Home Opener Awaits Football This Saturday Against Eastern N.M.

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SILVER CITY, N.M. – Not only will it be the home opener for the Western New Mexico University football team this season, but also the Lone Star Conference opener when Eastern New Mexico University travels to Silver City this Saturday for a noon kickoff.

The Mustangs (0-1) are coming off of a passing barrage contest against San Diego in which redshirt senior quarterback Javia Hall (Dallas, TX/Skyline) threw for 464 yards and three scores without an interception. He completed 39-62 and ranks second nationally and first in the LSC in completions, third and first in passing yards and second and first in total offense. Redshirt senior wide receiver D'Angelo Bowie (Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown) was the main recipient as he not only caught 19 passes for 263 yards and two scores, but he set a new LSC record for receptions in a game, breaking the old mark of 15. He currently leads the nation in receiving yards and receptions. The offense as a whole is third in the nation in passing yards and sit 17th in total offense (506).

Redshirt senior Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) paced the defense with eight tackles, while senior Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) added seven. The Mustang defense held the Toreros to 339 yards of offense and forced one fumble in which sophomore Tariq Myricks (Etiwanda, CA/Etiwanda) recovered.

Last year's matchup in Portales was all Greyhounds early as they jumped out to a 17-0 lead. The Mustangs fought back in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as Eastern New Mexico opened their new stadium with a 37-16 victory. Hall passed for 240 yards and two scores, while Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) snagged six balls for 118 yards. Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) and Connor Mowat (Lahaina, HI/Lahainaluna) collected nine tackles apiece.

Eastern New Mexico claimed a big 23-21 win last week at home against then No.18 Southwest Baptist. Bailey Hale connected on a 41-yard field goal with just seven seconds left to lift the Greyhounds to the win. They held a slight 314-293 total yardage advantage going for 204 on the ground, as Eastern New Mexico continues to be a wing-t, triple option offense. Kamal Cass, the LSC Offensive Preseason Player of the Year went for 98 yards and a score. Quarterback Wyatt Strand completed 7-13 for 110 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 63 yards.

Eastern New Mexico was tabbed fourth in the preseason poll, while WNMU was picked to tie for eighth.

The Mustangs have done well in home openers the past two seasons defeating Arizona Christian, 70-14, back in 2015 and against Oklahoma Panhandle State, 44-21, last year.

WNMU went 2-3 at Altamirano Field last year that also included a big win over Angelo State.

ENMU leads the all-time series 36-16 and have won the last nine meetings in the series with the last WNMU win coming in 1996 with a 36-22 victory.

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.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Xavier Ayers: WR; 5' 11"; Senior

#8 Alfonso Wilson: DB; 5' 10"; Senior

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

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

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

#54 Connor Mowat: DL; 6' 0"; Junior

#55 Tariq Myricks: DL; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#2 Xavier Ayers
: 5' 11"; Senior
: WR

#8 Alfonso Wilson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: DB

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

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

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

#54 Connor Mowat
: 6' 0"; Junior
: DL

#55 Tariq Myricks
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DL