Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
Just a week away from the start of conference play, the New Mexico Military Institute Bronco football team had one final tune up game at the Wool Bowl on Saturday night.
Under picture perfect conditions, the Broncos routed the Maricopa Mustangs 66-0.
It was the first time both programs had met since Aug. 24, 2019. NMMI has outscored the Mustangs a combined 113-3 in the two meetings.
The Broncos unleashed 17 points in the first quarter.
NMMI (2-0) drew up a five-play, 61-yard drive on its first offensive series that resulted with a 29-yard touchdown run by Jordan Bolden with 12:56 on the clock.
After an unsuccessful opening offensive series for the Mustangs, the Broncos marched down the field to get a 25-yard field goal by William Testa.
It was a frustrating night for Maricopa as it dealt with 13 penalties that resulted in 118 yards.
The Mustangs were held to just 75 yards of offense and seven first downs.
NMMI extended its lead to 17-0 with 2:40 left in the opening quarter as Mason Myers connected with Jaylin Smith for a 43-yard touchdown.
Maricopa had not yet reached midfield on offense.
In four quick plays, the Broncos made the score 24-0 after an 18-yard touchdown run by Tyrique Thompson.
The Broncos did not score again until there was 7:11 left in the third quarter. Terrance Moore ran into the end zone from eight yards out to cap off a lengthy nine-play drive.
A turnover in the form of a fumble on the ensuing kickoff plagued Maricopa.
Anthony Wynn came up with the recovery for the Broncos and the NMMI offense went back to work once more in good field position.
It took two plays for the Broncos to find the end zone on a six-yard run by Patrick Charles, which was set up by a 13-yard quarterback keeper by Myers.
Another punt by the Mustangs led to another scoring drive for the Broncos on the next series.
Taylor Dummar scored on a five-yard run to make the score 45-0 with just under two and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter.
NMMI scored 28 unanswered points in the third stanza.
The Bronco defense got the final touchdown of the third quarter when Joseph Norwood picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone from 48 yards out.
Holding a 52-0 lead, the Broncos chiseled off seven minutes with a 12-play drive that ended on a seven-yard touchdown run by Prince Robertson in the final quarter.
NMMI got its final touchdown of the night from Bolden on a 32-yard sprint with 1:58 on the clock.
The Broncos compiled 456 total yards of offense.
Bolden rushed for 111 yards on 14 carries with two scores while Meyers had 14 carries for 75 yards. Thompson added with 55 yards on the ground on 13 carries.
Myers completed 6 of 12 passes for 80 yards. His favorite target was Charles who caught a pair of passes for 17 yards.
Smith led the receiving corps with 43 yards on one catch.
The Broncos travel to Corsicana, Texas next Saturday at 7 p.m. CDT to take on Navarro College, which is coming off a 69-57 loss to Tyler Junior College.