Silver City, New Mexico - New Mexico Highlands piled up 454 yards on the ground and scored 48 points over the final three quarters Thursday night as the Cowboys defeated Western New Mexico 55-32 at Ben Altamirano Field.
The victory moves New Mexico Highlands to 2-0 on the season and gives the Cowboys wins over both of their in-state rivals for the second consecutive season.
New Mexico Highlands averaged 10.6 yards per rushing attempt, finishing with 454 yards and five touchdowns on 43 carries. The Cowboys totaled 530 yards of offense and averaged 9.5 yards per play.
Matt McGuiggan led the ground attack with 168 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, while Jaden Montalvo added 163 yards and two scores on 11 attempts. Ryan Hamilton needed just one carry to add another 56 yards and a touchdown.
Hamilton put the Cowboys on the board first, breaking free for a 56-yard touchdown run to give New Mexico Highlands a 7-0 advantage.
Western New Mexico answered with a pair of touchdowns to take a 13-7 lead late in the opening quarter.
The Cowboys responded immediately.
Facing third-and-long early in the second quarter, McGuiggan broke loose for a 91-yard touchdown run, giving New Mexico Highlands a 14-13 advantage.
McGuiggan added a six-yard touchdown later in the quarter to extend the lead to 21-13. Western New Mexico pulled within 21-19 with 46 seconds remaining in the half, but the Cowboys answered again.
Following an 83-yard kickoff return by Malachi Releford and a Western New Mexico penalty, New Mexico Highlands took possession at the Mustang eight-yard line. Kadyn Parr connected with Isaac Houlihan for an eight-yard touchdown, sending the Cowboys into halftime with a 28-19 lead.
New Mexico Highlands wasted little time adding to the lead in the second half. After the Cowboys' defense forced a three-and-out to open the third quarter, Montalvo raced 59 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the ensuing possession, pushing the advantage to 35-19.
The Cowboys carried that momentum into the fourth quarter.
After the defense stopped Western New Mexico on fourth down, Parr connected with Kerya Powell for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 42-19.
Western New Mexico answered, but New Mexico Highlands responded with a 72-yard drive capped by Montalvo's seven-yard touchdown run with six minutes remaining, extending the lead to 49-25.
Daniel Estrada closed the scoring for the Cowboys with field goals of 23 and 26 yards. He was also a perfect 7-for-7 on extra-point attempts.
Parr finished 5-of-13 passing for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Powell and Houlihan caught the touchdown passes, while Releford led the Cowboys with 24 receiving yards.
Defensively, New Mexico Highlands came up with several key stops despite Western New Mexico finishing with 578 yards of offense. Kaleb Harris intercepted Ashley in the second quarter, and the Cowboys held the Mustangs scoreless in the third quarter while forcing two turnovers on downs in the second half.
The Cowboys were also perfect on five trips inside the Western New Mexico red zone and held the Mustangs to one conversion on four fourth-down attempts.
With the victory, New Mexico Highlands has now defeated Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico in the same season for the second consecutive year.
Thursday's game marked the 15th edition of the La Batalla Bowl, and the victory ensures the Warrior's Trophy remains in Las Vegas for another year.
The Cowboys return to action on Saturday, September 12th, when they travel to Durango, Colorado, to face Fort Lewis and open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
