NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY @ COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY
OCTOBER 19TH, 2024 | 1:00 PM | STOCKER STADIUM | GRAND JUNCTION, CO
Las Vegas, New Mexico - The Cowboys are in Colorado Saturday for a 1:00 pm game at Colorado Mesa. NMHU is 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the RMAC
COACH TAUFA'ASAU: Taufa'asau was named the head football coach at New Mexico Highlands on May 29th. He comes to Las Vegas after a very successful tenure at New Mexico Military Institute where he compiled a 27-10 record and led the Broncos to the 2021 NJCAA Division National Championship. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, Taufa'asau played for the Cowboys in 2011 and 2012. After his career in Laramie, he spent time with the Raiders, Titans and Colts. Taufa'asau earned his first win at the helm of the Cowboys on October 11, 2024 with a 33-30 win over Chadron State.
COWBOYS AT A GLANCE: NMHU beat Chadron State 33-30 last Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd at Sanchez Family Stadium. The Cowboys scored 15 fourth quarter points to secure their first win of the season.
Joey Cave had a big day for the Cowboys as he was 12 of 17 for 196 yards and three touchdowns. He added 67 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Teniel Nichols had two fourth quarter touchdown grabs and
Cayden Walton added a score on a pass from Cave.
Ioane Foliaki-Vete led the Cowboys with seven tackles.
Fabiano Valdez added six tackles.
Jagger Mosqueda had an interception and broke up another pass for the Cowboys.
"I am happy for the coaches and kids, we beat a good team on Saturday" said Head Coach
Kurt Taufa'asau. "We had a good week of practice and it showed in the way we played. The offense came through and the defense held when we needed them to."
On the fourth quarter play of
Joey Cave and Teniel Nichols, Taufa'asau said, "That's a play (TD with 1:08 remaining) that we work on every week. Joey has a good connection with his skill guys."
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The Cowboys currently rank fifth in the RMAC scoring at 27.0 points per game. On the defensive side, they are allowing 48.2 per outing.
The Cowboys lead the RMAC and are 10th in Division II with 218.5 rushing yards per game.
Joey Cave is sixth in the RMAC in passing yards at 176.3 per game and leads the RMAC in passing efficiency at 179.8. He is third in the RMAC in total offense at 238.5 yards per game.
Teneil Nichols is fourth in the RMAC with 71.8 receiving yards per and fifth in TD scoring at 6.3 points per game.
Tevita Valeti is third in the RMAC in rushing at 78.2 yards per game. He is ninth in the RMAC with 78.2 all purpose yards per game.
Mike Jones is second in the RMAC with 25.6 return yards per game.
Maurice Newton is fifth in the RMAC with 8.6 punt return and ninth with 21.3 kick return yards per game.
Mason Peterson is 10th in the RMAC with 48.8 rushing yards per game.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS: Colorado Mesa is 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the RMAC. They beat Adams State 52-10 last Saturday in Alamosa. The Mavericks were among teams Receiving Votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Poll.
Colorado State alum Mike Kochevar is in his third season leading the Colorado Mesa football program. He has a career mark of 14-13 with the Mavericks.
Colorado Mesa averages 21.0 points per game on offense while allowing 17.5 points per game. Liu Aumavae leads Colorado Mesa with 140 passing yards per game. Brandon Belgrave is the Mavericks leading rusher at 59.3 per game.
LAST TIME: Colorado Mesa defeated the Cowboys 38-24 to close out the 2023 season on November 11th in Las Vegas.
FOLLOW THE COWBOYS: Links for the RMAC Network broadcast and LiveStats for Saturday's game can be found at
NMHUAthletics.com
RMAC NETWORK: Ten of the Cowboys' eleven games this season will be broadcast on the RMAC Network. New Mexico Broadcaster of the Year Scott Galetti returns as the Voice of the Cowboys this season.
NEW MEXICO REPRESENTED: This year's NMHU football roster features 44 players who hail from a New Mexico High School, including seven who are tabbed as starters on this week's Two-Deep Roster.
UP NEXT: The Cowboys host Adams State next Saturday at 5:00 pm. The game is
First Responders Game presented by
The City of Las Vegas, featuring free admission to the game.
NMHU TICKETS: Single game tickets for NMHU Football and Volleyball are available for purchase at
NMHUAthletics.com/tickets.
