LAS VEGAS, N.M.  Western Colorado, ranked 13th this week in the D2Football.com poll, heads south to Sanchez Family Stadium to take on host New Mexico Highlands University in a Saturday afternoon Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• The Mountaineers have opened the season with three consecutive wins, including a 38-0 RMAC shutout of Adams State in their most recent game – winning the Colorado Classic for the fourth straight season.
• Western has posted a 14-8 record against the Cowboys since the 2000 season, winning the last three meetings and by an average score of 46-17.
• The Mountaineers rank first in the RMAC in scoring offense (34 points per game), rushing offense (211 yards/game), rushing defense (37 YPG) and interceptions (5 total).
• The defense is also third in points allowed (17 per game) and fourth in total sacks (8).
• Running back Braeden Hogan and quarterback Drew Nash are both in the top 10 of the RMAC in rushing. Hogan is fifth in the league averaging 77 YPG while Nash is eighth at 72 YPG.
• Nash is also third in touchdowns, with three, and fifth in passing, averaging 177 YPG.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• The Cowboys are 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC, dropping their conference opener last Saturday to South Dakota Mines, 40-19.
• Despite its record, Highlands' offense is producing 30 points per game to rank third best in the RMAC. And it is right behind the Mountaineers in the run game, averaging 178 per outing for second best in the league.
• The defense seems to be holding the Cowboys back, however, as it is allowing 46 points per game, 311 rushing YPG, have recorded just two sacks and are without an interception.
• Mason Peterson leads the ground game, averaging 93 yards per outing. He has scored one touchdown on the ground and caught one touchdown pass.
• Quarterback Joey Cave tossed that TD to Peterson, and Cave ranks seventh amongst the league's quarterbacks in passing with a 154 YPG average.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers return home to Mojo Field in the Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex for their next game, an RMAC matchup against Fort Lewis College, which broke a 5+ year losing streak on Sept. 14 with a win over the NAIA's Arizona Christian University.