Box Score SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Trailing by 20 late in the game, the Western New Mexico University football team mounted a comeback pulling to within six and had a chance at the end for the win before the University of San Diego held on for the 23-17 victory Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
USD jumped out to the early lead just over a minute in scoring on the third play from scrimmage with a 74-yard pass for the 6-0 advantage.
The Mustangs mounted their first drive late in the first quarter getting into the red zone at the Toreros 16. WNMU would end up settling for a 30-yard field goal that junior Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) connected on trimming the deficit to three, 6-3, with 14 minutes to play before the half.
Just like the first score of the game, USD struck quickly on their next drive with a 61-yard pass leading to a 13-3 lead at the 12:42 mark.
The Toreros would hold WNMU on the ensuing drive and would cash in a field goal to take a 16-3 lead late in the second quarter. The Mustangs nearly put some points on the board before the break, with junior Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) hitting senior Donald Byrd (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) for an 18-yard pass to move the ball to midfield. Later, a 23-yard strike found senior Cleavon Barnes (Lancaster, CA/Lancaster ), but the clock ran out with the ball resting at the USD 29 leaving USD in front 16-3 at halftime.
Another USD touchdown started the second half, giving the Toreros their largest lead of the night of 20, 23-3, with 10 minutes to play in the third quarter.
With the game in the fourth quarter, WNMU began to make their move. After a fumble that was recovered by senior Cody Hawkins (Show Low, AZ/Show Low) at the USD 15, the offense went to work. Glasmann found junior Marcus Smith (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa HS) for a 15-yard pitch-and-catch and after McIntire drilled the extra point it was a 23-10 game with 13:46 to play.
The teams would trade possessions before WNMU would begin another scoring drive with seven minutes to play. With the ball at the WNMU 34, Glasmann would connect with Barnes for eight yards, and then senior Brent Courtney (Oceanside CA/Carlsbad HS) for 14 more to move the ball to the USD 44. Glasmann would call his own number for a 13-yard scamper and then he would hit Byrd for a 31-yard touchdown leaving the deficit at just six, 23-17, with 5:19 to play.
The defense rose to the occasion, forcing a quick punt and giving the offense the ball back at the Mustang 29. The ground attack would begin the drive with redshirt freshman Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) chewing up seven yards and then Barnes picking up the first down with another six. Glasmann would go back to the air to find sophomore Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) for 11 yards to move the ball to the USD 47. Two pass plays to Byrd were next on the agenda, one for 14 yards and the other for seven to have the ball resting at the Torero 26. WNMU would end up getting to the 17 and were faced with a 4th-and-7 and just 17 seconds to play. Glasmann looked to the end zone and tried to connect with Smith, but the pass fell incomplete as the Torero pass rush hurried the pass.
USD would take a kneel down to run out the final seconds and secure the victory.
The offense surged for WNMU outgaining USD, 431-371, including a 280-203 advantage through the air. Rodgers tallied 97 yards on the ground on 18 attempts. He had a long carry of 20. Glasmann tallied another 28 yards, while Barnes went for 18 yards. Jonah Hodges led USD with 120 yards on 23 carries and one score.
Glasmann threw for 280 yards, completing 26-of-51 with a pair of touchdowns. Byrd was his main target, bringing in eight passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Barnes tallied six passes for 59 yards. Brandon White powered USD's passing attack as he brought down five passes for 122 yards and a score.
On defense, senior Brandon Perkins (Tucson, AZ/Desert View ), Hawkins and senior Zachary Dembrowski (Lake Elsinore/Elsinore HS) led WNMU with six tackles apiece. Perkins and Hawkins recorded a tackle for loss as well. Nic Henson collected 12 stops for USD.
WNMU will remain on the road this coming week when they play at Arizona Christian University with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Saturday.
