ELLENSBURG, WA. — Western New Mexico (3-7) lost to Central Washington (8-2) 52-10 on Saturday. The Mustangs rushed for 188 yards, but Central Washington finished with 578 total yards.
The Mustangs held the ball for 34:52 and put together two 11-play drives covering 61 and 75 yards, but Central Washington produced 578 yards at 10.9 yards per play. The Mustangs ran for 188 yards, with
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) finishing with 147 on 29 carries, while the passing game went 8-for-15 for 78 yards with two interceptions. Central Washington's yardage came through both phases, with 338 rushing yards and 240 passing yards.
The Mustangs put together their first scoring drive after falling behind 14-0, moving 61 yards in 11 plays behind the run game and a 29-yard
Kainan Manna (Phoenix, AZ/Centennial High School) completion to
Gavin Placencio (Silver City, NM/Cobre High School) before
Nathan Flores (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) hit a 32-yard field goal to make it 14-3. Central Washington had opened with an interception return touchdown and later added a 30-yard field goal, leaving the Mustangs down 17-3 at the end of the first quarter.
The Mustangs were held scoreless in the second quarter despite
Clayton Zentner's (Corona, CA/Norco High School) interception and 12-yard return to the Central Washington 48 with 5:43 left. The Mustangs gained three first downs in the quarter, including
Devon Nofoa-Masoe's (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) 23-yard run, but their drives ended with an interception and two punts. Central Washington added a touchdown with 23 seconds remaining and took a 24-3 lead into halftime.
Central Washington scored three passing touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Mustangs were held scoreless in the quarter. Their best sustained possession came late, when
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) converted a fourth-and-2 and the drive reached the Western New Mexico 35-yard line before a punt. The Mustangs closed the quarter with Nofoa-Masoe runs of 16 and 10 yards, moving to the Central Washington 49 as the score remained 45-3.
The Mustangs put together their scoring drive early in the fourth quarter, moving 75 yards in 11 plays before Manna found
Rene Huerta (El Paso, TX/Canutillo High School) Jr. for a 12-yard touchdown and
Nathan Flores (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) added the PAT to make it 45-10. The defense followed with a fourth-down stop when
Jalen Birdsong (Pasadena, CA/John Muir High School) dropped Central Washington for a loss on fourth-and-1 from the Mustangs' 44. Central Washington later added a touchdown, and the Mustangs finished with a 52-10 loss.
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) rushed 29 times for 147 yards. Manna completed 8 of 15 passes for 78 yards and one touchdown while adding 11 rushing yards.
Rene Huerta (El Paso, TX/Canutillo High School) Jr. caught a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Clayton Zentner (Corona, CA/Norco High School) recorded three tackles and intercepted a pass, returning it 12 yards.
Isaac Torres caught eight passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Justin Brennan completed 11 of 16 passes for 240 yards and five touchdowns. Ryder Bumgarner rushed for 143 yards on 12 carries. Cale Allen recorded four tackles and returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown.
The Mustangs are 3-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play. Central Washington is 8-2 overall and 8-0 in conference play.
Up next, the Mustangs host Angelo State at 12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Ben Altamirano Field in Silver City, N.M for Senior Day.
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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).
