SILVER CITY, N.M. - The Texas A&M-Kingsville football program turned in a solid defensive effort on Saturday at Ben Altamirano Field to come away with a 28-19 win over Western New Mexico in the Lone Star Conference matchup.
MIKE SALINAS POSTGAME INTERVIEW
The Javelinas (4-3, 2-2 LSC) picked up their fourth win of the year, the first time they've accomplished that through seven games since the 2016 season, extending the Mustangs' (1-7, 0-6 LSC) skid to seven games in the process.
The Hogs struck first after redshirt sophomore Zadock Dinkelmann (Somerset, Texas) found redshirt senior Ryan Martinez (Kingsville, Texas) for four yards in the back of the end zone midway through the opening quarter. It was the second scoring strike for both Dinkelmann and Martinez of the 2021 season as the touchdown was set up by six completions on the drive from the TAMUK signal-caller.
The 7-0 score held true through the remainder of the first quarter before senior Amonte Bowen (Donna, Texas) walked the ball in from one yard out at the start of the second for a 14-0 cushion, his first rushing score of the campaign. The Javelinas handed the ball over to the Mustangs late in the first on a fumble before the second interception of the season from redshirt sophomore Amos Coleman (New Orleans, La.) set the stage for Bowen's score.
Redshirt freshman Jacob Cavazos (Weslaco, Texas) recorded the second rushing touchdown of the day for the Javelina offense midway through the second as the Hog defense forced another turnover on a strip-sack from classmate Giovanni Williams (Birmingham, Ala.) that was covered by junior Cory McMahan (Austin, Texas). Cavazos took the ensuing play from scrimmage eight yards for the 21-point lead.
WNMU tacked on its first score late in the half after getting a one-yard rush from Bryce Coleman with 21 seconds remaining on the clock.
The second half featured more of a defensive battle from both teams as it took until the latter portion of the third for the first score to come across. Redshirt sophomore Christian Anderson (Cypress, Texas) punched the ball in from four yards out with 1:53 left in the quarter to put the lead back at three scores, taking advantage of a 31-yard punt return from freshman Jason Gaines (Austin, Texas) that set up the Javelina offense deep in WNMU territory at the 28-yard line.
The Mustangs added a 12-yard touchdown pass from Calahan Carter to Jacob Wallace midway through the final frame, but the last gasp from the hosts came as the clock ticked down to zero with Carter sending it home from one yard away to set the final score at 28-19.
The Javelina defense forced three turnovers in the win while holding the Mustangs to 80 rushing yards on the day. It was the fourth time this season the Hogs finished with three takeaways and also the fourth time the defense held its opponent to fewer than 100 yards on the ground.
Dinkelmann, meanwhile, finished with 207 yards through the air to go with his lone score. Anderson led the ground game with 53 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt senior Ty Chisum (Eagle Pass, Texas) added 73 receiving yards on three grabs.
The Blue and Gold turn their attention to Homecoming Week at Javelina Nation, with their annual Throwback Game against West Texas A&M slated for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium on Saturday, October 23.
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