Cowboys look to bounce back, host No. 17 Colorado School of Mines Saturday

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands football team looks to bounce back from their first loss of the season and take down a ranked team for the first time since 2012 as the Cowboys host No. 17 Colorado School of Mines 1 p.m. Saturday at Sanchez Family Stadium.
 
LAST WEEK FOR THE COWBOYS (2-1) | SEASON STATS
NMHU jumped out to a 23-15 halftime lead on Dixie State last Saturday on the road, but was outscored 13-0 in the third quarter and lost its first game of the season, 28-23.

The Cowboys fumbled the second-half kickoff to give the Trailblazers great field position (which they turned into a touchdown) and allowed another score in the third quarter. Offensively, NMHU was held to 134 yards in the second half - but had a potential game-winning drove going late in the fourth quarter. After Danny Cameron completed a trio of passes to get the ball to the Dixie State 33, the Trailblazers intercepted a pass with 4:34 remaining and ran out the clock to hold on to the victory.

Cameron finished 13-for-25 for 220 yards while D.J. McFadden had five catches for 66 yards and Devon Henderson had four receptions for 74 yards. Dione Alston had his third-consecutive 100-yard rushing performance to start the season, finishing with 160 yards on 18 carries.

Eli Schoettmer led the Cowboys with 14 tackles while C.J. Waite had 10 and Cameron Firziati had eight - including a sack.
 
ABOUT COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES (3-0) | SEASON STATS
The Orediggers enter Saturday's contest coming off a 35-21 victory at home against then-No. 9 Colorado State-Pueblo. The game had a wild start with CSM taking a 21-14 lead after the first quarter before holding the ThunderWolves to just one touchdown the rest of the way while the Orediggers got a pair of second-half touchdowns to pull away.

Though CSM was outgained 435-267 in total yardage, the defense forced three turnovers to keep the lead. Of the Orediggers' 267 yards, 203 came on the ground from running back Cameron Mayberry who is fifth in the nation in rushing at 429 yards and is tied for the lead with six rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Isaac Harker went 12-for-23 for 88 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the win with Sean O'Dell as his top receiver with five catches for 35 yards.

On the season, Harker is completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 830 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Eight of those nine touchdowns have gone to Brody Oliver (which leads NCAA Division II) to go along with a team-best 21 receptions and 404 yards.

Defensively, Geoff Keating leads the team with 20 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and two interceptions to go along with a sack. Averie Mansfield also has 20 tackles while Logan Bock leads the Orediggers with two sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

RECENT HISTORY BETWEEN NMHU AND COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
The Cowboys are looking to change recent history against the Orediggers as they are 3-15 against them since 2000. Last season NMHU lost at Mines 70-0 while the last meeting in Las Vegas was a 54-14 win for the Orediggers in 2016. However, the last time the Cowboys beat a ranked opponent was Colorado School of Mines as they won a 42-37 game in Las Vegas in 2012.

FAN INFORMATION

• Baca Ave. in front of the stadium will be closed early Saturday morning for the game. If you are wanting to tailgate in the parking lot across Baca Ave. in front of Levra Fieldhouse, inform security when you get to where it's blocked on ninth and Baca that you are there for the tailgate and they will let you in.
• There is no re-entry into Sanchez Family Stadium unless a re-entry ticket is purchased for $3 (which allows unlimited re-entry until the end of the third quarter). Also, there is no outside food or drink allowed as well as no pets.

COWBOYS IN THE TOP 25 | Complete NMHU Rankings Summary
NMHU has put up big numbers early on in the season that has some of their players in the top 25 in the NCAA Division II rankings:

Dione Alston

• Rushing yards (440) and yards per carry (9.4) - 3rd
• All-purpose yards per game (162.3) - 20th

Devon Henderson

• Kick return yardage (338) - 2nd
• Kick return average (33.8) - 9th
• All-purpose yards per game (169.3) -15th

Israel Farfan

• Field goals per game (1.7) - 8th
• Scoring (10.3 points per game) -17th

Danny Cameron

• Passing TDs (8) - 8th
• Yards per pass attempt (9.15) - 15th
• Passing Efficiency (166.2) - 16th
• Yards per completion (14.8) - 18th

Elijah Boyd

• Rushing Touchdowns (3) - 19th

Willie Morris

• Passes Defended (3) - 3rd

TEAM

• First Downs, Offense (79) - 7th
• Passes Intercepted (6) - 8th
• Rushing Offense (230.0 yards per game) - 22nd
• Scoring Offense (44.3) - 11th
• Team Passing Efficiency (166.23) - 15th
• Total Offense (477.0) - 16th