Cowboys look to regain Warrior's Helmet in La Batalla Bowl at Western N.M.

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands football team looks to return the Warrior's Helmet to Las Vegas for the first time since 2014 as the Cowboys travel south to take on Western New Mexico 12 p.m. Saturday at Ben Altamirano Field in the La Batalla Bowl.

The two former conference foes (WNMU is now in the Lonestar Conference) stopped playing in 2015 before renewing the rivalry in 2019 - a 23-17 win for the Mustangs.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2021 STATS
The Cowboys had their three-game winning streak snapped in their RMAC finale at home, losing to South Dakota Miens 40-17 - the second-lowest point total for NMHU this season (in large part due to quarterback Ramone Atkins - who led NCAA Division II in total offense entering the game - being out from early in the first quarter on).

The offense still ranks 20th in the nation in total offense at 449.1 yards per game and is averaging 30.4 points per game.

Atkins - who was named All-RMAC First Team on Thursday - on the season has thrown for 2,517 yards, 25 touchdowns and completed 55.24 percent of his passes. He's also leading the team in rushing with 631 yards and another three scores. Ayden Bartko entered in for Atkins early in the Mines game and on the season has thrown for 190 yards and three scores on 34 passing attempts (14 completions).

CJ Sims - who was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team Offense and Second Team Special Teams - continues to be the top threat for the Cowboys out wide as he's caught 57 passes for 951 yards and 10 touchdowns. Add that to his return stats - which includes two kickoffs returned for touchdowns - and he's eighth in the nation and tops in the RMAC in all-purpose yards per game at 155.4.

Quavon Beckford - who was named All-RMAC Second Team - is also having a big season for the Cowboys with 42 receptions for 593 yards and nine touchdowns.

On the ground after Atkins, Cameron High has rushed for 497 yards while Kamaria Mosby has an additional 442 yards with both scoring two touchdowns apiece.

Defensively, Malik Brown - named All-RMAC First Team - leads the team with 55 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass breakups to go along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Devin Coney has 53 tackles for the Cowboys to go along with two interceptions while Terrence Jackson has 46 tackles. Defensive tackle Trejen Lawrence with his 33 tackles in the middle of the NMHU defense was named All-RMAC Second Team as well.

WESTERN NEW MEXICO HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2021 STATS
The Mustangs enter the bowl game on a nine-game losing streak since winning their season opener on the road at Adams State, 35-17. This includes losing their final game of the regular season on Nov. 6 to Central Washington, 54-29.

Devin Larsen leads the team in passing with 2,441 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in nine games on the season - completing passes at a 56.4 percent clip.

Larsen's top targets this season have been Josh Powell (49 rec., 339 yards), Bryce Coleman (42 rec., 356 yards, 3 TDs), David Telles (29 rec., 438 yards, 4 TDs) and Allen Ortiz (27 rec., 490 yards, 2 TDs).

Coleman also leads the team in rushing with 486 yards and six scores with no other player totaling more than 150 on the season (as a team, WNMU averages just 85 yards per game on the ground).

Kaleb Gutierrez has been by far the most active defender for the Mustangs - totaling 78 tackles to go along with two forced fumbles and a sack. Gerard McKnight is the next closest with 48 tackles. Tylen Coleman has been a pass-rushing nightmare for opponents with 11 sacks on the season.

An odd stat for WNMU on the season - the Mustangs have picked off just one pass in 10 games this season - an interception by Cauy Oropeza againts Texas A&M-Commerce.