Cowboys Travel To Gunnison For Meeting With Mountaineers

Las Vegas, New Mexico - New Mexico Highlands is in Gunnison for the 58th meeting all-time with nationally ranked Western Colorado. Kick-off is at 1:00 pm.

The Cowboys topped South Dakota Mines 48-42 in overtime last Saturday afternoon on Homecoming in Las Vegas. NMHU is 3-0 for the first time since 2011 when they beat Eastern New Mexico, Panhandle State, and Colorado Mines to open the season. The Mountaineers are ranked 7th in this week's American Football Coaches Association Coaches' Poll after upending Adams State last Saturday night in Alamosa 45-6.

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 Home Coming 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. Western Colorado were tied for the top spot in the poll with CSU-Pueblo.

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.

LAST TIME OUT: Once again last week against South Dakota Mines, the Cowboys started fast as they led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter and 28-14 at the halftime break. They pushed that lead to 42-21 after three quarters of play only to allow the Hardrockers to score 21 unanswered points in the final quarter, the last touchdown coming with just 14 seconds remaining in regulation, to force overtime.  After keeping the Hardrockers out of the end zone on the first possession of overtime, Tevita Valeti punched in a one yard run to seal the 48-42 win for the Cowboys.  

NEW MEXICO!: For the first time since the 2012 season, the Cowboys defeated Western New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico in the same season. 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.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS: Western Colorado is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference heading into Saturday's match up with the Cowboys. They are ranked 7th in this week's AFCA Division II Poll. The Mountaineers topped Adams State last Saturday in their conference opener 45-6 behind five passing touchdowns from Drew Nash. The Mountaineers defense held the home standing Grizzlies to just 41 net rushing yards and 173 yards of total offense in the game. Jas Bains is in his 15th season as the head coach at Western Colorado. He's led the Mountaineers to the NCAA Playoffs in three of the past four seasons.

MOUNTAINEER/COWBOY SERIES NOTES:
Western Colorado leads the series 36-21
Last Mountaineer win September 28, 2024, 53-12 in Las Vegas
Last Cowboys' win November 9, 2019, 24-22 in Gunnison
New Mexico Highlands won the first game in the series 37-34 in 1951

MIKE JONES, PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jones' 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown just as the third quarter ended proved pivotal as New Mexico Highlands outlasted South Dakota Mines' fourth-quarter rally to win 48-42 in overtime on Saturday. After South Dakota Mines scored on a 96-yard fumble return, Jones repaid the favor by returning the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. That proved crucial as it was the Cowboys' last touchdown in regulation, putting the hosts ahead 42-21. Jones also handled punt return duties and scored three touchdowns as part of a 7-reception, 116-yard effort. He finished the game with 221 all-purpose yards against South Dakota Mines.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Through two games this season the Cowboys are averaging 50.3 points and 563.5 yards per game which ranks them first in the RMAC in both categories. Nationally, the Cowboys are first in Total Offense and second in scoring.

Senior Ike Udengwu is third nationally in Passing Efficiency at 187.7 and first in Yards per Completion at 20.5.

Senior Mike Jones is fifth in the nation in Scoring (12.0/points per game), sixth in receiving touchdowns (6)

Freshman Jeffery Jones leads the nation in All Purpose Yards Per Game (310.5/game), Rushing Yards Per Game (278.7.0/game), Yards Per Carry (13.5/carry) and Scoring (18.0/points per game).

Freshman Jaden Montalvo is fifth in the nation in Kickoff Returns (32.7 yards/game)

KICKING GAME: The Cowboys' kicking game has played a large part in the team's first three games this season. They are averaging 37.6 net yards per punt. NMHU is 2-2 on field goals with makes of 25 and 40 yards and they have converted 19 of 20 point after attempts.

UP NEXT: The Cowboys return to historic Las Vegas next Saturday afternoon to host nationally ranked CSU-Pueblo at 1:00 pm.

RMAC NETWORK: All nine of the remaining 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 the games in historic Las Vegas this season. Visit RMACNetwork.com for information on purchasing a subscription so you can follow the Cowboys all season long.

SINGLE GAME TICKETS: Individual game tickets for the Cowboys' remaining home games are on sale now…purchase your tickets at NMHUAthletics.com/Tickets!

CLEAR BAG POLICY: NMHU has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for all on-campus events.