Football Prepares for Battle at Fort Lewis

Sept. 27 at Fort Lewis: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO 
Terrestrial Radio: SAM FM 96.7


FULL NOTES

This Week
 
The New Mexico Highlands football team (1-2, 1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) will take on the Fort Lewis Skyhawks (1-2, 0-1 RMAC) in its first road game of the conference season. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
 
 
Party Time
 
Come to JC's New York Pizza Department on Saturday (Sept. 20) for the New Mexico Highlands at Fort Lewis football game. It will be shown live on JC's new 80-inch television with the call piped in from SAM FM 96.7. You will also get a chance to meet the 2014 New Mexico Highlands cross country teams following their lone home meet of the season Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. Fans, make sure to wear your Highlands gear as you will receive 10 percent off of the final bill.
 
 
The Coaches
 
Highlands head coach Eric Young is currently in his fourth season and is 15-21 overall. He is 2-1 against Fort Lewis, including 1-0 in Durango, Colorado.
 
The Skyhawks are coached by John L. Smith, who is in his second season at Fort Lewis and is 141-103 in 20th years of being a head coach. He is 0-1 against the Cowboys, a 31-20 setback last season.
 
 
The Series
 
New Mexico Highlands trails the all-time series 15-5-2, but the Cowboys are currently on a two-game winning streak against the Skyhawks. The Cowboys won the meeting last season 31-20, thanks in part to a 68-yard touchdown reception by current senior wide receiver Tyler Slavin to open up a 24-7 lead.
 
 
Carney's Numbers on the Rise
 
This season, senior Patrick Carney was named a Preseason All-American as a punter, as he is the leading returning punter in all of NCAA Division II. In 2014 so far, Carney has placed 40.9 percent of his punts inside the 20 (nine of 22). With three punts more than 50 yards Saturday against Western New Mexico, Carney has punted for 50+ yards in 39 of 132 career punts (29.5 percent). Carney's average of 46.5 yards per game is currently fourth in the nation and first in the RMAC. Despite 40.9 percent (nine of 22) of his punts being more than 50 yards, he has only four touchbacks in 2014.
 
 
Light Em' Up
 
Senior linebacker Jared Koster showed the nation his 20 tackles against Eastern New Mexico - the most by a Cowboy in at least a decade - was no fluke. He has led the team in tackles every game this season, recording 13 tackles against both #24 FCS Northern Arizona and Western New Mexico. He leads the nation with 26 solo tackles and is second with 46 total tackles.
 
 
O is for Offense, Orender
 
Through the first two games of the season, the offense had been putting up impressive numbers for 2014. Who knew, Cowboys fans had seen nothing yet.
 
In a 59-38 win over rival Western New Mexico, Highlands set a record for passing yards for a game, throwing for 620 yards. The previous record was 585 yards, set against Western State Oct. 17, 1987.
 
But if that was not enough, senior quarterback Lance Orender turned in a career day. Named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Orender completed 56 of 78 passes (71.9 percent) for 620 yards and eight touchdowns, breaking the NCAA record for passes attempted in a game without an interception thrown. He also became the standard-bearer in school and RMAC history in both touchdown passes and completions in a single game.
 
Orender also broke the school record for passing yards in a game. He surpassed the old record of 585 yards, set by Brian Ainsworth against Western State on Oct. 10, 1987 (a 45-31 Cowboys win). Orender's 620 yards passing was just 18 yards shy of the conference record and was the most passing yards in a game by an RMAC quarterback in at least a decade.
 
 
Don't Forget Slavin
 
In Saturday's 59-38 win over Western New Mexico, senior Tyler Slavin tallied 17 catches for 225 yards and four touchdowns. His 17 catches were the most by an RMAC receiver in five seasons. Slavin leads the nation in both receptions (34) and receptions per game (11.3). He also leads the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in touchdown receptions (six) and is second in reception yards per game (126).
 
 
Hold that Line
 
A lot of attention has been given to seniors Lance Orender and Tyler Slavin, but the offensive line deserves a lot of credit. Because of the time they gave Orender, he neither threw an interception nor was sacked in 78 passing attempts. In fact, the Cowboys offensive line is 20th in the nation by allowing only one sack per 47.8 attempts.
 
The defensive line for New Mexico Highlands registered three sacks against Western New Mexico. The Mustangs were only sacked once through the first two games.
 
 
RMAC, Meet Mr. Smith
 
Sophomore Eric Smith quickly made a name for himself against the Mustangs by grabbing a pair of interceptions. He is also 29th in the nation with 1.7 passes broken up per game.
 
 
Sam FM: Getting Even Better
 
Can't make it to the game or to JC's New York Pizza Department ? Every game will be broadcast live on 96.7 FM by Art Abreu, father of linebackers coach Art Abreu Jr. Also, join athletic director Jeff Falkner and the rest of the Highlands coaching staff on Monday night at 5:30 p.m. as we discuss the past week in Highlands sports and preview the upcoming week. Also listen for a chance to win prizes!
 
 
Coming Up Next
 
New Mexico Highlands faces a huge game to begin the month of October when Colorado School of the Mines, who is ranked 19th in the latest d2football.com poll, visits Las Vegas, New Mexico. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.