LAS VEGAS, N.M. Host New Mexico Highlands scored the first 17 points in the game, but No. 7 Western Colorado responded with 52 consecutive points to roll to a 52-24 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football win Saturday night at Sanchez Family Stadium.
Quarterback
Josiah Roy led the offensive outburst along with running back
Isaiah Jones. Roy was 16-for-25 through the air, connecting for 227 yards and 5 touchdowns while Jones cracked the century mark with 116 yards rushing and a touchdown on 14 carries.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. N.M. Highlands, 52-24
Records: Western 6-0 overall (4-0 RMAC), NMHU 3-3 (1-3)
Location: Sanchez Family Stadium, Las Vegas, N.M.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cowboys jumped ahead on their first possession with a 71-yard touchdown run from Ashton Bradford, added a field goal midway through the frame, then scored on a 91-yard drive that finished in the early minutes of the second quarter to stake the home team on its Homecoming Weekend to a 17-0 lead.
- Roy and the offense finally got on track, responding with an eight-play, 49-yard drive that found Western's first points with Roy's toss to DJ Allen Jr. who finished off the final 10 yards of the 28-yard scoring play into the left corner of the end zone.
- The defense forced a punt on Highlands' next possession and Western marched right down the field again, Roy finishing off this scoring drive with a touchdown pass to Ramon Ruiz.
- With the Cowboys trying to run out the clock nearing the end of the second quarter, Kade Musser sacked and forced a fumble by NMHU quarterback Kadyn Parr that Drew Johnson recovered at the home team's 37 yard line.
- One minute later it was Roy playing pitch and catch with Blake Kramer for a 24-yard scoring play that provided the Mountaineers with their first lead of the game.
- Western opened the second half with a Roy to Kramer touchdown pass, added a field goal and then a 1-yard plunge by Jones to blow the game open in the third quarter.
- By the time Highlands mounted its final scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, Western had reeled off 52 unanswered points.
TURF NOTES
- Western's offense produced a completely balanced attack, finishing the night with 263 rushing yards and 262 passing yards, while outgaining the Cowboys 525-431.
- The Mountaineer defense forced and recovered two fumbles to set up Western's offense both times in Cowboys territory.
- Jones was spelled by Damien Nevil, with 66 yards, and Lamonte James, 30 yards plus a 4-yard touchdown reception.
- Linebacker Kade Musser led all defenders with 11 tackles, including one sack.
- The Mountaineers outgained the Cowboys 189-46 in a third quarter that effectively cemented the victory for Western.
UP NEXT
Western and the rest of the RMAC have a bye week on Oct. 10, with the Mountaineers then hosting Fort Lewis College on Sat., Oct. 17.
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