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 in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
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.
Western is now 6-0 on the season and 4-0 in RMAC play. NMHU slides to 3-3 with the loss.
The action
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.
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.
Roy honored by RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Monday, Oct. 5 announced its weekly football honors, naming Western Colorado quarterback Josiah Roy its Offensive Player of the Week.
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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