SPEARFISH, S.D. --- Early turnovers hurt the New Mexico Highlands football team as the Cowboys turned it over on their first two possessions which Black Hills State turned into a quick 14-0 lead and NMHU never recovered during a 42-7 loss on a snowy Saturday afternoon at Lyle Hare Field.
The loss drops the Cowboys to 2-5 on the season, 2-4 in RMAC play, while the Yellow Jackets move to 1-6 overall and in RMAC action.
NMHU elected to take the opening kickoff, but on the third play of the drive
Danny Cameron was picked off by BHSU's Kolten Johnson on the NMHU 42. Five plays later the Yellow Jackets scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0 with 12:38 left in the first quarter.
The Cowboys on the next possession fumbled on their second play from scrimmage and it was recovered by BHSU – again on the NMHU 42. And again it took the Yellow Jackets five plays to score as NMHU deficit was quickly 14-0 with 10:32 left in the quarter.
NMHU got back within a score at the end of the first quarter as a
Diego Elebario 34-yard punt return gave the Cowboys great field position at the BHSU 21 and four plays later Cameron hit
Jason Aguirre for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 14-7 with 51 seconds left in the half.
On the first play of the next drive,
T.J. Jackson forced a fumble on a completed pass and
Willie Morris was there to scoop it up to give the Cowboys the ball back on their own 15-yard line. But the NMHU offense couldn't get rolling and went three-and-out, forcing the Cowboys to punt.
BHSU took advantage as runs of 33 and 23 yards by Payten Gilmore led to a touchdown to give the Yellow Jackets a 21-7 advantage. BHSU scored in the final seconds of the half to take a 28-7 lead at the break and then turned around and scored on its opening drive of the third quarter to push the NMHU deficit to 35-7 with 13:23 remaining in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets added one more score in the third as the Cowboys dropped their fifth straight contest after starting the season 2-0.
NMHU was outgained 473-234 in total offense, including 168-23 in passing yardage and 305-211 on the ground. The snowy and windy conditions made it tough to throw as Cameron finished 5-for-18 for 23 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
D.J. McFadden caught two passes for 16 yards to lead the Cowboys.
Dione Alston had a solid day on the ground for the Cowboys, rushing for 118 yards on 23 carries while
Dazmon Scott had 48 yards on 14 carries and
Jairan Manning finished with 38 yards on five carries.
Tre Haynes led the team with nine tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, while
Cameron Forziati and
Anthony Miller had six apiece.
The Cowboys return to Las Vegas, New Mexico, next week as they host South Dakota Mines 1 p.m. Saturday in NMHU's homecoming game.
