New Mexico Highlands (2-5, 2-4)
at Black Hills State (4-3, 2-3)
LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands football team coming off handing CSU Pueblo its first RMAC loss of the season and beating the ThunderWolves for the first time since 1981 look to keep the momentum rolling on the road as the Cowboys travel to take on Black Hills State 1 p.m. Saturday in Spearfish, South Dakota.
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2021 STATS
The Cowboys are coming off a 28-21 victory at home over CSU Pueblo - their first win over the ThunderWolves since 1981. NMHU jumped out to a 21-10 lead at the half and held off CSUP the rest of the way to snap its five-game losing streak. Ramone Atkins threw for 252 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing for a team-high 79 yards and a score for the Cowboys. His top target was Quavon Beckford who caught nine passes for 120 yards and a score. Camron High rushed for 73 yards and two scores as well for NMHU.
Defensively, Devin Coney earned RMAC Defensive Player of the Week for the Cowboys as he had five solo tackles, forced a fumble and had a quarterback hurry. Malik Brown led the team with seven tackles while Roderick Woods and Lebarron Jones each had six tackles.
The Cowboys rank 15th in the nation in total offense at 461.3 yards per game and are second in the nation in first downs on the season with 188. Atkins is third in the country in total offense (348.6) while he's 15th in passing touchdowns (18) and 11h in passing yards (2,002). Atkins also has 434 yards rushing and three scores. High is second on the team in rushing with 385 yards (including a team-best 5.2 yards per carry) while Kamari Mosby has rushed for 276 yards.
CJ Sims has been NMHU's top receiver as he is ninth in the nation in receiving yards (724), 20th in receptions per game (6.0) and 22nd in receiving touchdowns (7).
Coney leads the NMHU defense in tackles with 40 followed by Brown (33), Terrence Jackson (33), Jones (29) and Roderick Woods (29).
BLACK HILLS STATE HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2021 STATS
The Yellow Jackets started the season 4-1, but have ran into two consecutive nationally ranked opponents and lost to both - dropping a home game to No. 5 Coloardo School of Mines 41-20 on Oct. 9 and last week falling at No. 24 Western Colorado, 44-28. In last week's loss, BHSUÂ fell behind 17-0 and never got within 10 points from that point on while allowing more than 600 yards of offense to the Mountaineers - including 400 on the ground.
The Yellow Jackets have been strong offensively as they are 27th in the nation and third in the RMAC in yards per game (436.1). However, BHSU's usual starting quarterback Chance Eben (1,165 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs) didn't play last week with Aidan Willard and Tyler Hammons splitting duties. Matthew Collier leads the team and is third in the RMAC in rushing yards with 693 to go along with four touchdowns. Kielar Harpham is the team's top receiver and has 24 receptions for 321 yards and five touchdowns while Connor Boyd has 20 catches for 283 yards and four touchdowns.
Doodles Quinones leads the team in tackles with 69 and Jarrell Ganaway has a team-best four sacks.
