Cowboy Defense Comes up big against Western Colorado, Cowboys win 24-22

Gunnison, CO --- The New Mexico Highlands football team came up with their second win of the season as they defeated Western Colorado 24-22 at the Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison, CO.
 
The Cowboys would lead from the opening drive as NMHU kicker Israel Farfan connected on a 37-yard field goal to give the Cowboys an early 3-0 lead. The Mountaineers would answer with a safety after a bad snap that went over NMHU quarterback Ramone Atkins head, and the Cowboys would lead 3-2 after one quarter.
 
During the second, the Cowboys would lose a fumble to the Mountaineers, as they would drive down the field, and score off a 1-yard rush, to take their only lead of the game, 9-3.  The Mountaineer defense would then force the Cowboys to punt. The Cowboys would come up with a big stop of their own on the next drive as NMHU Malik Brown would return a 20-yard interception to the house, and the Cowboys would regain the lead, 10-9 with 7:03 left in the quarter – which would be the score going in to halftime.
 
The Cowboys offense would come out hot in the second half, as James Budgett would run it 62-yards for a touchdown, and give the Cowboys a 17-9 lead at the 3:55 mark in the third quarter.
 
The Mountaineers didn't go away, as they would score early in the fourth quarter, but failed to convert on a two-point-attempt as the Cowboy defense deflected a pass and the Cowboys would still lead 17-15.
 
With under three minutes to play in the game, a deflected pass found itself in the hands of Malik Brown, as he would take it to the house, again, for his second pick-six of the game and the Cowboys would take a commanding 24-15 lead over WCU.
 
The Mountaineers would score with 36 seconds left, and the Cowboys would recover the onside attempt, to run out the clock and win their second game of the season.
 
The Cowboys finished with a total 191 yards off 3-14 completions for 30 yards and 161 yards on the ground. Atkins finished 3-12 for 30 yards and Budgett led the way on the ground with 173 total yards, including his touchdown.  Donovan Hawkins finished with 2 receptions for 20 yards and Darrell McIntyre recorded a 10-yard reception. Defensively, Malik Brown was on fire as he recorded 7 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and a pass break-up. Eli Schoettmer (10 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass break-up), Trejen Lawrence (9 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Barry Edwards Jr (6 tackles) would all aid the Cowboy defense.

The Cowboys will be back in action next weekend for their final regular season game as they travel to Grand Junction, CO to take on Colorado Mesa at 1 pm at Stocker Stadium.
 
GO COWBOYS!!