CANYON, TX — Western NM (3-5, 2-4) lost to West Tex. A&M (3-5, 3-3) 69-14 on Saturday. Western NM rushed for 232 yards and West Tex. A&M totaled 405 yards on the ground.
Western NM was held scoreless in the first quarter as West Tex. A&M built a 22-0 lead. Western NM managed one first down and 28 yards in the quarter, and its longest possession ended with an interception thrown by
Jase Ashley (Phoenix, AZ/Horizon High School) that gave West Tex. A&M a short field.
Isaiah Abeyta (Las Cruces, NM/Centennial High School) returned three kickoffs for 58 yards, including a 22-yard return to the Western NM 36 before the quarter ended.
Western NM opened the second quarter with a 64-yard scoring drive, capped by
Jase Ashley's (Phoenix, AZ/Horizon High School) 12-yard touchdown pass to
Zakkarii Black (Sacramento, CA/Charter Oak High School) and
Nathan Flores' (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) PAT that made it 22-7. The drive included Ashley's 40-yard completion to
Dennis Ionica (Surprise, AZ/Sandra Day O'Connor High School) and
Devon Nofoa-Masoe's (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) 20-yard run. West Tex. A&M recorded a safety on Western NM's next snap from the 3 and later added a 38-yard field goal, leaving Western NM behind 27-7 at halftime.
Western NM's breakthrough in the third quarter came on
Devon Nofoa-Masoe's (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) 57-yard touchdown run at 5:10, followed by
Nathan Flores' (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) PAT to make it 41-14. Earlier, Western NM reached the West Tex. A&M 10 after a 26-yard completion to Black and a 40-yard run by
Jaylen Rushing (Phoenix, AZ/Mountain Pointe High School), but the drive ended on downs. West Tex. A&M scored three touchdowns in the quarter, and Western NM ended the quarter with the ball at the West Tex. A&M 20 trailing 48-14.
Western NM was held scoreless in the fourth quarter, starting with a turnover on downs after Ashley was sacked on fourth-and-7 from the West Tex. A&M 22.
Joshua Gaines (Chandler, AZ/Basha High School) helped move the next Western NM possession into West Tex. A&M territory, but the drive ended with a fumble, and a later possession ended with an interception. West Tex. A&M scored three touchdowns in the quarter, and Western NM fell 69-14.
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and added one reception for 4 yards. Ashley completed 11 of 21 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown while adding 46 rushing yards on eight carries. Black caught two passes for 38 yards and a touchdown and added a 4-yard rush.
Anthony Coleman (Destrehan, LA) led Western NM with nine tackles.
Reid Macon completed 3 of 3 passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns and rushed once for 70 yards and a score. Contae Cason carried nine times for 71 yards and three touchdowns. Trace Clarkson caught seven passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Gafford completed 14 of 26 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown and added 28 rushing yards.
Western NM is 3-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play. West Tex. A&M is 3-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
Up next, Western NM football team hosts Western Oregon University on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 12 p.m. at Ben Altamirano Field in Silver City, N.M.
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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 (X, TikTok & Instagram).
