Football Closes Out 2024 On Saturday Afternoon

Las Vegas, New Mexico - The Cowboys play their final game of the 2024 season on Saturday as they welcome Black Hills State to historic Las Vegas. Kick-Off is set for 12:00 pm. The Cowboys are 2-8 overall and 2-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

SENIOR SATURDAY:  Ten seniors are playing their final game as Cowboys on Saturday.  Orion Naulls, Malik Norman, AJ Hernandez, Teneil Nichols, Joey Cave, Ioane Foliaki-Vete, Terrance Hawkins, Alberto Puente, Luis Camacho, and Evan Richardson will be recognized prior to the start of the game against the Yellow Jackets.

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: The Cowboys lost at Fort Lewis College 44-22 last Saturday afternoon. The Skyhawks out-gained NMHU 499-381 en route to the win. Joey Cave threw for 206 yards and a score. Teneil Nichols caught nine passes for 109 yards while Cayden Walton and Mike Jones each caught a touchdown pass.

"We made a lot of mistakes against Fort Lewis and hurt ourselves and you just can't do that in the RMAC," said Coach Taufa'asau. "The penalties and missed opportunities were just too much to overcome."

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The Cowboys currently rank fifth in the RMAC scoring at 25.9 points per game. On the defensive side, they are allowing 43.7 per outing.

The Cowboys lead the RMAC and are 13th in Division II with 204.9 rushing yards per game.

Joey Cave is 8th in the RMAC in passing yards at 141.5 yards per game and is fifth in the RMAC in passing efficiency at 141.5. He is sixth in the RMAC in total offense at 199.4 yards per game.

Tevita Valeti is second in the RMAC and 30th in NCAA Division II in rushing at 85.7 yards per game. He is sixth in the RMAC with 86.7 all purpose yards per game.

Mike Jones leads the RMAC with 25.7 kick return yards per game.

Teneil Nichols is fourth in the RMAC with 73.1 receiving yards per game.

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS: Black Hills State is 5-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play entering Saturday's game.

Josh Breske is in his fifth season as head coach at Black Hills State where he has a career record of 22-23.

Black Hills State averages 23.1 points per game on offense while allowing 22.0 points per game.

Luke Duby is the Yellow Jackets leading averaging 204.9 yards per game while Cameron Goods leads in rushing at 44.8 yards per outing.

FOLLOW THE COWBOYS: Links for the RMAC Network broadcast and LiveStats for Saturday's game against Black Hills State 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.

COWBOY TICKETS: Single game tickets for NMHU Football and Volleyball are available for purchase at NMHUAthletics.com/tickets.