LAS VEGAS, N.M.-Saturday, 1-1 Dixie State football seeks to win its second consecutive road game as they visit the 0-2 New Mexico Highlanders at Las Vegas, N.M. as their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season continues.
The Trailblazers are coming off a 23-14 win at Fort Lewis in Durango, Colo. September 14 and overcame a 14-0 halftime deficit.
The Cowboys fell 7-0 to Fort Lewis in a game that was declared over in the 2nd Quarter because of lightning and 41-27 to Adams State at Alamosa, Colo. September 14.
Dixie State is tied for 133rd (with Bentley and Catawba) in scoring offense in NCAA Division II with 15 points per game. They are tied for 77th nationally (with Southeastern Oklahoma, Wayne State and Florida Tech) in scoring defense with 25 points per game.
The Trailblazers may have found their quarterback in redshirt sophomore Kody Wilstead as he has completed 52 percent of his passes for 366 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
Wilstead is currently the Trailblazers’ leading rusher as well as he has 62 yards on 15 carries for a paltry 2.4 yards per carry average.
Senior tailback Conner Miller is Dixie State’s current leading receiver as he has 5 grabs for 117 yards (23.4 yards per catch) and a score. Senior receiver Xavier Smith has 3 receptions for 88 yards (29.3 yards per reception) and a touchdown as well.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Darrius Nash has a team-best 12 tackles and the Trailblazers’ only interception on the season. Sophomore defensive back Simote Lokotui has a team-best 2.5 sacks as well to pace the Dixie State defense.
The Cowboys’ scoring offense ranks 140th in the nation (13.5 points a game) while their scoring defense is tied for 72nd (with Winston-Salem, California [Pa.] and Clarion [24 points per game] nationally.
New Mexico Highlands is led by senior quarterback Gunner Mefferd who has thrown for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He has only completed 12 of 35 passes (34.2 percent) however.
Junior tailback Kamari Mosby has 21 carries for 93 yards and a score (4.4 yards per carry) for the Cowboys.
Junior receiver Donovan Hawkins has 3 receptions for 56 yards (18.7 yards per reception) to lead all New Mexico Highlands receivers this season.
Junior defensive back Malik Brown has an interception and 12 tackles to lead the Cowboys in each category defensively.
