NMMI freshman quarterback Monte Turner had a big ground game for the Broncos, playing at home against the NJCAA's eighth-ranked team, Trinity Valley Community College.

Turner turned it upfield for for 152 yds and a touchdown, and also threw for 2 TDs and 178 yards; but it wasn't enough as a fine-tuned Cardinal offense racked up more than 600 combined yards, giving TVCC a 56-29 conference win.

NMMI trailed from the get-go, as Trinity Valley scored a touchdown on their opening possession on a 5-play, 64-yard drive.

The Broncos came right back with a 28-yard field goal by Alex Alhomsi, capping a 9-play, 64-yard drive that stalled at the TVCC 11. Turner hit wide receiver Kaleo Piceno on a 38 pass play over the middle to help set up Alhomsi's kick.

The next three scores were by the Cardinals: a 32-yard FG in the 1st quarter with 2:22 left, then a pair of touchdowns at the 14:05 and 11:35 marks in the second.

Down 24-3, NMMI came back with a TD of their own, Turner finding WR Cam Saunders for in the back of the end zone - a 22-yard completion. Eric Tolovour gave NMMI great starting position on the drive, returning a TVCC kickoff 38 yards to the Cardinal 48.

TVCC would score twice again, however, before the end of the half - once on another 32-yard field goal, and then on a safety after a punt was downed inside the Bronco 1 yard line. Going into the lockers, the Cardinals led 29-9.

Trinity Valley extended that lead to 35-9, marching down the field 77 yards in 7 plays after the second-half kickoff.

The only other score in the third period was by the Broncos. With 44 second left, Tre'sean Artis picked-off a pass in the flats at the NMMI 10, stopping another potential scoring drive by the Cards. He then ran the length of the field, completing the 90-yard 'pick six', making it 35-16 after Alhomsi kicked the PAT.

Another Card TD with 13:56 showing in the fourth made the score 42-16.

The Broncos kept playing hard and quickly made the game interesting again with back-to-back touchdowns in less than four minutes. The first was an 80-yard scamper by Turner; the second was another Turner/Saunders combo, this time for a 30-yard TD. With nine minutes and change on the clock, NMMI was down by less than a pair of touchdowns, 42-29.

But the Cardinals put the game out of reach, scoring less than a minute later, and then again with 5:35 left after a Bronco fumble.

With the loss, NMMI moves to 2-3 overall and 0-3 in conference. Their next game will be on the road at Kilgore College, kickoff set for 4:00 PM MDT.