ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Adams State Grizzlies Football team earned their first win of the young 2019 season Saturday afternoon, thanks to a lethal passing attack and stingy defense that downed the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys. The Grizzlies avenged their 2018 loss to the Cowboys that took place in Las Vegas, NM exactly a year ago.
 
The game picked up fast when the Grizzly defense forced a turnover on the first play of the game, as Highlands running back Kam Mosby fumbled on a carry deep in his own territory. It did not take long for the Grizzly offense to strike, as John Buksa connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Ian Fryday on the first play of the short drive, to begin the scoring onslaught. The touchdown would be Buksa's first of four touchdown passes on the day, and the first of two touchdown receptions that Ian Fryday would cash in.
 
Later in the period, New Mexico Highlands would strike with an offensive burst of their own, as Kam Mosby took a hand off 66 yards to paydirt, to nod the score at 7. It would not take long for Adams State to answer, as last week's offensive star Tariq Bitson hauled in a 73-yard touchdown pass from Buksa to put Adams State back on top 14-7. A Highlands field goal late in the first quarter would send the game into the second period with the Grizzlies leading 14-10.
 
After a fast paced first quarter, the second would be a defensive struggle, as both teams managed just a field goal. The score at halftime: 17-13, Grizzlies.
 
The third quarter featured an offensive explosion for both teams, as Highlands came out swinging with a 44-yard touchdown pass early. The score gave the Cowboys a 20-17 lead, for the moment.
 
The Grizzlies quickly answered with a long touchdown of their own, when a trick play that led to running back Otumus Payemanu dropping back to throw a pass connected with receiver Ziere Banner deep downfield. Banner made a move on the victimized defensive back, and ran free, 66 yards to the end zone. The play recaptured the lead for the Grizzlies, and they would not trail again.
 
After a three and out, the Grizzlies got the ball back feeling well in command. Quarterback John Buksa dropped back and connected with his favorite target, Tariq Bitson yet again for a 57-yard touchdown pass. The Erick Ruiz kick made the score 31-20, Grizzlies. A Ruiz field goal late in the third quarter sent the game into the final period with Adams State on top, 34-17.
 
A series of defensive stops from both teams drained the clock in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies, however, had one final scoring effort in them, as Buksa connected with Ian Fryday again on a red zone touchdown pass to make the score 41-20. Highlands would add a garbage time touchdown with less than a minute left, as the clock ran out on a Sohail Mohsini kneel down, giving the Grizzlies a hard-fought 41-27 victory.
 
For the Grizzlies, the win Saturday hopes to be the first of many in 2019. They go on the road for the first-time next weekend, as they prepare to take on Black Hills State, who is 0 and 2 to start the year. The game is set for 1 p.m. next Saturday from Spearfish, SD.