PUEBLO, Colo. – Senior
Jared Koster recorded 12 solo tackles to break the NCAA single-season record (finished 2014 with 104) while classmate
Patrick Carney blasted six punts for 275 yards (45.8 average) to finish as the 2014 statistical champion in NCAA Division II in punting (45.9 average in 10 games) as the New Mexico Highlands football team (3-8, 3-6 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to RMAC co-champion CSU-Pueblo (10-1, 8-1 RMAC) 44-21 Saturday afternoon (Nov. 15).
With a fourth quarter tackle with a little more than nine minutes left, Koster recorded his 11th solo tackle of the game to break the NCAA record for both total unassisted tackles and solo tackles per game. He finished with one more solo tackle to finish 2014 with 104 total solo tackles and 9.5 solo tackles per game.
The 22 tackles in the game by Koster was a game-best in the RMAC this season. The 172 total tackles rank fourth in a single season in the RMAC annals.
If the solo tackle record was not enough, Koster added a fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to his repertoire after a pick six earlier in the season. With approximately 7:45 left in the game and CSU-Pueblo facing a fourth and three at the Highlands 36, the Thunderwolves rushed for six yards. However, the ball popped out and Koster rumbled 58 yards for his second defensive touchdown of the season and career.
Carney finished the season in a dog fight for the statistical title, but he finished 0.5 yards ahead of the Colorado Mesa punter to claim the best punter in NCAA Division II title.
It was another outstanding defensive play that put the Cowboys up 7-0 to begin the scoring. Junior
Taj Mathis picked off a Chris Bonner pass and took the ball back 66 yards for the second interception returned to pay dirt for Highlands this season.
The game stood tied at seven shortly before half when the mometum shifted in the home team's favor. Carney blasted a punt from the Highlands 20-yard line. However, the Thunderwolves were called for running into the kicker and Highlands was forced to punt again. This time, the CSU-Pueblo defense blocked the punt out of the back of the endzone to put the home team up for good. After the free kick, CSU-Pueblo drove 50 yards in five plays and scored when Bonner hit Khalyph Smith for 14 yards. The Thunderwolves led 16-7 at the break.
CSU-Pueblo scored 44 unanswered to turn a 7-0 deficit in a big lead, but again the Cowboys scored 14 unanswered of their own in the fourth for the second-straight game. Besides the fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, feshman
Tanner Wright hit senior
Tyler Slavin for the score with three seconds remaining in the game.
For the game, the home team racked up 536 yards to Highlands 175. Senior
Lance Orender finished the game 14-24 with 94 yards and two interceptions. Slavin made seven catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Chris Bonner was 17-28 with 177 yards and two touchdowns and an interception returned for a touchdown while Cameron McDondle recorded 227 yards on 29 carries with a touchdown.
Orender broke the school season records for pass attempts (541), completions (353), yards (3,948) and touchdowns (34).
