New Mexico Highlands (1-5, 1-4)
vs. CSU Pueblo (4-2, 4-0)
LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands football team looks to get back in the win column as it hosts CSU Pueblo noon Saturday at Sanchez Family Stadium.
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2021 STATS
The Cowboys are coming off another tough loss as they fell to Western colorado 45-38 on the road last week in a game NMHU led 38-24 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game before the Mountaineers scored 21 unanswered points to take the victory. Ramone Atkins led the high-powered NMHU offense - going 32-for-49 passing for 383 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 42 yards as well. CJ Sims was his top target as he caught nine passes for 168 yards and two scores.
The Cowboys rank 13th in NCAA Division II and first in the RMAC in total offense this season at 467.5 yards per game - including being 21st in the nation and tops in the RMAC in passing offense (291.3 yards per game). Atkins ranks 17th in the nation at 291.7 passing yards per game, is 14th in the country with 17 touchdown passes and is third in total offense at 351.5 yards per contest. CJ Sims is eighth in teh country in receiving yards per game (112.7) and 16th in receiving touchdowns (7). Atkins continues to lead the team in rushing with 355 yards and two scores while Cameron High has 312 yards rushing and Kamari Mosby has rushed for 253 yards and a score.
Defensively, Devin Coney continues to lead the team in tackles with 35 to go along with an interception. Terrence Jackson is second on the team with 31 tackles while Malik Brown is third with 26 to go along with a team-best seven pass breakups, two fumbles forced and a fumble recovery. Joseph Smith and Artis lead the team with two sacks apiece.
CSU PUEBLO HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2021 STATS
The ThunderWolves since losing two non-conference contests against ranked opponents have won four straight games - including scoring 42 unanswered points in defeating Chadron State 42-17 last week on the road. Devin williams threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns while Michael Roots rushed for 136 yards and two scores in the victory. Max Gonzales led the team with eight tackles - two for a loss.
CSU Pueblo is led by a tough defense that is 19th in the nation in scoring defense at 16.5 points allowed per game. The ThunderWolves are also tied for first in defensive touchdowns scored this year with five. Gonzales leads the team in tackles with 48 and is followed by Trevor Philio with 33 - but he also has a team-high 4.5 sacks to go along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Sam Warren leads the team with two interceptions with five other players having at least one.
Offensively, CSU Pueblo has been led on the ground by Roots who has 495 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Williams has played in five games for the ThunderWolves and thrown for 466 yards and four scores while Steven Croell has played in all six games and thrown for 506 yards and five scores with both completing better than 60 percent of their passes and combining for five interceptions. Nick Williams (22 receptions, 218 yards, TD) and Max Fine (16 rec., 200 yards, TD) have been the team's top two receivers.
