Despite an 18-0 lead early in the second half, the NMHU Cowboys fell to the Mustangs of Western New Mexico University 25-18 on 11/5 in Silver City, N.M. The Mustangs would surge past the 18 point deficit by scoring 25 second half points for the win. Costly turnovers would also play a role in the WNMU surge as the Cowboys would turn the ball over five times throughout the game. With the loss, the Cowboys are now 4-6 overall and 2-6 in RMAC play.
The first half of the game was all defense as neither team could get anything going offensively. The Cowboys would strike first as
Niko Aumua would block a WNMU punt and return the blocked punt to the Mustang 17 yard line,
Ernesto Guerra would kick the ball through the uprights for a 28 yard field goal to put the Cowboys up 3-0. The Cowboys rode the 3-0 lead into the halftime break. In the second half, the Cowboys defense made a heads up play as
Niko Aumua intercepted a David Ingram pass and return it 32 yards for a score putting the Cowboys up 10-0. On the very next series the Cowboy defense would stop the Mustangs on a fourth down try and give the ball back to the HU offense. The Cowboy offense answered with a 36 yards touchdown run by
Kevon Williams to put the Cowboys up 16-0.
Kevon Williams would then convert on the two point try to put the Cowboys up 18-0. After the Williams score, it was all downhill for the Cowboys. WNMU would catch the Cowboys on their heels on their next two offensive possessions hitting big plays to score two unanswered touchdowns making the score 18-13 in favor of NMHU at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Mustangs would piece together a 14 play 69 yard scoring drive to eat up five minutes of the clock and go ahead of the Cowboys 19-18. On the kick-off, the Cowboys would fumble the onside kick and WNMU would recover. The Cowboy defense would force the Mustangs to punt, but the WNMU punter would make a great play as he sailed a beautifully executed pooch punt to the NMHU one yard line to pin the Cowboys deep in their own territory. The Cowboys would manage one first down on their possession, but still be forced to punt the ball away. The Mustangs took possession of the ball on the NMHU 45 yard line up 19-18 with 5:29 remaining in the game. The Mustangs pieced together a five play 49 yards scoring drive to extend their lead to 25-18. The Cowboys would then fumble another squib kick and WNMU would recover to secure the 25-18 win over the Cowboys.
Offensively, the Cowboys finished the day with 195 yards of total offense (185 rushing and 10 yards passing).
Kevon Williams led the way for the Cowboys rushing attack with 43 yards on eight carries and one touchdown.
Defensively, the Cowboys would hold the Mustangs to 222 yards of total offense. The NMHU Cowboys set a season best against the rushing attack as they held the Mustangs to only three rushing yards for the entire game. The Cowboy defense would rack up four sacks and 11 tackles for loss throughout the game as they continue to lead the nation in tackles for loss.
Jordan Campbell,
Devin Howard and
Tony Udley led the way for the Cowboy defense on the day. Campbell finished with nine tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry and two sacks. Howard finished with nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one [ass break-up and two quarterback hurries. Udley rounds out the top three performers with eight tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass break-up.
Niko Aumua would also have a stellar day for the Cowboys as he finished with six tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass break-up, one blocked punt, two quarterback hurries, and one interception with a touchdown return of 32 yards.
The Cowboys will take the field for the final time in 2011 season on 11/12 as they host the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College in Las Vegas, N.M. inside Perkins Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. It will be Senior Day for the Cowboy Football program on that day, so make sure to come on out and send our seniors out in style. If you can't make the trip out to Las Vegas you can always watch your Cowboys in action LIVE on the America One Network.
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GO COWBOYS!!!
