LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowboys held a lead for much of the game, but the Orediggers scored 21 of the last 28 points as New Mexico Highlands (2-3, 2-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) saw #17 Colorado School of Mines (5-0, 3-0 RMAC) rally for a 42-35 win Saturday afternoon (Oct. 4) at Perkins Stadium.
"This was a tough loss for us," head coach
Eric Young said. "We were with them until the end, but they made a few more plays than us. We showed we can play with the best teams in the conference, so hopefully we grow from this game as we continue the rest of the season."
The fourth quarter was a wild one, but Colorado School of Mines found the only score. The Cowboys looked as if it might take the lead in the beginning of the fourth, but a missed field goal kept the game tied. Colorado Mines answered with their own missed field goal. After Mines forced a stop, Justin Dvorak found Jimmy Ellis for nine yards out with 4:38 left for the winning score for the visitors.
In the ensuing possession, the Cowboys looked as if they would put themselves in position to tie the game. However, a sideline pass to Terry-Springs deep in Oredigger territory hugged too much of the sideline on third down. On fourth down, Orender threw his third pick of the day and Colorado Mines ran out the clock for the win.
Senior
Tyler Slavin "only" had 14 catches in the game for Highlands, but he nearly broke the Cowboys record for receiving yards in a game of 289. He finished the contest with 278 yards and a pair of scores. Senior
Lance Orender had his third big game to begin the conference slate, going 50-74 for 559 yards, five touchdowns. However, he threw three interceptions and three sacks.
Junior
CJ Grice also had double-digit receptions and triple-digit yards with 12 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Junior
Kirt Terry-Springs had 11 catches and 94 yards.
For the Orediggers, Dvorak was 42-64 for 460 yards five touchdowns with one interception and two sacks. Cole Spurgeon and Nate Wiemers both had nine catches with 142 yards and 103 yards. Wiemers had a pair of touchdown grabs while Spurgeon hauled in one.
While Colorado Mines won the turnover battle 3-2, it was the Cowboys who outscored the Orediggers 14-0 in points off of miscues. The first such instance came right out of the gate as senior
Jared Koster –who again had the most tackles in the game with 13 – forced a fumble that Highlands recovered at its 35. The Cowboys marched 65 yards in 10 plays, including Orender going 6-8 for 53 yards, to go up 7-0. Orender capped the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Slavin.
Highlands led 7-0 just 5:45 in.
After both teams punted on a possession, Colorado School of Mines marched 75 yards in seven plays to knot the score. Tevin Champagne ran the ball in from five yards out to tie the game.
Highlands quickly went back on top in the next possession on a fourth down play. After a methodical drive, it looked as if the drive may stall at the Mines 17. However, Orender hit Grice for the final distance as the Cowboys went up 14-7. Highlands led by a touchdown after the first quarter.
The Orediggers tied the score when Dvorak found Wiemers for an 8-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes into the second quarter.
Both teams traded interceptions, with sophomore
Eric Smith thwarting a Colorado Mines drive deep into Highlands' territory with an interception. Smith has all three Cowboys interceptions this season. He caught the ball at the one, returning the ball to the Highlands 22. On the ensuing possession, Slavin went 4-5 for 73 yards, hitting
Harold Mobley-Smith for the score from 16-yards out.
Highlands led 21-14 win five minutes until break, but the Orediggers went on a methodical 12 play, 75-yard drive to tie the ballgame at half.
The Cowboys came out of intermission and marched down the field and scored on asophomore
Vincent Venegas' 3-yard catch. In the drive, Highlands faced a third and 11 at its own 36. But Orender found Terry-Springs for 26 yards to keep the drive alive.
The Orediggers scored 14 unanswered to take its first lead of the game with 5:53 left in the third. After Mines tied it up, the Orediggers' Billy Sprague blocked a senior
Patrick Carney punt as Mines only had to 58 yards to take the lead.
Highlands quickly tied the game on a sensational play. Facing a third and 13 at the Highlands 34, Orender found Slavin around midfield. Slavin slipped a defender and won the foot race down the field for the 66-yard score.
Mines turned in its own big play on the next possession, but a costly penalty kept the score tied. Near midfield, Dvorak found Wiemers. Wiemers broke his own tackles scored. However, the Orediggers had an illegal man down field that negated the touchdown. After a short run and sack, Highlands forced a punt to set up a wild fourth quarter.
Highlands returns to action next Saturday (Oct. 11) when it travels to Colorado Mesa. Game time with the Mavericks is set for 1 p.m. in Grand Junction, Colorado.
