LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands football team struggled to slow down the Colorado Mesa rushing attack and fell to the Mavericks 52-24 Saturday afternoon in each teams' season finale at Sanchez Family Stadium.
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The Cowboys finish their 2018 season 4-7 overall and 4-6 in RMAC play, the most wins for the program since going 8-3 overall and 7-2 in RMAC play in 2012.
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CMU (7-4, 6-4) rushed for 352 yards on 51 attempts and finished with 539 yards of offense against the Cowboys – who racked up 433 yards themselves, but couldn't keep up with the Mavericks.
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The Cowboys trailed 14-3 midway through the second quarter when
Danny Cameron hit
Zach Drew-Toles for a 1-yard touchdown pass into the corner to cap a nine-play, 70-yard drive to make it 14-10.
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But the Mavericks answered quickly as a 62-yard run by Jonathan Beverly on the first play of the drive followed by a 7-yard pass and 6-yard touchdown run by Eystin Salum pushed the lead to 21-10 with 6:50 left in the quarter.
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It was the start of 24 unanswered points for CMU that lasted into the third quarter as the Cowboys dropped their season finale.
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Cameron finished 352 yards and two touchdowns in his final collegiate game while adding 28 yards rushing. Drew-Toles, also a senior, led the team with eight receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown while
D.J. McFadden also had a touchdown reception.
Dione Alston had a team-best 35 yards rushing and a touchdown. Defensively,
Malik Brown led the team with 15 tackles along with a forced fumble while
Cameron Forziati had 10 tackles, including two for a loss, and a pass breakup.
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As for the Mavericks, Salum went 11-for-21 for 165 yards and two touchdowns through the air and rushed for 138 yards and two more scores on the ground. Beverly added 160 yards rushing and two scores on 20 carries.
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