LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands football team contiued its hot play as the Cowboys racked up a season-high in points in a 58-28 victory over Adams State on Saturday at Sanchez Family Stadium for their third win in a row.
NMHU (4-5 overall, 4-4 RMAC) pulled away in the second half as it outscored the Grizzlies (0-9, 0-7) 30-7 after leading 28-21 at the break.
The score was 34-28 NMHUÂ in the third quarter before the Cowboys put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Ramone Atkins touchdown pass to Quavon Beckford to make it 41-28 NMHU with 2:21 left in the third.
On the third play of ASU's ensuing drive, the Grizzlies fumbled it and Devin Coney recovered and the ball was eventually spotted on the ASU 18. On the first play, Atkins hit CJ Sims for an 18-yard touchdown to make it 48-28 NMHU with 52 seconds remaining in the third.
The Cowboys added a Spencer Richards 26-yard field goal and a Ayden Bartko 11-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Ward to make the final 58-28.
While the Cowboys allowed 462 yards of offense to the Grizzlies (NMHU had 397 yards of offense), the NMHU defense forced seven ASU turnovers - including six interceptions (Lebarron Jones had two while Coney, Ben Sutton, Malik Brown and Joseph Gutierrez each had one). Jones and Terrence Jackson led the team with seven tackles apiece while Victor Villareal had six.
Atkins - who leads NCAA Division II in total offense - finished the game 21-for-39 passing for 250 yards, four touchdownsÂ
and interception to go along with 48 yards rushing.Â
Sims finished with seven catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns for the Cowboys while Quavon Beckford had four catches for 64 yards and a score. Kamari Mosby led the team in rushing with 50 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.
The Cowboys play their final home game, celebrate their seniors and look to finish above .500 in RMAC play when they host South Dakota Mines 12 p.m. Saturday at Sanchez Family Stadium.
