LAS VEGAS, N.M.. – Sanchez Family Stadium was the home to a game that kicked off at 1:01 p.m., but tension played out until the final whistle at 7:28 p.m. on Saturday.
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) matchup had an official clock of 6 hours and 32 minutes and ended in celebration by the visiting Adams State University football team as they spoiled the New Mexico Highland Cowboy homecoming with an endzone stop with 22 seconds remaining to seal a 21-14 win.
The Grizzlies wasted little time as they took their opening possession seven plays and 53 yards down the field before
Chase Nelson completed a 16-yard pass to
Quinlin Bisbee, scoring 7-0.
The Cowboys countered with a massive drive of their own. The drive covered 81 yards on 11 plays and 5:33 seconds.
Adams State wanted to take the game in hand, so they methodically drove the ball down the field. After 14 plays and 6:43,
Noel Moreno was on the receiving end of a six-yard pass from Nelson to make the score 14-7 with 13:52 left in the first half.
Adams State's defense came up with a fumble recovery at the 11-yard line, and it was just two plays later that
Rasheed Rankin cashed in from two yards out to make the score 21-7.
That would remain the score for the next four hours as the halftime break approached, thus a flash flood warning for the area. During the delay, flashes of light led to rain and hail to slick up the artificial turf.
When the game resumed, the Cowboys took their opening drive 74 yards over 6:09 over 12 plays to reach pay dirt and make the score 21-14.
The two teams battled, but neither team was able to score again.
Statistically, the squads posted different strategies, and it showed as the Cowboys amassed 224 rushing yards to Adams State's 72. However, the Grizzlies won the air attack 156-91.
Nelson, a fourth-string starting quarterback, finished the game 19-of-24 for 156 yards and two touchdowns while tossing one interception.
Rankin was the top rusher for the Grizzlies, carrying the ball 15 times for 74 yards and one touchdown.
Despite not catching a touchdown,
Kentrell Petite was the top receiver with five catches for 62 yards.
Defensively,
Tommy Lujan,
Daniel Mendoza,
Devonte Mathew, and
Zachary Ray each had six tackles.
With the win, the Grizzlies improve to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the RMAC and, after week five, sit in fourth place in the ten-team conference. New Mexico Highlands falls to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC. The Grizzlies had won three games in a season for the first time since 2019 when they went 4-7.
The Grizzlies return to action on the road next Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2:00 p.m. when they travel up Interstate 25 for an RMAC matchup with the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves.
