SILVER CITY, N.M. – It was an opening game that came with fireworks as the Western New Mexico University football team put on display all facets of their team for the 2015 campaign in posting a 70-14 victory over Arizona Christian Saturday in front of a good-sized crowd at Altamirano Field.

It wouldn't take long for the Mustang offense to break through. After holding Arizona Christian to a punt, WNMU went to work with big pass plays to Larry Young II (San Diego, CA/Morse HS) and Rhakeem Holland (Los Angeles, CA) to set the table for a 24-yard strike to Young II from Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) for the early 7-0 lead at the 9:55 mark of the first quarter.

The Firestorm (0-2) came down and moved the ball on the next drive before missing a field goal. The WNMU offense quickly went back to work, as the third play from scrimmage went from Glasmann to Young II for a 71-yard pitch-and-catch and 14-0 lead with 6:46 left in the quarter.

The third Mustang offensive possession again led to points. A 21-yard strike to Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) from Glasmann helped set the table for Tyler Jackson (San Diego, CA/Ramona HS) who carried it in from three-yards out to expand the lead to 21-0 with still 2:46 left in the first quarter.

It would then remain 21-0 into the second quarter when the Friestorm took advantage of a fumble return to score their first points on a four-yard TD pass making it 21-7 WNMU with 2:31 to play before halftime.

The final two-plus minutes would be anything but conventional. WNMU would not only score once, but three times. The first score came just a minute later when Glasmann found Rodgers for a four-yard toss and a 28-7 lead. The WNMU special teams then delivered the next score with Rhakeem Holland (Los Angeles, CA) taking the punt return 67 yards picking up key blocks along the way for another score with 36 seconds to play in the half and a 35-7 lead.

The Mustang defense helped setup the final score of the half when a forced fumble by Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) was recovered by Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) and taken down to the ACU 12. Three plays later, Jackson again got the call and found his way into the end zone from four yards out to take a 42-7 lead into halftime.

The second half was the same story for the Mustangs as they continued to pile up points. Right out of the locker room, the offense went 75 yards on just three plays capped by a 38-yard pass from Glasmann to Young II for another TD and 49-7 lead.

The next drive would take four plays to go 83 yards and produce the same result of another touchdown. Jackson had a big 21-yard run and after a 44-yard pass to Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque), Glasmann found Young II again for a 15-yard TD strike and 56-7 lead, Young II's fourth TD grab of the game.

WNMU would end up scoring on their first four possessions of the second half. The third drive took just three plays and chewed up 62 yards ending with Rodgers breaking multiple tackles and going 53 yards for the score and a 63-7 advantage.

Glasmann would connect on his sixth TD strike of the game on the ensuing drive as he found Evan Beebe (Chula Vista, CA/Mater Dei Catholic) for 15 yards and a 70-7 lead near the end of the third quarter. That would close the scoring for the Mustangs, as the Firestorm would add a TD in the fourth quarter to conclude the scoring at 70-14.

WNMU piled up 685 yards on 73 plays, going for 426 yards through the air and 259 on the ground. Glasmann completed 27-of-35 for 434 and six touchdowns, with Young II bringing down nine passes for 194 yards and four scores. Ayers added four for 104, Rodgers with three for 37 and a score and Beebe with three for 32 and a score. On the ground, Rodgers went for 195 yards on 16 carries with one TD. Jackson found the end zone twice going for 43 yards on six attempts.

The defense was led by Barry who had seven tackles, while Juwan Sumpter (Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook HS) added six tackles. Johnny Delcoure (Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook) tallied two sacks, Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) added another as the Mustangs posted three. Wilson also led in tackles for loss with 2.5.

WNMU will hit the road next week when they once again travel to San Diego to face the University of San Diego this coming Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.