New Mexico Highlands (3-5, 3-4) at
Chadron State (5-2, 5-2)
12 p.m. (MT) Saturday | Elliott Field | Chadron, Neb.
WATCH |
STATS
LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands football team looks to build off of Saturday's wild victory as the Cowboys travel to take on Chadron State noon Saturday at Elliott Field.
THE COWBOYS COMING INTO THIS WEEK | SEASON STATS
The Cowboys won a wild contest Saturday against South Dakota Mines where they turned a 14-point, second-quarter deficit (28-14) into 10-point, early fourth-quarter lead (45-35) – only to fall behind 52-45 after a South Dakota Mines field goal with 1:39 remaining in the game. The Cowboys came down and scored as
Danny Cameron hit
Darrell McIntyre for a 5-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left. The Cowboys elected to go for two and got it as Cameron hit Zack Drew-Toles to give the Cowboys a 53-52 lead. NMHU then withstood a missed Hardrocker field goal as the final horn sounded to secure the win.
Cameron finished 23-for-46 for 366 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Two receivers eclipsed the 100-yard mark in Drew-Toles (134 yards on six catches) and
D.J. McFadden (109 yards on five catches, including two touchdowns). Dion Alston had a huge day as well, rushing for a career-high 210 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries – an average of 8.1 yards per carry. He also added three catches for 35 yards. Playing a huge roll in the victory on the defensive side of the ball was
Malik Brown as he finished with 15 tackles (seven solo, eight assisted) to go along with two second-half interceptions and a pass breakup. Brown was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort.
On the season, Alston is now 15th in NCAA Division II with 886 yards to go along with five touchdowns on the ground. He's also 24th in the country with a 6.3 yards per rush average. Cameron has passed for 1,559 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. McFadden leads the team in receptions (33), receiving yards (483) and receiving touchdowns (5).
Brown leads the team with 68 tackles and five interceptions while
Eli Schoettmer and
Cameron Forziati are tied for second with 62 tackles apiece.
ABOUT CHADRON STATE | SEASON STATS
The Eagles bounced back after losing a wild 65-62 contest at Adams State two weeks ago by beating Dixie State at home 30-18. Chadron State jumped out to a 16-0 lead at halftime, but Dixie State cut the lead to 23-18 with 9:55 remaining in the game. But the Eagles held off the Trailblazers, getting an insurance touchdown on a 97-yard Kevin Coy run with 16 seconds remaining to make the final 30-18.
That run helped take Coy's day into the positive as he finished with 11 carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Stevann Brown had 72 yards on seven carries as well. Through the air, Dalton Holst went 23-for-35 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Holst's top target was Cole Thurness who caught seven passes for 104 yards.
Holst on the season has thrown for 1,696 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 59.6 percent of his passes. Four players have more than 22 or more catches, 330 or more yards and at least two touchdowns - Brandon Fullerton (25 catches, 411 yards, 5 TDs), Thurness (27 catches, 386 yards, 4 TDs), Tevon Wright (22 catches, 357 yards, 4 TDs) and Jackson Dickerson (32 catches, 333 yards, 2 TDs). On the ground Coy leads the team with 588 yards and 11 touchdowns (5.1 yards per carry) while Brown has 399 yards (7.4 per carry) and Elijah Myles has 324 yards (6.0 per carry). Keenan Johnson and Tyler Lewis lead the team with 67 tackles apiece.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cowboys have dropped their last two contests against Chadron State and are 1-15 against the Eagles since 2002 with the victory coming in 2015.
New Mexico Highlands series history vs. Chadron State since 2002
2017 - L, 55-35, Las Vegas, N.M.
2016 - L, 73-0, Chadron, Neb.
2015 - W, 24-16, Chadron, Neb.
2014 - L, 52-38, Las Vegas, N.M.
2013 - L, 31-24, Chadron, Neb.
2012 - L, 36-33, Las Vegas, N.M.
2011 - L, 42-14, Chadron, Neb.
2010 - L, 41-19, Las Vegas, N.M.
2009 - L, 51-7, Chadron, Neb.
2008 - L, 56-14, Las Vegas, N.M.
2007 - L, 49-0, Chadron, Neb.
2006 - L, 40-20, Las Vegas, N.M.
2005 - L, 44-14, Chadron, Neb.
2004 - L, 52-17, Las Vegas, N.M.
2003 - L, 49-6, Chadron, Neb.
2002 - L, 62-0, Las Vegas, N.M.
