NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY at WESTERN NEW MEXICO
SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 | 6:00 PM | BEN ALTAMIRANO FIELD | SILVER CITY, NM
Las Vegas, New Mexico - The Cowboys head to Silver City for the 2024 edition of La Batalla Bowl against Western New Mexico. NMHU enters play with a record of 0-1 after dropping the season opener to Eastern New Mexico 63-37 on August 29th in Las Vegas.
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: Despite some bright spots, the Cowboys fell to Eastern New Mexico 63-37 in the season opener on August 29th in Las Vegas. Offensively the Cowboys had 522 yards of total offense against ENMU. Senior
Joey Cave had a career high 263 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Mason Peterson rushed the ball for 125 yards in his first start as a Cowboys.
"We expected that type of performance from Joey, we saw what he was capable of when he won the job in camp," said Coach Taufa'asau. "At the same time, there are areas for improvement too. I expect him to keep working hard and improving."
On
Mason Peterson's effort Tauf'asau said, "We knew he was a special player and we saw that in the game."
Defensively
Keenan Carter stood out for the Cowboys. "Keenan is a true freshman and played very solid for us. He has lots of room to grow but he played well," commented Tauf'asau.
Finally, on the defensive unit, Tauf'asau said, "Guys weren't on the same page. We showed a lack of discipline with guys trying to do too much and not playing within the system. We need to develop a trust factor."
RMAC 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.
LA BATALLA BOWL: Saturday night marks the 13th edition of La Batalla Bowl. The winner of the game claims "A Warrior's Helmet" which was first awarded in 2007. The Mustangs hold a 7-5 edge in La Batalla Bowl history.
La Batalla Bowl History:
2023 NMHU 48-42 in Las Vegas
2021 NMHU 31-28 in Silver City
2019 WNMU 23-17 in Las Vegas
2015 WNMU 38-37 in Silver City
2014 NMHU 59-38 in Las Vegas
2013 WNMU 43-14 in Silver City
2012 NMHU 58-0 in Las Vegas
2011 WNMU 25-18 in Silver City
2010 WNMU 38-13 in Las Vegas
2009 WNMU 50-30 in Silver City
2008 NMHU 17-14 in Las Vegas
2007 WNMU 29-16 in Silver City
LAST TIME: The Cowboys beat Western New Mexico 48-42 last season in Las Vegas. NMHU jumped out to a 28-0 lead after the first quarter en route to the win.
Joey Cave had a pair of touchdowns through the air and added a rushing score. Teniel Nichols had two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.
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.
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.
SCOUTING WNMU: Western New Mexico enters play at 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs opened 2024 with a 41-3 loss to UT-Permian Basin. Last weekend WNMU traveled to Alamosa and outscored the Grizzlies 46-36 to even their record at 1-1. The LSC coaches tabbed the Greyhounds for a 9th place finish this season in their preseason poll that was released before the start of the season.
Billy Hickman, a graduate of Tabor College in Kansas, is in his second season at the helm of the Mustangs. WNMU is 3-9 in his tenure.
Senior Josh Magana is the starting quarterback this season for WNMU. He threw for 300 yards in last week's win at Adams State. Jamon Chambers added 138 yards and three touchdowns in the game for the Mustangs.
"Western made a lot of adjustments from week one to week two and played a really good game in Alamosa," said Coach Taufa'asau. "They have some guys that have been in that system for several years now and it's starting to show."
Follow The Cowboys: A live stream of Saturday's game from Silver City is available for purchase from
FloFootball. Western New Mexico will also provide
LiveStats of the game.
UP NEXT: The Cowboys open RMAC Play next Saturday afternoon in Rapid City, South Dakota, with a 1:00 pm game against South Dakota Mines.
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.
