SILVER CITY, N.M. – In a series that has lately been dominated by the Western New Mexico University football team, they will try to continue that trend this Saturday when they host Western State Colorado University at noon. The Mustangs have won the last five games in the series with WSCU's last win coming in 2009 in Silver City.

The game will feature two of the top dual-threat running backs in the RMAC in Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) and Austin Ekeler. Rodgers is just ahead of Ekeler in all-purpose yards in the conference with Rodgers accounting for 199.43 yards per game and Ekeler at 195.83. They rank third and fourth, respectively in nation in that category.

The Mustangs (2-5, 1-4 RMAC) have regained the top passing offense in the nation at 395.1 yards per game, with Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) leading the nation in passing yards (2,673) and yards per game (381.9). He is coming off of a 532-yard game against Colorado Mesa that not only was a career-high, but also broke the RMAC career passing yards mark. He has completed 200-of-344 for 19 touchdowns. Top targets have been Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) who is second in the nation with 958 receiving yards on 59 catches and has added four touchdowns. Rodgers adds 49 receptions for 484 yards and three scores, Larry Young II (San Diego, CA/Morse HS) with 44 receptions for 659 yards and eight touchdowns, good for 10^th nationally. Evan Beebe (Chula Vista, CA/Mater Dei Catholic) (3), Michael Ball (Rowland Heights, CA/Rowland) (1) and Cole Coffeen (Springerville, AZ/Round Valley) (1) also have receiving touchdowns. On the ground, Rodgers has gone for 790 yards on 126 attempts and seven scores.
The Mustangs will look to snap a four-game slide and are 2-1 at home so far this season with wins against Arizona Christian and New Mexico Highlands.

The defense continues to be led by Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral)'s 48 tackles, 22 solo. He also has a fumble recovery. Don Tyler (Los Angeles, CA/Fairfax) is also over 40 tackles with 41 and has two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) remains the team leader in tackles for loss with eight and has two sacks which is tied for the team high with Aaron Leauma (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) and Johnny Delcoure (Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook). Wilson and Juwan Sumpter (Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook HS) each have an interception and Wilson leads in fumble recoveries with two, while Sumper has 12 pass breakups and 13 passes defended, good for ninth nationally and leads the conference.
Other top national marks include:

Glasmann third in completions per game (28.57), Wilson 14^th in fumbles recovered per game (0.57), Glasmann 26^th in points responsible for (114) and per game (16.9), Rhakeem Holland (Los Angeles, CA) tied for fifth with a punt return touchdown, Rodgers 31^st in punt return yards per game (11.1), Josh McIntire (El Cajon, CA/West Hills) 24^th in punting (41.1), Young II 18^th in receiving yards and 21^st in receiving yards per game (94.1), Ayers, Rodgers and Young II are all in the top-31 in receptions per game with Ayers fourth at 8.4, Rodgers 14^th at 7.0 and Young II 31^st at 6.3, Rodgers is 22^nd in rushing yards and 28^th in rushing yards per game (112.9) and 45^th in scoring per game (8.6), while Glasmann is sixth in total offense per game (375.6).

WSCU is 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the RMAC collecting wins over Black Hills State and New Mexico Highlands the past two weeks. The Mountaineers have been close in every conference game this season. They started off with a 10-point loss at defending national champ CSU-Pueblo, then let a 36-point lead slip at Adams State before falling in overtime and then loss by just a touchdown at home against Chadron State.

Ekeler has gone for 942 yards on the ground on 135 carries and 10 touchdowns. Quarterback Brett Arrivey is second on the team in rushing at 152 yards on 63 carries. In the air, Arrivey has thrown for 1,946 yards, completing 169-of-269 and has 18 touchdowns. Anthony Apodaca has been his main target bringing in 38 passes for 407 yards and two scores. Travis Haney has 25 catches for 394 yards and five touchdowns. Kyle Adkins leads the team in receiving touchdowns pulling in six, along with 255 yards on 23 receptions.

On defense, Jacob Bernhard leads with 92 tackles, 45 coming solo. He also has 12.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and quarterback hurry. Cade Wasser and Carter Wasser lead the team in interceptions with each bringing in two.

Last year's game started strong for the Mountaineers as they scored the first 14 points. WNMU came back to tie before WSCU went in front, 31-20, midway through the third quarter. The Mustangs finished strong scoring the next 28 points to eventually claim the 48-38 victory.

Live video, audio and stats will be available for the game.