Durango, Colorado - The New Mexico Highlands University football team traveled to Durango, Colorado, Saturday afternoon to open the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season against Fort Lewis College and came away with a 31-17 win.
With the win, the Cowboys improve to 2-1 overall on the season while Fort Lewis falls to 0-3. Saturday's game was the conference opener for both teams.
Shawntay Mills Jr. got the Cowboys on the scoreboard first by way of a 12 yard run five minutes into the game. The score capped off an eight play, 63 yard drive that helped set the tone for NMHU.
Mills would add his second score of the day on a four yard run three minutes into the second quarter to put the Cowboys up 14-0.
Fort Lewis got on the board with a field goal mid-way through the second quarter. Will McDaniel would answer with a 34 yard field goal that gave the Cowboys a 17-3 lead as the first half ended.
The second half featured two touchdowns from each team.
Teneil Nichols scored on a 15 yard pass from
Joey Cave early in the fourth quarter. While Norman Malik would close out the scoring for the day on a two yard run with just over four minutes left in the game.
NMHU racked up 372 yards of total offense on Saturday afternoon.
Joey Cave threw for 140 yards on 10 for 14 passing including the touchdown to Nichols. And on the ground, Cave would add 100 yards on 11 carries.
Defensively,
Devin Coney led the way with 11 total tackles including one for a loss. The Cowboys recorded two quarterback sacks on the day.
Will McDaniel continued his impressive play as he was four for four on PATs and 1-1 on field goals. He also recorded two touchbacks and averaged nearly 42 yards punting the ball for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys return home to face the South Dakota School of Mines this coming Saturday afternoon. Game time at the Sanchez Family Stadium is 12:00 pm.
Tickets can be purchased at
NMHU Tickets.
Â
