NMMI Sports Press
The New Mexico Military Institute Bronco football team improved to 2-2 on the season with in an overtime thriller victory over the Air Force Prep Huskies (0-2) 42-35 at Colt Field on Saturday evening.
AFP struck first with a field goal to go up by three, but on the last play of the first quarter Gavin Hardison scored a touchdown on a quarterback keeper to put the broncos up 7-0.
After the Huskies scored a touchdown and converted the two point conversion the Broncos, again on the last play of the quarter, scored a touchdown. Hardison threw a strike to Tyreik Campbell who maneuvered around the Husky defense for the touchdown to end the half up 14-11.
Head Bronco football coach Joe Forchtner said, “We were expecting to get five yards since they had three backs deep across the back and then try and kick a field goal, but somehow Tyreik got it across the goal line – you just can’t give him that much room, he is too good.”
Air Force Prep once again scored a field goal before the Broncos responded with a touchdown. Fred Jackson found the end zone from the one yard line after a 42 yard carry the previous play to put the Broncos up 20-14 after the missed extra point. On the next drive with 2:22 left in the third quarter Kendarius Poullard broke a 56 yard run to the end zone to put the Broncos up 27-14.
The Broncos answered a touchdown by Air Force Prep with a touchdown and two point conversion of their own. Campbell ran it in for one yard on a fourth and goal from the one yard line. Campbell also caught the two point conversion from Hardison to put the Broncos up 35-21 with 6:14 left to play.
Coach Forchtner on the decision for going for it on fourth down instead of kicking the field goal. Our offensive line came off the field during the timeout and said ‘Coach trust us.’ And I was kind of debating about going for the touchdown anyway, thinking if we can’t get a yard then we don’t deserve to win, plus if we didn’t get it then they were going to have to drive the length of the field anyway.”
AFP went on a 15 play drive that covered 75 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left to play to trail 35-27 after the extra point was blocked by NMMI. The Huskies recovered the onside kick and scored a touchdown with five seconds left to play. They also converted the two point conversion to tie the game 35-35 and head into overtime.
The Broncos were the first to get the ball in overtime and Hardison found Quantavius Moore in the end zone for a nine yard touchdown pass. The Broncos defense would hold and not allow the Huskies into the end zone for a 42-35 NMMI victory.
Coach Forchtner on the victory tonight. “I’m proud of the guys, we had lots of opportunities to hang our heads. Air Force Prep had all the momentum at the end – they had just scored twice – but it didn’t matter. We came out and got a touchdown on the first series and then got the stop. Just very proud of our guys – we fight.”
Forchtner on the bye week coming up for the Broncos. “We got banged up tonight, though. A bye week cannot come at a better time. Air Force is always super, super physical and that’s what happens when you play physical teams. We need to get healthy this week and hopefully get some guys back.”
NMMI’s next game will be in Tyler, TX as they face Tyler Junior College on September 29th at 7 PM central time.