by Michael Rowse

Adams State University used a 21-0 run in the first half to go on their way to defeating the Western New Mexico University football team, 49-28, Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

Adams State University struck first early in the opening quarter, as after Western New Mexico University had to punt on their starting drive, the Grizzlies went 91 yards on just four plays to lead 7-0 four minutes in.

The Mustangs came back with a solid drive of their own. Starting at the 25, John De La Rosa began things with a solid 10-yard run. A pass interference penalty later moved the ball to midfield. After getting down to the ASU 28, WNMU was faced with a fourth-and-four. Mitch Glasmann rolled out of the pocket and hit a strike to Donald Byrd for 13 yards and a first down at the 15. After a pair of incompletions, Glasmann hit Terron Sumpter in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown and after Josh McIntire connected on the point after the game was tied at seven with nine minutes left in the first.

ASU would then control the rest of the first half reeling off 21 unanswered points. They broke the tie later in the first quarter, as a big interception had the Grizzlies at the Mustang 17. Five plays later, a three-yard rushing touchdown had the Grizzlies ahead 14-7, with 5:42 to play. It would remain 14-7 into the second quarter when the Grizzlies struck on just one play. With the ball at their 33, Chaz Butler broke free off the left side of the line and went 67 yards for the score to increase the advantage to 21-7 with nine minutes to play before halftime.

ASU used some trickery to post their final score before the break. Faced with a second-and-seven at the WNMU 13, they went with the end-around reverse, with the receiver, JB Hall passing to the quarterback, Trevor Eggleston for the 13-yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead at halftime.

The Mustangs started strong in the second half, as the defense forced a quick punt and the offense took advantage. Beginning at the WNMU 23, Glasmann came through with a big 15-yard pass over the middle to tight end Brent Courtney for the first down on third down out to the 44. Later, De La Rosa pounded through the middle for a nine-yard gain on another third down for a first down at the ASU 27. Byrd then took a reverse for 15 yards and De La Rosa finished it off with a run around the left side untouched for the 12-yard score and after a McIntire point after it was 28-14 with nine minutes to play in the third.

ASU answered back on the ensuing possession, as after they picked up a third-and-16 on a 25-yard pass, they would later find the end zone on a one-yard run for the 35-14 lead with six to go in the third. It would remain 35-14 into the fourth when ASU capped a 13 play, 80-yard drive that followed an interception in the end zone to push the advantage to 42-14 with 13 minutes left in the game.
The Mustangs would counter with a pair of touchdowns. First, Glasmann finished a nine play, 75-yard drive with 29-yard strike to Byrd for the touchdown on fourth-and-three to trim the deficit in half, 42-21, with still 10 minutes to play.

McIntire then executed a perfect onside kick that he recovered at the WNMU 47. The Mustangs again moved the ball, picking up a big fourth-and-18 when Glasmann found Ronnell Pompey, who jumped over the defender and made a nice catch at the ASU 10 for first-and-goal. Later, a pass interference penalty moved the ball to the two when Abraham Macias found the end zone to leave ASU ahead, 42-28, with seven minutes left. The Grizzlies' offense came back with a big drive to put the game out of reach, as they moved 59 yards on 10 plays that chewed almost five minutes off the clock and ended on a one-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 49-28 with only two minutes left.

WNMU will hit the road next Saturday when they will play at Chadron State with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.