Durango, Colorado - New Mexico Highlands rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final two minutes to force overtime, but Fort Lewis prevailed 31-28 Saturday evening at Ray Dennison Memorial Field in the RMAC opener for both teams.
The loss was the first of the season for the Cowboys, who fell to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in RMAC play, while Fort Lewis improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference action.
Ashton Bradford led a New Mexico Highlands rushing attack that finished with 316 yards, carrying 15 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns. The Cowboys averaged 8.1 yards per carry and finished with 457 yards of total offense compared to 374 for the Skyhawks.
Bradford wasted little time putting the Cowboys on the board. On the first offensive play of the game, he broke free for a 76-yard touchdown run just 19 seconds into the contest to give New Mexico Highlands a 7-0 advantage.
Fort Lewis responded with 10 unanswered points to take a 10-7 lead before Bradford struck again early in the second quarter. He capped an 80-yard drive with a 43-yard touchdown run, his second of the night, to put the Cowboys back in front 14-10.
The Skyhawks regained the lead on a 68-yard touchdown pass with 4:30 remaining in the half and added a two-point conversion to make it 18-14.
That lead lasted only 14 seconds.
Kerya Powell took the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, and Daniel Estrada's extra point gave the Cowboys a 21-18 advantage.
Fort Lewis scored the only points of the third quarter sending the Skyhawks into the fourth quarter with a 25-21 lead.
A 42-yard field goal with 2:13 remaining extended the Fort Lewis advantage to 28-21 and left the Cowboys needing to travel nearly the entire length of the field to keep the game alive.
Starting at their own four-yard line with 2:09 remaining, the Cowboys responded. New Mexico Highlands drove 96 yards in just 1:18, with Bradford finishing the march on a six-yard touchdown run with 51 seconds remaining. Estrada converted the extra point to tie the game at 28 and send the Cowboys to overtime.
New Mexico Highlands had the ball first in the extra period. Bradford opened with a five-yard run before Kadyn Parr connected with Jordan Lucas for six yards and a first down at the Fort Lewis 14. A false start and a sack pushed the Cowboys back, and Estrada's 37-yard field goal attempt was no good.
Fort Lewis then gained five yards on three rushing plays before connecting on a 37-yard field goal to give the Skyhawks the 31-28 victory.
Bradford's 180-yard performance came on just 15 carries, an average of 12.0 yards per attempt. Parr completed 15 of 25 passes for 141 yards while adding 60 yards on the ground. Giovanni Ribalta led the Cowboys with four receptions for 39 yards.
Defensively, Damon Mayberry led New Mexico Highlands with 12 tackles and recovered a Fort Lewis fumble. Nathan Harden added eight tackles and two pass breakups, while Kaleb Sells recorded an interception.
Penalties proved costly for the Cowboys, who were flagged 17 times for 183 yards. Despite that, New Mexico Highlands out gained Fort Lewis 457-374, held the Skyhawks to 108 rushing yards and forced three turnovers.
New Mexico Highlands returns home next Saturday, September 19th, when the Cowboys host Black Hills State in historic Las Vegas. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
