Las Vegas, NM --- The Cowboys defense continued to play solid as they forced the Mustangs to turn the ball over five times – three fumbles and 2 interceptions – but he Mustangs overpowered the Cowboys in the second half to win 23-17 in the 2019 La Batalla Bowl in Las Vegas, NM.
The game started in normal post-season fashion as both teams tried to gain an early advantage. The Cowboys started by going three-and-out on their opening drive of the game, but stepped up on Western New Mexico opening drive with an interception by Adrian Vasquez. The Cowboys would then answer with the first score of the game after
Trevion Thomas scored from 31-yards out top give the Cowboys an early 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys would try an onside kick, but failed to let the ball travel 10 yards as Western New Mexico took over on the NMHU 44 yard line. The Cowboys succeeded in stopping the Mustangs again as they forced a turnover-on-downs on the Mustangs drive, however, on the Mustangs would score on their next drive after quarterback RJ Fowler found Reggie Colson on a 65-yard touchdown pass and the Mustangs and Cowboys found themselves tied 7-7 after one quarter.
The second quarter was all Cowboys as the defense forced a fumble while TJ Jackson picked the ball up and ran it back for a touchdown. The teams would exchange punts for the quarter as the Cowboys maintained a 14-7 lead going in to half.
The Mustangs would start the second half strong as pushed 72-yards in 13 plays before the Cowboys defense would hold the Mustangs at the NMHU 3-yard line and force a field goal. Cowboys still would lead 14-10 with 9:50 left in the third quarter.
The Cowboys would then fumble on the kick-off as the Mustangs were able to recover and take over on the NMHU 30-yard line. One play later, CJ Fowler would connect for his second touchdown of the game as he found Reggie Colson again on a 30-yard touchdown pass to give the Mustangs a 17-14 lead over the Cowboys with 9:41 left in the third.
The teams would battle back-and-forth till NMHU kicker
Israel Farfan connected from 30-yards out to tie the game with 10:01 left in the game.
On the Mustangs ensuing drive, the offense would push the ball 60-yards before Fowler and Colson would link up again from 15-yards out for the go-ahead touchdown. However, the Mustangs would miss the PAT to make the lead 23-17 with 5:10 left in the game.
The Cowboys would find themselves down 6 with 5 minutes to go; with the ball. The Mustangs would step up defensively as an interception was called back after a flag to give the Cowboys yet another chance. A 4-yard rush and three incomplete passes would close out the drive for the Cowboys and the Mustangs would take over with 3:13 left in the game.
The Cowboys still continued to fight as 1
st team All-RMAC defensive player
Malik Brown came up huge with a forced fumble at the NMHU 30. The Cowboys were still in the game with 2:41 to go, however the Mustangs defense came in clutch with 2 sacks and would hang on to win the game 23-17.
The Cowboys finished with 246 total yards which included 164 yards in passing and 82 yards on the ground.
Trevion Thomas led the way for the Cowboys on the ground with 47 yards and a touchdown while
James Budgett added 29 yards.
J'juan Muldrow finished with a season high five receptions for 69 yards and
Donovan Hawkins added two receptions for 42 yards. Quarterback
Ramone Atkins threw 10 of 35 for 147 yards. TJ Jackson led the way defensively with 10 tackles which included one for a 12-yard loss and an interception.
Malik Brown added 8 tackles, forced a fumble and 2 pass break ups and Eli Shoettmer added 7 tackles.
GO COWBOYS!!
