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New Mexico Highlands University Athletics

Cowboys Lose To Western Colorado On Homecoming
John Vestal | Sports Fanatic Photography
52
Winner Western Colo. WCU 6-0 , 4-0
24
N.M. Highlands NMH 3-3 , 1-3
Winner
Western Colo. WCU
6-0 , 4-0
52
Final
24
N.M. Highlands NMH
3-3 , 1-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WCU Western Colo. 0 21 17 14 52
NMH N.M. Highlands 10 7 0 7 24

Game Recap: Football |

No. 7 Western Colorado Overcomes Cowboys’ Fast Start

New Mexico Highlands builds an early 17-point advantage before No. 7 Western Colorado responds.

Las Vegas, New Mexico - New Mexico Highlands jumped out to a 17-point lead against the nation's seventh-ranked team Saturday evening, but Western Colorado responded with 52 unanswered points on its way to a 52-24 victory over the Cowboys in Saturday's Homecoming game at Sanchez Family Stadium.

Western Colorado entered Saturday's contest ranked No. 7 in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll and unbeaten at 5-0.

The Cowboys (3-3, 1-3 RMAC) controlled the opening stages of the game in front of a Homecoming crowd of 3,027.

New Mexico Highlands wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Ashton Bradford broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run on the Cowboys' opening possession to give NMHU a 7-0 advantage. Daniel Estrada added a 40-yard field goal later in the first quarter as the Cowboys took a 10-0 lead into the second.

The New Mexico Highlands defense also came up with a turnover late in the opening quarter, stopping a Western Colorado drive at the Cowboys' nine-yard line. NMHU responded with an 11-play, 91-yard drive that carried into the second quarter, with quarterback Kadyn Parr scoring from one yard out to push the lead to 17-0.

Western Colorado began its comeback midway through the second quarter. Quarterback Josiah Roy threw three touchdown passes over the final 6:49 of the half, including a 24-yard scoring pass to Blake Kramer with 30 seconds remaining that gave the Mountaineers a 21-17 halftime advantage.

The Mountaineers carried that momentum into the second half, scoring 17 points in the third quarter to extend the lead to 38-17. Western Colorado added two more touchdowns in the fourth before New Mexico Highlands closed the scoring when Collin Stucki capped a five-play, 75-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run.

Bradford turned in another strong performance for the Cowboys, rushing 16 times for 161 yards and a touchdown, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Stucki added 48 yards and a touchdown on four carries, while Parr rushed for 32 yards and a score. New Mexico Highlands finished with 265 rushing yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

Through the air, Parr completed 10 of 21 passes for 129 yards, while Stucki completed two passes for 39 yards. Brian Spotwood II led the Cowboys with 58 receiving yards on two catches, including a 38-yard reception. Jordan Lucas added two catches for 39 yards.

New Mexico Highlands finished with 433 yards of total offense and 22 first downs, while Western Colorado totaled 525 yards and 23 first downs. The Cowboys did not throw an interception but lost two fumbles.

Defensively, Damon Mayberry and Kaleb Sells led New Mexico Highlands with 10 tackles apiece. Clinton Mahoni recorded two tackles for loss, while the Cowboys finished with eight tackles for loss as a team.

New Mexico Highlands will have a bye next weekend before returning to action Saturday, October 17th, when the Cowboys travel to CSU Pueblo.

NOTES:

  • The Cowboys lost their Homecoming game for the first time since the 2023 season, when they dropped a 21-14 decision to Adams State.

  • Western Colorado has won six straight games against New Mexico Highlands.

  • Sophomore Collin Stucki scored the first rushing touchdown of his collegiate career.

  • The Cowboys have a bye next week and return to action on October 17th at CSU Pueblo. This season marks the first year the RMAC has incorporated a bye week into the football schedule.

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