NMMI Sports Press
The New Mexico Military Institute Bronco football team faced No. 3 Arizona Western College for their first contest in the 2018 season, and handed the Matadors their first loss in the regular season since October 31, 2015 by a score of 32-30.
The Institute won the coin toss at Yuma Catholic High School in Yuma, AZ, and elected to receive. The Broncos scored just four plays later with a two-yard TD pass from Cody Frampton to Tyrik Campbell capping a 75-yard drive, giving the Broncos a 7-0 early lead. The Matadors responded with a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
The next series, NMMI’s defense forced a safety on an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone to again put the Broncos back up, 9-7. On the last play of the first quarter, however, AWC took a 14-9 lead after a pick-six by the Matador defense.
NMMI’s first possession of the second quarter ended with more points. A 41-yard field goal by Alex Alhomsi put the Broncos back to within two, 14-12.
Arizona Western answered back with their own 41-yard field goal to give them a 17-12 lead, then collected another field goal with 40 seconds remaining in the half for a 20-12 lead.
The Broncos went into their two-minute offense and ran down the field scoring a touchdown on a last second play with no time left on the clock on a Cody Frampton keeper to bring the Broncos deficit to just one, 20-19, at the half.
In the third quarter start, the Bronco defense forced Arizona to punt, then the NMMI offense mounted a 70-yard drive to put the Broncs back in front, 25-20. Cody Frampton punched the ball into the end zone on a keeper to finish the 5-play series.
Arizona Western would answer with a field goal to cut the Bronco lead to 25-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Broncos scored on a 39 yard touchdown run from Fred Jackson to give them a 32-23 lead.
Arizona Western made the last few minutes interesting getting a one yard touchdown run to put them within two, but it was not enough as the NMMI defense stood tall and the offense ran out the clock in victory formation for the 32-20 upset over the third-ranked Matadors.
Bronco Head Coach Joe Forchtner said they had a goal for the game and they executed it well.
“Our goal was to just play hard and grind them down throughout the game,” said the coach.
The Broncos did just that on offense, rushing the football for 359 yards on 41 carries, along with 466 total yard in 64 plays.
Cody Frampton was the leading rusher for the Broncos gaining 170 yards on 16 carries, along with two touchdowns. The quarterback also threw for another, giving him three total touchdowns in the victory.
“Cody is the definition of a grinder, said coach Forchtner. “He is deceptive and works hard. He has come a long way throughout the off season, becoming a good leader. He has deceptive speed for a 230 pound quarterback. He made good decisions tonight and that was huge for the win. “
Coach Forchtner did have some things he would like to see improve during the win.
“We missed some tackles I think we should have made,” he explained “We also had too many guys diving at ball carriers.”
The Broncos field goal unit was not at its best either as Arizona Western blocked three kicks throughout the game.
Forchtner said, “We had three kicks get blocked, not because the protection was bad, but kicks were eight feet off the ground. That needs to change because this should not have been a two point game. Those kind of things bite you in the end of games.”
Next up for the Broncos is Trinity Valley Community College - their first conference game of the season - on September 1st at 5 PM here at NMMI.