Las Vegas, N.M. Western Colorado kept their hopes alive of potentially sharing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion title, by defeating New Mexico Highlands 30-13 today (Oct. 22) on the road.
The Mountaineers will now have to defeat Colorado School of Mines next weekend and win out in order to be crowned co-champs again.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score:  Western Colorado def. New Mexico Highlands 30-13.
Records: Western Colorado 5-3 (5-1, RMAC), New Mexico Highlands 3-3 (3-3, RMAC).
Location: Sanchez Family Stadium; Las Vegas, N.M.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western Colorado had a bit of luck on their side to start the game, as Josh Cummings rushed for 18-yards fumbled on the Mountaineers 37-yard line and then was recovered by Andrew Montez who took it 63-yards for the touchdown.
• Three drives later, New Mexico Highlands tied the game at seven points apiece, on a two-play 78-yard passing touchdown. Western Colorado responded quickly and put together a 15-play drive that ended in a 26-yard Alec Fonseca field goal.
• Very similar to the Mountaineers, the Cowboys responded with a near identical drive. New Mexico Highlands marched down the field on a 16-play drive and made an 18-yard field goal – tying the game at 10-10.
• Western was finally able to find the endzone on their next drive. After a Deyvon Butler 30-yard rush put the ball on the Cowboys six-yard line, Connor Desch connected with Cole Riters for a six-yard passing touchdown.
• New Mexico Highlands responded once again and unknowingly scored their final points of the game on their next drive. A 55-yard reception by a Cowboy's receiver, set up their kicker to make a 25-yard field goal with 1:33 left before halftime.
• The Mountaineers ran a textbook two-minute drill to close out the half, leading to Alec Fonseca drilling a 25-yard field goal to increase the lead to 20-10 at halftime.
• Coming out of halftime, Western's offense continued rolling, resulting in the lead increasing to 27-10. Four plays into the first drive coming out of halftime, Desch connected with Montez on a five-yard hitch, then Montez broke a tackle and then juked a New Mexico Highland defender out of his shoes and ran for 45 more yards to the Cowboys 10-yard line. Two plays later Desch rushed for a four-yard touchdown.
• Before the third quarter ended, Alec Fonseca made his third field goal of the game, this time being from 27 yards.
• In the fourth quarter, both offenses were held scoreless.

FIELD NOTES

• Desch finished the game with 247 passing yards (23-of-41) and one touchdown. Out of the backfield, Deyvon Butler led the team with 71 rushing yards on 11 attempts. Receiving wise Montez caught seven passes for 91-yards and finished the game with 63-yards rushing.
• On defense, Carson Mandrell led the team in tackling with nine, eight being solo.  Mandrell, Dominick Fletcher, Ethan Sanchez-Maxwell and Cy Shope each recorded a sack during the course of the game.

UP NEXT
Western Colorado will hit the road for their next game on Saturday (Oct. 22) against New Mexico Highlands University at 12 p.m.