Golden, Colorado - New Mexico Highlands University closed out its 2026 football season Saturday afternoon with a 59-24 loss to Colorado School of Mines at Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni Field.
Despite generating 449 yards of total offense, including 309 through the air, the Cowboys were unable to keep pace with an Oredigger offense that amassed 616 yards, including 336 on the ground.
Quarterback Collin Stucki completed 27 of 42 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns, while Kerya Powell led the receiving corps with six catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Andre Hall Jr. added seven receptions for 88 yards, and Giovanni Ribalta finished with five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Owen Smith led the Cowboys' ground attack with 76 yards on 18 carries, while Stucki added 29 rushing yards.
Colorado School of Mines opened the scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter. New Mexico Highlands answered with a 37-yard field goal from Daniel Estrada, cutting the deficit to 7-3.
After the Orediggers extended their lead to 14-3, the Cowboys put together a 10-play, 78-yard drive capped by a nine-yard touchdown pass from Stucki to Powell, pulling New Mexico Highlands within 14-10 late in the opening quarter.
Mines took control in the second quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points to build a 31-10 halftime advantage. The Orediggers scored on touchdown passes of 45 and 26 yards and added a 46-yard field goal.
The Cowboys came out of halftime with a six-play, 60-yard scoring drive, capped by a 24-yard touchdown connection from Stucki to Powell that trimmed the deficit to 31-17.
Mines responded with consecutive touchdowns to extend its advantage to 45-17 before New Mexico Highlands put together another scoring drive late in the third quarter. Stucki connected with Ribalta on an 11-yard touchdown pass, completing a six-play, 75-yard possession and bringing the Cowboys within 45-24.
The Orediggers added two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns to account for the final margin.
Colorado School of Mines finished with 336 rushing yards and 280 passing yards. The Orediggers' passing attack accounted for four touchdowns.
Defensively, Alexandre Serrano and LaCarlos McGee III led New Mexico Highlands with eight tackles apiece. McGee also recorded an interception and a forced fumble, while Kaleb Sells contributed seven tackles and Augustine Lopez finished with six.
The Cowboys finished the afternoon with 25 first downs and converted three of their five red-zone opportunities into points. Mines recorded 31 first downs and averaged 8.8 yards per offensive play.
New Mexico Highlands concludes the 2026 campaign with a 4-7 overall record and a 2-7 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
NOTES
- Collin Stucki threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, his second consecutive 300-yard passing performance.
- Over the last five games, Stucki completed 110 of 174 passes for 1,487 yards and 14 touchdownsÂ
- Kerya Powell caught two touchdown passes, finishing with six receptions for 90 yards.
- Owen Smith led the Cowboys with 76 rushing yards on 18 carries.New Mexico Highlands recorded 449 yards of total offense, including 309 passing yards.
