Cowboys Ready To Open Season Thursday In Portales

Las Vegas, New Mexico - The New Mexico Highlands Cowboys open the 2025 season on Thursday evening as they travel to Portales to face Eastern New Mexico University. Kick-off at Al Whitehead Field at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium is set for 6:00 pm. Thursday's game marks the fourth consecutive year the Cowboys open the season against the Greyhounds.

COACH KURT TAUFA'ASAU: 2025 marks the second season at the helm for Coach Taufa'asau at the helm of the NMHU football program after being named head coach on May 29, 2024. Taufa'asau earned his first career win at NMHU when he led the Cowboys to a thrilling 33-30 win on October 12th of last season in front of raucous Homecoming Crowd in historic Las Vegas. NMHU scored two touchdowns in the last 6:54 of that game to earn the win. Prior to coming to New Mexico Highlands Taufa'asau was the head coach at New Mexico Military Institute where led the Broncos to the 2021 NJCAA Division I National Championship.

2025 RMAC PRESEASON POLL: New Mexico Highlands University, 2-9 overall and 2-7 in the RMAC a year ago, was picked to finish tied for 7th, with Chadron State, in the poll with 31 points in voting by the ten conference football coaches.

Sophomore running back Tevita Valeti, the 2024 Freshman Offensive Player of the year in the RMAC, was named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team. Valeti finished second among all RMAC backs last season with 880 rushing yards on a league-high 166 carries and eight touchdowns.

HOMEGROWN COWBOYS: Once again this season Coach Taufa'asau and his staff diligently recruited their home state as the 2025 New Mexico Highlands football roster features 45 players who played high school football in the state of New Mexico. Several of those players are on the Two Deep for Thursday's games highlighted by senior Kioni Benally, a four year starter at offensive tackle.

GREYHOUNDS/COWBOYS SERIES NOTES:
ENMU Leads the all-time series 35-13
NMHU won the first game in the long-time series 13-7 in 1941
Last ENMU win August 29th, 2024, 63-37 in Las Vegas
Last NMHU win September 7, 2013, 31-28 in Portales
ENMU leads games played in Portales 19-4

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT RIVALS: Once again this year the Cowboys play their two instate rivals in non-conference games to open the season. The Cowboys lost the 2024 season opener to Eastern New Mexico 64-37 in Las Vegas. NMHU was edged the following week by Western New Mexico 36-33 in Silver City.

UP NEXT: The Cowboys host Western New Mexico on September 6th at 6:00 pm in the 2025 edition of La Batalla Bowl.

RMAC NETWORK: After Thursday's game in Portales, the remaining 10 games on the schedule will be broadcast on the RMAC Network with New Mexico Broadcaster of the Year Scott Galetti returning as the Voice of the Cowboys for all home games this season. Visit RMACNetwork.com for information on purchasing a subscription so you can follow the Cowboys all season long.

SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets for the five Cowboy home games are on sale now…purchase your tickets at NMHUAthletics.com/Tickets!