ALAMOSA, Colo. — Adams State football opened the 2026 season with an offensive showcase Thursday night at Rex Field, but a late Western New Mexico surge pushed the Mustangs past the Grizzlies, 62-45.
Adams State (0-1) amassed 627 yards of total offense, including 476 on the ground, and scored six touchdowns in a back-and-forth season opener. The Grizzlies averaged 8.5 yards per play and finished with 25 first downs.
Senior running back Andre Branch powered the Adams State offense with a standout performance. Branch carried the ball 21 times for 282 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 13.4 yards per carry. His night included touchdown runs of 58, 55 and 76 yards.
Quarterback Frank Arcuri added another dimension to the rushing attack. The junior rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown while completing 13 passes for 151 yards and another score. Gabe McFarland added 105 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, giving Adams State two 100-yard rushers in the opener.
The Grizzlies wasted little time putting points on the board.
Branch broke free for a 58-yard touchdown just 40 seconds into the game, finishing a two-play, 75-yard opening drive and giving Adams State a 7-0 advantage. Western New Mexico answered with a touchdown before Arcuri capped another 75-yard Grizzly drive with a 16-yard touchdown run, putting Adams State ahead 14-6 with 8:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Western New Mexico answered again and eventually took its first lead of the night in the second quarter. Adams State responded before halftime when McFarland broke through for a 19-yard touchdown with 1:33 remaining, putting the Grizzlies back in front, 21-18.
The lead lasted less than a minute. Western New Mexico's Devon Nofoa-Masoe scored on a 2-yard run with 38 seconds remaining in the half, sending the Mustangs into the locker room with a 25-21 advantage.
The offenses traded explosive plays throughout the third quarter.
After Western New Mexico opened the half with a 61-yard touchdown run, Branch answered on Adams State's next possession. He raced 55 yards to the end zone, cutting the deficit to 32-28 with 12:49 remaining in the third.
The Mustangs stretched the margin to 45-28 before the Grizzlies mounted another charge.
Arcuri connected with Kayden LaFramboise for a 2-yard touchdown with 2:51 left in the third quarter. After the Adams State defense got the ball back, Branch struck again. The senior exploded for a 76-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining, pulling the Grizzlies within 45-42 entering the fourth quarter.
Western New Mexico opened the final period with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to extend its lead to 52-42.
Adams State answered with a sustained drive of its own. The Grizzlies moved 48 yards over 10 plays before Landon Bobo connected on a 37-yard field goal, making it a one-score game at 52-45 with 5:02 remaining. Bobo also finished a perfect 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts.
The Mustangs closed the game with 10 unanswered points. Jase Ashley scored on a 7-yard run with 3:44 remaining before Karsten Dombrovski added a 30-yard field goal with 1:52 left to establish the 62-45 final.
While the Grizzlies finished with 627 total yards, Western New Mexico generated 577. Both teams leaned on explosive rushing attacks, with the Mustangs finishing with 485 rushing yards. The difference came in turnovers and penalties. Adams State threw three interceptions and was penalized 13 times for 134 yards. Western New Mexico did not turn the ball over.
Traven Vigenser led the Adams State receiving corps with four catches for 61 yards, while LaFramboise caught two passes for 32 yards and the Grizzlies' lone receiving touchdown. Dominique Lampkin and Ant Henry helped lead the defense, with Lampkin recording seven total tackles and Henry adding six solo stops and two pass breakups.
Up Next
The Grizzlies look to continue their dominant offensive effort in Alpine, TX against the Sul Ross State University Lobos Saturday September 5th at 7 p.m
