MONMOUTH, Ore. -- The Western New Mexico Football Team traveled West for the first of three consecutive road games for the team, against Western Oregon University. WNMU would fall 31-10. The Mustangs now sit at (1-5) on the season.
 
"We improved a lot this week. There were so many chances for our guys to make excuses with the travel, early game, injuries, etc., and they didn't." said Head Coach Billy Hickman. "They just put their heads down and worked." 

The Mustangs Quarterback Devin Larsen (Gilbert, AZ/Queen Creek HS/Iowa State) completed 28 of 52 passes for 314 yards and 1 touchdown (TDs). Larsen had a long throw of 61-yards and was sacked three times.

Anthony Flores (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande HS) lead the Mustangs receiving corps with nine catches for 107 yards. Deuce Zimmerman (Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS) had nine catches for 93-yards and caught the Mustangs lone TD on the afternoon. Jeremiah Hartfield (Montebello, CA/Schurr HS) caught four passes for 35-yards.
 
Larsen led all Mustang rushers with seven carries for six yards. James Hoban (Parker, AZ/Parker HS) added four carries for five yards.
 
Leading the way for the Mustangs on the defensive side of the ball was Cole Lalama (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek HS) with 12 tackles and one forced fumble. Rene Holguin (El Paso, TX/Arkansas Pine Bluff) and Preston Helu (Reno, NV/Ironwood Ridge HS/Idaho State) both finished with 9 tackles. LJ Vongsy (Aiea, HI/Aiea HS/Allan Hancock) picked up the Mustangs lone turnover on the day, recovering a fumble. He also had six tackles.
 
Mustang Kicker Tanner Bobic (Glendale, AZ/Deer Valley HS) added a 22-yard field goal in the loss.

The first quarter would belong to WOU, With the Wolves scoring twice. First with 7:37 on the clock, when QB Gannon Winker found London Smalley for a five-yard TD pass. WOU would later add to their lead on a Dominique Loggins 35-yard TD run with :26 seconds left on the clock.  
 
In the second quarter, both teams' offenses would turn the ball over to each other on punts and failed 4^th down attempts, ending the half with WOU leading WNMU, 14-0.
  
The Mustangs would start the second half with an impressive 13 play, 54-yard drive, ending in the Bobic 22-yard field goal, putting the score at 14-3.  The rest of the third quarter would belonged to the Wolves, as WOU would add a safety with 4:52 left on the clock and a Loggins four-yard TD run with 1:16 left, to give WOU the 24-3 lead.
 
In the fourth quarter, Jordan McCarthy would score on a nine-yard run with 13:01 on the clock to make the WOU lead to 31-3.  The Mustangs would get their only TD of the day with 8:35 left in the final quarter, when Larsen found Zimmerman on a 24-yard TD pass, making the final WOU 31 – WNMU 10.
 
"We had our opportunities throughout the game to take control and we just couldn't capitalize." Said Hickman.

 The Mustangs will hit the road East next weekend, as the head to Canyon, Texas, for a matchup against West Texas A&M University on Saturday October 14^th (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)