ALAMOSA, Colo. (October 30, 2014) – Pitting identical records for their week nine matchup, the Adams State University football team and the Western New Mexico University Mustangs are set to clash on Saturday afternoon from Silver City, N.M.

Although both squads carry a 3-5 overall record and a 2-4 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play, the two teams may be heading in different directions. The Grizzlies have won two of their last three games while the Mustangs have dropped two of their last three. After five consecutive losses, ASU has gone on to defeat Black Hills State University, 37-27, and are most recently coming off a thrilling 41-34 win at home over New Mexico Highlands University on Oct. 25.

Much like ASU's opponent last week, the Mustangs carry a potent offense. The Mustangs rank third amongst RMAC teams in both scoring offense (32.3 ppg.) and total offense (490.4 yards per game). Quarterback Mitch Glasmann leads WNMU's efforts as the junior enters the conference tilt as the reigning RMAC Offensive Player of the Week. Glasmann earned the award after completing 39-of-54 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns during a 48-38 victory over Western State Colorado University on Oct. 25. Nationally, the signal caller is 11^th in passing yards per game, 10^th in points responsible for, fifth in passing TDs and eighth in passing yards.

Balancing the attack will be freshman running back Marques Rodgers and senior receiver Donald Byrd. Rodgers, a 5-foot-10 product out of Gardena, Calif., ranks fourth in the RMAC with 97.6 rushing yards per game while Byrd is 66 yards away from reaching the 1,000 receiving yards plateau for the season. Byrd trails only Tyler Slavin of New Mexico Highlands University in receptions and yardage amongst all conference players. Last week the ASU defense limited Slavin to eight grabs for 73 yards and no touchdowns.
With momentum on ASU's side the Grizzlies look to extend their winning streak to three and replicate last season's 41-20 win over WNMU in which the boys in green and black racked up 486 yards of total offense and 292 rushing yards.

Last week Jabari Ray Garvin led the ASU ground game with 87 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. However the story during the win over Highlands belonged to defensive back Ryan Holland as the junior picked off quarterback Lance Orender twice in the final 2:30 of regulation. Holland returned his first pick 57 yards for a touchdown which ultimately served as the winning score.  His second interception sealed the win and led the Grizzly offense back onto the field to run out the clock. For his efforts Holland was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Live coverage of the event is listed above.