Alamosa, CO – The 2021 Football season has kicked-off with the Western New Mexico University Mustangs going up against the Adams State University Grizzlies, Saturday night at Rex Stadium earning the first win of the season 35-17. 

Head Coach Philip Vigil would earn his first career win, the first of many with the Mustangs. This was also WNMU's first season opener in six years.

"I am so proud of these guys. We fought, we battled," saod Vigil. "They fought through adversity, injury, and when we needed a play everyone went to battle and it showed."

The Mustangs have been gearing up and preparing for this season as many of the WNMU players have not seen the field in two years. Coach Vigil has been taking the necessary steps to get his players back into football mentality and shape. 

At the start of the game, the Mustangs came out strong with a quick, tenacious offense, eager to get the ball rolling. It would be halted early in the first quarter after a fumble in the end zone.

Freshman quarterback, Devin Larsen (Gilbert, AZ/Queen Creek HS), got the start for the Mustangs, tossing 3 touchdowns. Larsen would connect with freshman Wide Receiver Allen Ortiz (Lakewood, CO/Green Mountain HS) in the second quarter for a 43-yard catch and score, putting the Mustangs up 14-7.

Taking the bulk of the carries for the Mustangs, Bryce Coleman (Tucson, AZ/Mountain View HS) had a nose for the end zone tonight scoring twice.

Coleman would score WNMU's first touchdown of the year in the first quarter putting the Mustangs up 7-0. Ensuing kickoff, Adams State would take it to the house to tie up the game.

In the second quarter, Larsen would scramble before targeting Jacob Wallace (Marion, TX/Marion HS) for a touchdown. WNMU would head to the locker room 21-7 at halftime. Larsen had 244 passing yards and Ortiz had three catches for 132 yards to end the first half.

Just a few minutes into the second half, the Mustangs would have a costly snap that would go into the end zone for a safety making the score 21-9. The momentum continued for Adams State as they would get a touchdown and successfully get the two-point conversion. 

WNMU would take back the momentum after the Grizzlies would muff a punt, recovered by Jacob Nobili (St. George, UT/Pine View HS). Larsen and the Mustangs went for a 4th and 10, getting the huge first down, where Larsen would find Wallace, for his second touchdown of the game and put the Mustangs up 28-17. Coleman would put the cherry on top, scoring his second touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter.

The Mustang defense was a force to be reckoned with the entire game. Freshman Tylen Coleman (Maricopa, AZ/Maricopa HS) ended the night with 3.5 sacks, followed with Senior Mark Jackson (Cibolo, TX/Bryon P. Steele II High School) with 2.5 sacks. The Mustang's defense placed immense pressure on the Adams State quarterback Lincoln Labrum forcing many offensive possessions to a halt. Labrum threw for just 170 yards, going 21-37, and Tyriek Campbell rushed for 72 yards. As a team, the Grizzles had 254 total yards.

Mustangs to Highlight:
D. Larsen: (23-38), 301 yards, 3 TDs, long of 40 yards
B. Coleman: 31 attempts, 110 yards, 2 TD, 6 catches, 45 receiving yards
J. Wallace: 6 catches, 58 yards, 2 TD
A. Ortiz: 3 catches, 132 yards, TD
T. Coleman:6 tackles,  3.5 Sacks
M. Jackson: 5 tackles, 2.5 Sacks
J. Nobili: Fumble Recovery

"I am looking forward to my first home game, having rowdy fans in the stands, packing the house...It will only hype us up more," said Vigil. 

The Mustangs will host their first home game of the season against Western Colorado University next Saturday (9/11), at 12:00 PM MDT. We will be honoring Coach Al Johnson with the Al Johnson Memorial Video Board before the game at Ben Altamirano Field.

This game recap is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!