A Trophy With History And A Mystery

Las Vegas, NM - Two schools separated by 357 miles, united by purple and divided by rivalry, meet each year with one goal in mind: to claim the Warrior's Helmet.

After the Cowboys opened their season last week in historic Las Vegas, New Mexico, with a victory against in-state rival Eastern New Mexico, they now turn their attention to the Mustangs of Western New Mexico.

The series dates to 1934, when Western New Mexico defeated New Mexico Highlands 13-0. The Mustangs hold the all-time advantage in the series, leading 32-20.

The two teams did not meet from 2015-18. In 2019, former Western New Mexico Athletic Director Scott Noble (and later former NMHU Athletic Director) and former New Mexico Highlands Athletic Director Craig Snow worked together to revive the annual match up in compliance with the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) scheduling requirements.

"This was an important game because of the state appeal and for regional rankings as well for the two programs," Noble said when explaining why restoring the match up mattered.

The rivalry was rebranded in 2019 as the La Batalla Bowl, which translates to The Battle was named "The Warrior Bowl." Between the two Athletic Directors at the time

Yet, despite the history surrounding the match up, one question remains unanswered: how did the Warrior's Helmet become the symbol of this match up?

The trophy was first awarded in 2007, when Western New Mexico became the first team to claim it after defeating New Mexico Highlands 29-16 in Silver City.

The helmet sits on a wooden pedestal featuring plaques listing each year's winner and the final score. Western New Mexico has claimed the trophy eight times, while New Mexico Highlands has claimed it six times.  But how did the trophy come to be?
 

After speaking with multiple former athletic directors, including Scott Woodard of Western New Mexico, Ed Manzanares of New Mexico Highlands, and Scott Noble of both Western New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands, no one could definitively explain who purchased the helmet, who decided it would become the trophy, or why it was chosen.

The closest connection may lie in the history of the rivalry itself. The helmet was the style of helmet worn when the two teams first met in 1934. Because of that connection, the helmet became a fitting symbol for a rivalry trophy.

Across college athletics, rivalry trophies transform annual match ups into traditions that players, coaches, and fans remember long after the final whistle. Examples include the Rocky Mountain Showdown between Colorado and Colorado State, The Border War between Wyoming and Colorado State, and the Black Hills Brawl between RMAC rivals Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines.

New Mexico Highlands head coach Kurt Taufa'asau played in Wyoming's Border War against Colorado State, a rivalry in which the winner claims the Bronze Boot.

"My time as a player at Wyoming, I went 3-0 against the sheep," Taufa'asau said. "I have a shirt that says '3-0 against the sheep,' and anytime I see people and say, 'Oh, are you a CSU fan?' I get to say, 'I went 3-0 against them.' So, bringing that mentality here is important."
 
For many student-athletes, these rivalry games become some of the most memorable moments of their college careers. The trophies represent more than just winning; they represent tradition, pride, and the connection between universities and their communities.

New Mexico Highlands running backs and tight ends coach and special team's coordinator Gage Guardiola knows the rivalry from both sides of the sideline. As a player, Guardiola went 1-0 against the Mustangs in the La Batalla Bowl.
 
"You know, being a New Mexican, it meant a ton," Guardiola said. "I know that kind of got the season rolling, and as a player, that was one of the moments I enjoyed the most. It just meant, 'Hey, our hard work paid off.' And then, like, New Mexico Division II football runs through Highlands."

The Warrior's Helmet represents more than just a trophy when these two teams take the field. The leather helmet symbolizes the history, pride, and competition shared between two programs representing the state of New Mexico.

While rivalry brings intensity on the field, the trophy ultimately serves as a reminder of the respect and sportsmanship shared between two universities.

Its exact origin may remain a mystery, but its meaning is clear. For the Cowboys and Mustangs, the Warrior's Helmet represents more than a trophy - it represents decades of competition, state pride and another chapter in a rivalry that continues to grow. Tune in to the Lone Star Network at 6 p.m. Thursday, September 3, as the next chapter will be written Thursday night in Silver City.