NMMI Sports Press
After an inauspicious start, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt football team rushed for five touchdowns – and passed for one more – to down district foe Ruidoso on the road, 55-14.
The Colts received the ball on the initial kickoff, but then fumbled at their own 32 just two plays later.
The Warriors capitalized almost immediately, needing just two plays of their own to break into the end zone: a 26-yard pass down to the NMMI one, then a dive up the middle to score.
And just like that, it was Ruidoso 7, NMMI 0, with 10:53 still left in the first.
Undaunted, NMMI’s offense again took the field, this time mounting a massive 10-play, 81 yard touchdown drive of their own. Cohen Tomasits capped the drive, scoring on an outside option play from 11 yards out.
The rushing PAT attempt failed, however, and Colts still trailed, 7-6 with 4:25 on the first period clock.
NMMI scored twice more before the second quarter could begin, one after Tegin Maloney forced a Warrior fumble which teammate Alejandro Piedras scooped up and returned down to the Ruidoso 20.
Tomasits then got his second TD of the game, hauling in a 22-yard pass-and-catch from quarterback Cole Seidenberger.
The final TD of the first period came after a 53 rush by Alex Sanchez. Sanchez was inches away from breaking the plane, but tackled just short.
The next play, Seidenberger snuck in from under center and the Colts were up 20-7 at the end of the first.
A continued NMMI offensive assault, aided by four Ruidoso turnovers led to a running clock with a score of 48-7 before the end of the half: Maloney had a 15-yard pick-six, Matthew Cao a four-yard TD plunge after another short drive resulting from a Warrior fumble, Alejandro Piedras got a 35-yard fumble return for six, and Tomasits rushed in for his third TD of the night after an interception by Hunter Terry.
The Institute managed one final touchdown, again set up by a Ruidoso fumble deep in their own territory. Caden Carter got the recovery for the Colts and two plays later, Miguel Garcia scampered into the end zone with an 18-yard rush.
Ruidoso’s final score came early in the fourth after a three-play, 69 yard drive, but it was too little, too late.
NMMI racked up 303 total yards of offense in the contest, despite a greatly abbreviated second half. They ran for 217 total yards on 35 carries, led by Sanchez’s 78 yards and three carries.
Seidenberger threw for 92 yards and one TD, completing three of his five passing attempts. Ethan Lujan completed one pass for 34 yards on three attempts.
With the win, NMMI moves to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in district. They’ll be on the road again next week to take on Dexter, a game that will likely crown the district champion. Kickoff for that contest is slated for 7:00 PM on Friday, Oct. 13.