Cowboys Open 2024 Season Thursday Night

Las Vegas, New Mexico - Just over 90 days after being introduced as the head coach at New Mexico Highlands University, Kurt Taufa'asau will lead his football team onto the field Thursday evening to face in-state rivals Eastern New Mexico University. This marks the third consecutive season that the Cowboys open the season against the Greyhounds. Thursday's game is a Community Game presented by Quality Care.

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.

Cowboys At A Glance: NMHU, 2-9 overall last year and 1-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, was tabbed for a ninth place finish in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll that was released late last month.

Senior Joey Cave returns and will start at quarterback Thursday for the Cowboys. He appeared in nine games a year ago and threw for nearly 700 yards and three touchdowns. He added another 261 yards and two scores on the ground in 2023.

"Joey has been good for us," said Taufa'asau. "He has shown leadership and worked really hard to learn the offense."

RMAC PRESEASON POLL: New Mexico Highlands University, 2-9 overall and 1-8 in the RMAC a year ago, was picked to finish ninth in the poll with 18 points in voting by the ten conference football coaches.

THE SERIES: Looking back at the series history since 2000, the Cowboys and Greyhounds have met 11 times with Eastern New Mexico holding a 7-4 lead in those games. ENMU has won four straight in the series with the Cowboys last win coming on September 7, 2013, in Portales.

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT RIVALS: Once again in 2024, New Mexico Highlands has both Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico on the football schedule. The Cowboys split the game with their in-state rivals in 2023 losing to ENMU in Portales before beating WNMU in Las Vegas.

"I am glad we are playing these two games," said Coach Taufa'asau. "It means a lot to the kids and the coaching staff."

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.

LAST TIME: Eastern New Mexico downed the Cowboys 28-26 last August 30th in Portales. The Cowboys scored the last 13 points of the contest but came up just short on a two-point conversion with just under a minute to go in the game.

SCOUTING ENMU: Eastern New Mexico finished 2023 at 5-6 overall and 2-6 in the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They were 2-4 away from Portales a year ago. The LSC coaches tabbed the Greyhounds for a 7th palace finish this season in their preseason poll that was released last month.

Kelly Lee, a graduate of Western New Mexico, is in his fifth season at the helm of the Greyhounds. ENMU is 26-18 in his tenure.

Mario Sanchez returns as the Greyhounds quarterback this season. The redshirt junior played in all 11 games a year ago for ENMU throwing for nearly 1200 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"Thursday will be a good opportunity to see where we are coming out of camp," said Coach Taufa'asau. "Eastern is a well coached team and they will test our guys."

UP NEXT: The Cowboys travel to Silver City to face Western New Mexico University in the 2024 edition of La Batalla Bowl on Saturday, September 14th. Kick-off is set for 6:00 pm.

SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets for NMHU Football and Volleyball are available for purchase at NMHUAthletics.com/tickets.

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.