Mustangs Bring Nation’s Second-Best Passing Attack Into Matchup With Wolves

VIDEO

STATS

AUDIO

SILVER CITY, N.M. – It will be a battle of Western's this Saturday when the Western New Mexico University football team hosts Western Oregon University out of Monmouth, Ore. The Mustangs and Wolves will kick off Saturday at noon at Altamirano Field.

The two teams have met twice before, with Western Oregon taking both meetings in 2002 and 2003, with the last meeting taking place in Silver City. With the Super Region 4 realignment this year, both teams are now in the same region with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) joining the Lone Star Conference (LSC), Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

It has been a pair of close games out of the gate for WNMU (0-2) falling just short to both San Diego (34-20) and Eastern New Mexico (37-34). Ball security has mostly been to blame as the Mustangs have turned the ball over 10 times this season, five in each contest.

The passing attack has been the story as WNMU has thrown for 441 yards, second-best in the nation and leading the Lone Star Conference. Redshirt senior quarterback Javia Hall (Dallas, TX/Skyline) has passed for 882 yards, with games of 464 versus San Diego and 418 against Eastern New Mexico. He leads the nation in passing yards and is second in passing yards per game. He is also second in the nation in total offense per game (429) and ninth in points responsible for (42).
Fellow redshirt senior wide receiver D'Angelo Bowie (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) has been the main recipient of the passing attack hauling in 25 balls for 356 yards and three scores. Three others have at least one TD reception as Hall has tossed seven touchdowns this year. Senior Evan Beebe (Chula Vista, CA/Mater Dei Catholic) is a close second with 12 catches for 208 yards and a score. Bowie leads the nation in receptions per game (12.5), second in receiving yards, third in touchdowns and third in receiving yards per game (178).

While the passing game has been lighting up the scoreboard and the stats, the Mustangs will look to get the rushing attack back on track having gone for just 78 yards on 53 attempts over the first two games. Senior Justin Harris (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) has 80 yards on 27 carries, with a long of 29 yards.

As a team, WNMU ranks high in a few other categories nationally including 24^th in third down conversion defense (.267), 36^th in fewest penalties (11), fewest penalties per game (5.50), 43^rd in fewest penalty yards (100), 32^nd in first downs (45), 44^th in fumbles recovered (2), 12^th in passing yards allowed per game (112), 39^th in passing efficiency (148.7) and 20^th in total offense (475).

On defense, redshirt senior Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) leads the team with 23 tackles, including 15 against the Greyhounds. He has seven solo stops, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Senior Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) has 15 tackles, senior Aaron Leauma (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) with 13 tackles and redshirt sophomore James Lee (Bayard, NM/Cobre) with 12 tackles. The Mustangs have yet to record a sack or interception this season, but do have eight tackles for loss. Barry ranks 23^rd nationally in total tackles per game (11.5).

Western Oregon is also off to a 0-2 start, but came close as well against one of the top teams in the GNAC in Central Washington last week falling by a score (30-23). They opened the season against Division I (FCS) Idaho State falling 37-6.

This week's game will mark the third straight road contest for the Wolves, with the trip to New Mexico marking the longest of the group. WOU is averaging 14.5 points per game and 294 yards of offense, while opponents counter with 33.5 points and 426 yards per play.

Nick Duckworth has thrown for 572 yards and two touchdowns, with Paul Revis bringing in 25 catches for 251 yards. Keoni Piceno has added 11 catches for 131 yards. On the ground, they have also struggled to run the ball just like the Mustangs going for just a two yard positive average over the first two games. Torreahno Sweet has picked up 42 yards on 19 attempts. The biggest culprit to the loss yardage came on one play in which a bad snap led to a 40 yard loss.
Tyler Johnson leads the defense with 19 tackles, with nine coming solo. He also has a sack and interception. Bo Highburger has added 17 tackles and two sacks. As a team, they have seven sacks and two interceptions.

Live video, stats and audio will be available for the game with Mike Rowse on the call for KSCQ 92.9 and streamed live beginning with the pregame show 30 minutes prior to kickoff.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#9 Dominic Barry: LB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior

#8 Evan Beebe: WR; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#1 D'Angelo Bowie: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

#23 Ian Davis: S; 6' 3"; Senior

#25 Justin Harris: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Aaron Leauma: DE; 6' 1"; Senior

#2 James Lee: DL; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#9 Dominic Barry
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior
: LB

#8 Evan Beebe
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#1 D'Angelo Bowie
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#23 Ian Davis
: 6' 3"; Senior
: S

#25 Justin Harris
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: RB

#3 Aaron Leauma
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DE

#2 James Lee
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DL