LAS VEGAS, N.M.  Thirteenth-ranked Western Colorado scored on its first eight possessions of the game Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 53-12 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football win at host New Mexico Highlands University.

The Mountaineers piled up 561 yards of total offense, getting 304 on the ground led by Kaiden Hernandez' 118 yards.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. N.M. Highlands, 53-12
Records: Western 4-0 (2-0 RMAC), Highlands 0-4 (0-2)
Location: Sanchez Family Stadium, Las Vegas, N.M.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Western defense opened the game by limiting the Cowboys to just five plays and 15 yards on their first possession, handing the ball over to an offense that might have been in high gear during warmups.
• Quarterback Drew Nash led a scoring drive that took just 2 minutes, 24 seconds, finishing with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Elias Zarate.
• A fumbled snap by the Highlands punter on its next series resulted in Western starting its next drive at the Cowboys' 22. Five plays later Braeden Hogan was crashing through defenders at the goal line with a 3-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead.
• By the time halftime rolled around, the Mountaineers had accumulated 300 total yards—132 on the ground and 168 through the air—and led 40-0. The offense was so efficient through the opening 30 minutes that Highlands owned the edge in time of possession, 18:43 to 11:17.
• The Mountaineers came out of the halftime break and found paydirt again, driving 63 yards in 6 plays in just 2:15, culminating in Royce Pao's third touchdown run of the game, this one a crushing 3-yard push up through the middle.
• Highlands would finally get into its end zone midway through the third quarter, and late in the fourth would add another touchdown, but failed both times in going for a 2-point conversion.

TURF NOTES

• The scoring included a safety for Western when Ethan Sanchez-Maxwell blocked a Cowboys punt out of the end zone late in the second quarter.
• There was also a 1-play, quick score by Western when Josiah Roy tossed to Caden Measner along the left sideline, with Measner avoiding the first tackler before sprinting to the end zone with a 20-yard TD. The Mountaineers had gained possession after linebacker Cameron Cooper intercepted a Waika Crawford pass and returned it to the NMHU 20.
• Western's rushing attack average 8.0 yards per carry, and overall the Mountaineers averaged 9.2 yards per play.
• Western's rushing total nearly eclipsed Highlands' total yards (310) for the day.
• Pao ended up with 74 yards rushing, while Hogan tacked on 50.
• Nash was 4-of-6 in limited action, throwing for 72 yards and a touchdown before relinquishing control of the offense to Josiah Roy early in the second quarter. Roy was 9-of-11 for 155 yards and a touchdown.
• Josiah Ayon had four receptions for 75 yards and added 39 yards in kickoff returns. Cole Riters also had four catches, totaling 35 yards.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers host Fort Lewis College at Mojo Field in the Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex for their next game on Oct. 5. The game is scheduled within Western's Family Weekend.