up a pair of touchdowns to open a 42-17 lead at the 9:30 mark of the third quarter.

Ayers would help break the run, as he snagged a 10-yard pass from Glasmann later in the quarter to trim the deficit to 18, 42-24, with still five minutes to play in the third.

After NMHU answered WNMU's field goal with their own three points, that would be all the scoring in the third leaving the Cowboys ahead, 45-24.

The Mustangs were on the move before the quarter ended, having already moved the ball inside the 10. To start the fourth, junior Michael Coe (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) would take the carry on third-and-goal at the one and find pay dirt to get WNMU back within a pair of scores at 45-31.

The Cowboy offense wouldn't slow down either, coming back with a 10 play, 80 yard TD drive to regain the 21-point lead, 52-31, with 12 minutes to play in the game.

The quick-strike offense of the Mustangs was ready to answer back, with Glasmann finding redshirt freshman Marquis Rodgers and he would break free going 70 yards for a score to pull WNMU back to within 14, 52-38.

Then both defenses would come up with some stops before NMHU closed the scoring with four minutes to play with a 12-yard TD pass to provide the final score of 59-38.

Glasmann aired it out for 477 yards and four touchdowns. He completed 26-of-58. The 477 is a new career high for Glasmann, breaking his 471 he threw for against Western State last year.

It would end up being a record-setting performance for Cowboy QB Lance Orender as his 56 completions and eight touchdowns both set RMAC records. He threw for 620 yards without an interception or a sack.

With all the passing, several receivers had big games. Byrd led WNMU with 158 yards on nine catches with a TD. Ayers added 96 yards on four passes and a pair of touchdowns. Rodgers was also near 100 yards with 91 on three receptions with a TD. Tyler Slavin brought in 17 passes for 225 yards and four TD for NMHU.

On the ground, Rodgers went for 104 yards on 20 carries.

Defensively, King led the Mustangs with 11 tackles, nine solo. Senior Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ) added 10 stops. Jared Koster led NMHU and all players with 13 tackles.

WNMU held a 116-to-80 edge on the ground, while NMHU outgained WNMU overall, 700-to-593.

WNMU, after three straight road games to start the season, will finally get to return home this coming Saturday when they will host current No. 2 CSU-Pueblo at 12 p.m. at Altamirano Field. The ThunderWolves survived a scare in Gunnison early today as a late touchdown helped CSU-Pueblo prevail, 26-23, over Western State.