SPEARFISH, S.D. --- The New Mexico Highlands defense stood strong throughout and the offense scored the final 14 points of the game to help the Cowboys defeat Black Hills State 24-10 on Saturday at Lyle Hare Stadium.
NMHU (3-5 overall, 3-4 RMAC) and BHSU (4-4, 2-4) were tied 10-10 after the Yellow Jackets scored on a 42-yard touchdown pass with 5:47 remaining in the third quarter.
It was BHSU's final points of the contest, giving the Cowboy offense a chance to pull away.
On the ensuing drive, NMHU put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 3:59 and capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Ramone Atkins to Ronald Jamison to make it 17-10 with 1:48 left in the third quarter.
On the next possession for BHSU, Chance Eben was picked off by NMHU's Malik Brown in the end zone and he returned it to the NMHU 35. The ensuing drive saw Atkins cap a scoring drive with a 12-yard rush, a 17-yard pass to Quavon Beckford and then a 22-yard touchdown pass to Beckford to make it 24-10 with 8:30 remaining in the game.
Brown capped a big game with another interception with 39 seconds left to give the Cowboys the win. He finished with a team-high nine tackles and two interceptions in helping NMHU hold BHSU to 10 points and 362 yards of offense. Brendon Luper finished with eight tackles while the defense also racked up five sacks (Raymond Wingate, Victor Villareal, Shane Andrews, Rooney Amisone and Damon Banks).
Offensively, Atkins finished with 264 yards passing with three touchdowns and an interception while rushing for another 99 yards. Beckford led the team with seven catches for 125 yards and two scores while CJ Sims had six catches for 60 yards.
The Cowboys return to action at home next week as they host Adams State 12 p.m. Saturday at Sanchez Family Stadium.
