Cowboys Home For Game With Western Colorado

Las Vegas, New Mexico - The Cowboys return home to face nationally ranked Western Colorado on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is set for 12:00 pm. The Cowboys enter play at 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC. Western Colorado is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

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 a 40-19 decision last Saturday in Rapid City to South Dakota Mines. NMHU trailed the game 20-19 at the half powered by a rushing touchdown and two passing scores from Waika Crawford. Teneil Nichols and Cayden Walton were on the receiving end of the Crawford touchdown passes.

Fabiano Valdez was the Cowboys leading tackler with nine, while Trenton Johnson added six.

"Our offensive and defensive lines have been very inconsistent," said Head Coach Kurt Taufa'asau. "You win games running the ball and stopping the run and we didn't do either. In the end, South Dakota Mines executed and we didn't." Talking further about the Cowboy's first three games, Coach Taufa'asau went on, "Penalties and mental lapses have cost us. And giving the other team a short field to work with makes it so challenging."

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The Cowboys currently rank third in the RMAC scoring at 29.7 points per game. On the defensive side, they are allowing 46.3 per outing.

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

Mason Perterson is third in the conference in rushing at 93.0 yards per game.

Mike Jones leads the RMAC in kick off returns averaging 39.3 yards per game and is sixth in receiving yards at 67.0 per game.

Teneil Nichols is fourth in the RMAC with 71.3 receiving yards per game.

Peterson (131.0) and Jones (119.3) are second and third respectively in all-purpose yards.

Fabiano Valdez is eighth in the RMAC with 7.7 tackles per game.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS: Western Colorado is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the RMAC entering into play on Saturday in Las Vegas. They defeated Midwestern State and West Texas A&M in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Last weekend, they handed Adams State a 38-0 defeat to open play in the RMAC. Western Colorado is ranked 14th in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II poll.

Jas Bains is in his 14th season leading the program at Western Colorado. The Fresno State alum has a career mark of 57-81 at the helm of the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers lead the RMAC scoring 34.0 points per game while allowing 16.7 per game in 2024.

Junior quarterback Drew Nash is the team's leading passer at 177 yards per outing while senior Braeden Hogan leads WCU 76.7 yards per game rushing.

"Western Colorado is a really well coached team and they beat some very good football teams so far this year," said Taufa'asau.

FOLLOW THE COWBOYS: If you're not able to attend Saturday's game in Las Vegas, links for the RMAC Network broadcast and LiveStats from Saturday's game from Sanchez Family Stadium 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.

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 travel to Colorado for a game next week at CSU-Pueblo. Kick-off is at 2:00 pm.

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