Spearfish, SD- The Western New Mexico University football team capped off the season with a win last Saturday against Black Hills State University, 59-21.
WNMU came out dominate in the first half by scoring 42 points and would not look back as they would have a total of 527 yards offensively. Defensively, Mustangs kept the Yellow Jackets (0-11, 0-9 RMAC) out of rhythm by limiting them to just 295 of total yards offensively.
On the first possession of the game for Western, they would take the ball down field for 65-yards which came from all rushing plays. A 2-yard run by Gordy Longville put the Mustangs up first on the board making the score 7-0. The Yellow Jackets could not answer back and punted back to WNMU as they would stick to the running game in the next possesion. Five different Mustangs handled the ball and led the team 66-yards downfield. Nino La Russa kept the momentum going by finishing drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, increasing the lead 14-0.
After a few traded punts from both teams, the Mustang’s Michael Ball, who is in place for injured quarterback Mitch Glassman, launched the ball downfield for a 86-yard touchdown pass to wide-receiver Larry Young II. This would give the Mustangs a comfortable 21-0 lead which would be the last score of the first quarter.
Two plays in to the second quarter, WNMU came out strong defensively when Alfonso Wilson snagged an interception from BHSU’s quarterback Ryan Hommel and took it 33-yards for a touchdown making the score 28-0.
Three possessions later, the Mustangs offense went back to work by putting together a 49-yard drive which would lead to a Ball 1-yard touchdown run making the score 35-0. WNMU’s defense kept the fire going following the next possession, when Mustang’s James Nelson captured another inception on BHSU’s 45. Western capitalized on this by scoring four plays later on another Ball touchdown run which made the score 42-0 making it the last score of the half.
The Yellow Jackets would finally come together and put points up on the board midway through the third quarter with a six-yard run by Zach Meyer. BHSU kept WNMU on their heels when they picked off Ball on the next possession which would lead to another Yellow Jacket touchdown making the score 42-13 and the last score of the third quarter.
Starting the fourth quarter, Mustangs would put up the first points of the quarter with a 50-yard field goal by Josh McIntire. This field goal is the longest of the season for McIntire setting a new career high. Unfortunately, BHSU would answer back with a Cody McCombs 16-yard run making the deficit 42-21 after a successful two-point conversion.
11 plays and 53 yards following the next possession, WNMU did not let up after Ball would throw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Ayers. The last score off the game came again from the Mustangs when Longville scored on a 1-yard touchdown run making the final score 59-21.
WNMU controlled BHSU in possession time 39:33 to 20:27 and in first down 26 to 18.
For the Mustangs, Ball completed 11 passes for 197 total passing yards, four touchdowns (2 passing, 2 rushing) with only one interception. Marques Rodgers led the team in rushing yards with 150-yards while receiving wise Young II caught 106-yards of total receiving yards with one touchdown reception. Defensively, Wilson carried the team in tackles with 7 and having one interception.
The Western New Mexico University football team finished the season with a record of 4-7 (3-6 in RMAC) tying for seventh in the conference.
