This game recap is presented by MAA Corporate Partner Powerstop/The HammerLAS VEGAS, N.M. - Scoring 27 fourth quarter points, Western State Colorado University football gave themselves a chance to win against New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday.  However, after a turbulent final three minutes, the Cowboys prevailed with a 46-43 win against the Mountaineers.

Western (3-4, 2-3 RMAC) entered the fourth quarter, trailing NMHU (3-4, 3-2 RMAC) 19-30.  With the Cowboys, seemingly on the way to snatching another Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win, the Mountaineers began their comeback.

Western's Ryan Winke (So., Aurora, Colorado) kicked his fourth-of-five field goals and third over 43 yards to begin the fourth quarter.  

The Mountaineer defense forced a punt on NMHU's next possession, but a botched snap on the punt, set Western in great field position at the Cowboys' five yard line.

Western's Brett Arrivey (RSo., Woodinville, Washington) connected with Josh Weller (RFr., Grand Junction, Colorado) on a three-yard touchdown pass to put the Mountaineers within four points at 26-30 with 11:26 left to play.

The Cowboys would drive 75 yards on nine plays on their next possession, scoring a 16-yard touchdown.  NMHU missed the extra point opportunity and took a 36-26 lead with 7:59 remaining.

The Mountaineers responded by marching down the field to NMHU's five yard line.  Western was forced to kick a field goal, with Winke making his fifth of the game.  With 6:10 on the clock, Western was down one touchdown and an extra point.

Needing a stop, the Western defense answered the call yet again, forcing NMHU to punt.  With 4:54 remaining, Western had the football on their own 42-yard line.  Arrivey threw the ball nine times on the drive, ending with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Worth (Sr., Burlington, North Carolina) with 2:30 remaining.  However, Western missed the extra point and were down by one point.

The Mountaineers were unable to recover the onside kick and with the ball, the Cowboys looked to run out the clock and take the win.  Western's defense had other ideas, stopping NMHU's run attempts and forcing a third down situation.  The Cowboys opted to pass the ball on third down.  NMHU's quarterback Lance Orender completed the pass, only it was Western's Kalvin Winter (Sr., Conifer, Colorado) who intercepted it and returned it 29 yards to the NMHU's 45-yard line.

Winter was all over the field for the Mountaineers.  Recording 11 tackles and a half sack, Winter forced one fumble, recovered two and had one interception.

With 2:08 on the clock and down one point, Western found themselves facing fourth down.  Using a hard count, the Mountaineer offense made the Cowboys' defense jump offsides, giving Western new life.  On the next snap, Austin Ekeler (So., Eaton, Colorado) took the ball 32 yards into the end zone.  After successfully completing the two-point conversion, Western earned their first lead of the game at 43-36 with 1:27 remaining.  Ekeler ran for a total of 116 yards rushing and one touchdown in Saturday's game.  

With 1:27, the Mountaineers needed one more stop to end the game.  However, NMHU went 75 yards in 45 seconds to score a touchdown and tie the game with 42 seconds remaining.

Looking as though the game would be going into overtime, the Cowboys kicked off.  On the return, the Mountaineers fumbled and NMHU recovered at Western's 30-yard line.  The Cowboys centered the football and kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired.  The ball split the uprights and NMHU escaped with a victory.

Winke made five field goals in the game, giving him a total of 15 on the season.  This ties Winke for the second most field goals made in a year with Lloyd Tucker (2011) and Ryan Hicks (1997).

Arrivey threw for a total of 277 yards and three touchdowns, completing 29 of 51 passes.  Arrivey moved into fourth place all-time at Western in passing attempts with 674.

Arrivey's main target on Saturday was Kyle Adkins (RSo., Woodinville, Washington) who gained 94 yards receiving and scored one touchdown.

The Mountaineer defense recorded two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.  Cole Waliczek (Sr., Thornton, Colorado) led the Mountaineers in tackles with 14.  Linebacker Jaden Terry (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colorado) recorded 12 tackles, 0.5 sacks and one interception.

Western will try and erase Saturday's loss next week when the Mountaineers host Western New Mexico University in Mountaineer Bowl during Western's Family Weekend.