In a game that saw both teams combine for over 1,000 yards of offense and nearly 100 points, the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboy football team (1-2-0/1-2-0 RMAC) fell 56-37 in a hard fought home opener against the Mavericks (2-0/1-0) of Colorado Mesa University.
Cowboy QB Ramone Atkins and wide receiver CJ Sims combined for over 600 yards of offense. Atkins threw for 335 yards and completed 22 out of 43 attempts with four touchdowns. He added 89 rushing yards. Sims put in a phenomenal performance for the Cowboys with three touchdowns on 12 catches for 197 yards. Sims three game total of 433 yards and five TD's puts him among the top receivers in all of NCAA DII.
The rushing trio of Kamari Mosby, Cameron High, and Isaiah Miller combined for a total of 126 rushing yards with Miller racking up the single rushing touchdown of the game for the Cowboys.
The Cowboy defense saw big games from Brendon Luper, Roderick Woods, Terrence Jackson, Cameron Browning, Trejan Lawrence and Victor Villareal who all recorded at least five tackles. Villareal added a sack and two tackles for losses. Ray Ray Williams and Nigil Thomas each notched a sack for the Cowboys as well. Willie Morris recorded one interception for the HU secondary.
The teams exchanged scoring drives to open the game. The Mavericks scored on a 72-yard rush by Avian Thomas on the third play of the contest and the Cowboys answered with back to back scoring drives fueled by the Atkins-Sims duo.Â
Sims caught passes of 50 yards and 65 yards from Atkins in the first half .A last second 27-yard field goal by Will McDaniel sent the Cowboys to half time with a 30-28 lead over the Mavericks.
The third quarter saw two rushing touchdowns for Colorado Mesa's QB Hunter Karst and the Cowboys trailed 42-30 entering the final quarter. Sims third touchdown catch of the day, on an 8-yard pass from Atkins, closed the gap to just five points with under ten minutes to play, but the Mavericks followed with two rushing touchdowns in the final minutes to take the win. Final score: 56 – 37.
The Cowboys will face off against non-conference opponent Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX on September 25th. Tarleton, a former member of the Lone Star Conference, has made the move to DI and now competes in the Western Athletic Conference.
