Canyon, Tex. — Western New Mexico football traveled to Buffalo Stadium on the campus of West Texas A&M Saturday night to continue conference play, the Mustangs fell to WT 49-27.
"I thought our kids competed their butts off. We had momentum at times and had our chances, especially early in the 4th, but just didn't make enough plays," said Head Coach
Billy Hickman . "We made too many mistakes throughout."
Making his first start for the Mustangs, Quarterback
Hunter Davis (Portland, OR) (Portland, OR/Siskiyous College) completed 27 of 34 passes for 290 yards and 4 touchdowns (TDs). Davis had a long throw of 53-yards and was sacked three times.
Davis also led the Mustangs in rushing with 17 carries for 60 yards.
James Hoban (Parker, AZ/Parker HS) added nine carries for 19 yards.
Jeremiah Hartfield (Montebello, CA/Schurr HS) lead the Mustangs receivers with eight catches for 112 yards and two TDs.
Deuce Zimmerman (Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS) had five catches for 64-yards and one TD.
Davey Morales (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek HS) (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek HS) finished with seven catches for 61-yards and one TD.
On the defensive side of the ball
Cole Lalama (
Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek HS) ended the night with 11 tackles for the Mustangs. Rene Holguin (El Paso, TX/Arkansas Pine Bluff) and
Jackson Roina (Denver, Co/Douglas County HS) both finished with 8 tackles.
In the first quarter, WT took the 7-0 lead at the 10:40 mark when Ashton Dubose scored from16-yards out. With 6:11 on the clock, WT would go up 14-0 on a 32-yard TD pass from Kanon Gibson to Kenneath Redd.
The second quarter would see WT score with 12:35 on the clock on a 21-yard TD catch by Tyrie Tipton from Gibson to make the score 21-0 WT. The Mustangs would get their scoring started at the 5:34 mark of the quarter when
Hunter Davis (Portland, OR) found
Davey Morales (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek HS) from four yards out for the TD pass. Morales would also add a 2-point conversion run to make the score 8-21 WT. WT would answer back with 2:24 on the clock when Tray'vian McCoy-Gay would find the endzone on an eight-yard TD run. The Mustangs would gather themselves and end the half on a high note, with a Davis to
Jeremiah Hartfield 53-yard TD pass with :38 seconds left in the quarter, making the score 15-28 WT.
WT would add their lead with 9:54 in the third quarter on a 13-yard TD from McCoy-Gay to make it 35-15 WT. The mustangs would bring the score to 21-35 at 3:57 on the clock when Davis connected with Hartfield for the second time of the night on a five-yard TD pass and catch.
In the fourth quarter WT would extend their lead to 42-21 with 12:45 left on a Gibson to Shakell Brown one yard TD pass. With 6:16 left Dubose would rush for the one-yard TD to give WT the lead 49-21. Davis would find
Duece Zimmerman for his fourth TD of the night, on a 16-yard TD completion with 1:03 remaining to give us the final score of 49-27.
"Hunter was outstanding stepping in for Devin, and really gave us a chance," said Hickman.
The Mustangs will have an Open date October 21, 2023, before continuing their October on the road, as they travel to Wichita Falls, TX for a matchup against Midwestern State University on Saturday October 28, 2023, at 6:00 PM MST.
This game recap is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram)
