Cowboys Open RMAC Play In Rapid City

Las Vegas, New Mexico - The Cowboys open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon traveling to Rapid City to face South Dakota Mines. Kick off is set for 1:00 pm. NMHU is 0-2 on the young season after dropping games to in-state rivals Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico.

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: The Cowboys dropped the 2024 edition of La Batalla Bowl last Saturday night to Western New Mexico 36-33. The Cowboys led late in the fourth quarter but the host Mustangs scored late to secure the win.

Joey Cave threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another score. Jeliun Carter threw a pair of touchdowns off the bench late for the Cowboys. Mason Peterson rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown. Peterson, Nathan Lopez and Jacob Ledesma IV each caught a touchdown pass.

Mike Jones had three kickoff returns for 145 yards against the Mustangs.

Ben Watson led the Cowboys defensively with 12 tackles and a sack.

"Saturday's game was very frustrating,' said Head Coach Kurt Taufa'asau. "We left a lot of things on the field. Give Western New Mexico credit, they made the plays and executed when it mattered." He continued, "Our guys are starting to buy into what we are doing. We need to continue to improve and execute."

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The Cowboys currently rank second in the RMAC scoring 35.0 points per game. On the defensive side, they are allowing 49.5 per outing.

Joey Cave is fifth in total offense in the RMAC at 258.0 yards per outing.

Mason Peterson is fifth in the conference in rushing at 93.0 yards per game.

Mike Jones leads the RMAC in kick off returns averaging 48.3 yards per game and is third in receiving yards at 90.5 per game.

Jones (163.0 yards) and Peterson (131.0) are third and fourth respectively in all-purpose yards.

Ben Watson is ninth in the RMAC with 7.5 tackles per game.

LAST TIME: The Cowboys fell to the Hardrockers 42-7 last year in Las Vegas. South Dakota Mines jumped out to a 21-0 first half lead and led wire to wire. Cayden Walton scored the lone NMHU touchdown on the afternoon.

SCOUTING THE HARDROCKERS: South Dakota Mines brings a record of 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC into Saturday's contest. The Hardrockers opened the conference season dropping a 35-7 decision to CSU-Pueblo in Rapid City on August 29th. They split a pair of non-conference games losing to Michigan Tech and beating Upper Iowa.

Charlie Flohr is in his 5th season leading the Hardrockers. His record at the helm of the South Dakota Mines program sits at 21-19.

The Hardrockers are averaging 24.3 points per game while yielding 32.2 per game in 2024.

Senior quarterback Jake Martinelli is the team's leading passer at 253.3 per outing and rusher at 49.3 yards per game.

"South Dakota Mines is a well coached team," said Coach Taufa'asau. "They have played a strong schedule so far this season and they play very fundamentally sound football. It will take a lot for us to get a win on the road."

On starting play in the RMAC this week, Coach Taufa'asau said, "The RMAC is no joke. You will get beat if you don't show up and execute every week."

FOLLOW THE COWBOYS: Follow these links for the RMAC Network broadcast and LiveStats from Saturday's game from Rapid City.

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.

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.

UP NEXT: The Cowboys welcome nationally-ranked Western Colorado to Las Vegas next Saturday for a 12:00 pm game.

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.