Western New Mexico University Athletics

SILVER CITY, N.M. – On a sunny, but cold Saturday afternoon, the Western New Mexico University football team hosted in-state rival Eastern New Mexico for the annual Green Chile Bowl. For the second year in a row the Green Chile Bowl Trophy will be returning to Silver City as the Mustangs took down the Greyhounds 25-24 on Senior Night.

"I'm so proud of our guys fight and resilience," said Head Coach Billy Hickman. "We had a great plan on defense and executed it perfectly. We made them earn everything they got."

The Mustangs Quarterback Hunter Davis (Portland, OR) completed 16 passes for 27 attempts for 281 yards and 2 TDs.

Anthony Flores (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande HS) led the Mustang receiving core with five catches for 55 yards. Jeremiah Hartfield (Montebello, CA/Schurr HS) added two receptions for 92 yards and two TDs. Bobby Hartley-Brown (/) hauled in two catches for 67-yards. Deuce Zimmerman (Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS) recorded three receptions for 49-yards.
 
On the ground James Hoban (Parker, AZ/Parker HS) ended is Mustang career with the best game of his career. Hoban managed 13 rushes for 90 yards and 1 TD. Davis gained 30-yards off of 12 carries.
"Offensively, same thing we executed a great game plan and never turned the ball over," said Hickman. "It was a well-earned team win and we are thrilled to keep that trophy in Silver City, where it belongs for another year."

On defense, Cole Lalama (Queen Creek, AZ/) and Devin Graham (Yuma, AZ/Gila Ridge HS) held down the fort with 12 tackles each. Lalama also managed to recover a fumble. Preston Helu (Reno, NV/Ironwood Ridge HS) had 11 himself.

In the first quarter, neither team would manage much offense until the Mustangs pulled off some trickery with Punter/Kicker Tanner Bobic (Glendale, AZ/Deer Valley HS) completing an eight-yard strike to Hartley-Brown on 4^th & 1. This led to a Hoban scamper from 18-yards out to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead.
 
Kicking off the second quarter, Mario Sanchez danced his way through the Mustangs' secondary for a 29-yard score, 7-7. Bobic helped WNMU regain the lead on a 26-yard field goal, 10-7 Mustangs. With 1:11 till the half, Tyler Cleveland scored from 1-yard out for a Greyhound lead, 14-10.
 
For the third quarter, the Mustangs took their fir possession down for a score, as Davis hit Hartfield for 70-yards, 17-14 WNMU. The Greyhounds would respond with a six-yard score from Jonathan Watson, giving ENMU the lead back 21-17.
 
In the fourth quarter, Kaden Bell would extend the Greyhounds lead with a 41-yard field goal, 24-17 ENMU. With their backs against the wall, Davis found Hartfield once again for a score from 22-yards out as the Mustangs would now only trail 24-23. The Mustangs would go for glory and succeed as Davis broke the plain for a two-point conversion to give the Mustangs the lead 25-24. ENMU still had one more chance to win it, as Bell's field goal from 47-yards missed wide left giving the Mustangs the victory 25-24.
 
ENMU's Sanchez went 8-12, 103 yards through the air, with 19 carries for 132-yards, 1 TD and a fumble on the ground. Cleveland added 13 carries for 68 yards and a TD. Andre Jones caught three passes for 40-yards. Trey Cain and Matthew Quartieri lead the defense with eight total tackles.

This concludes the Mustangs season, with a final record of 2-8 (1-7).
 

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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)