NMMI Sports Press
The New Mexico Military Institute Colt football team won their initial game in the NMAA's Class 3A State Playoffs, clipping the visiting Navajo Prep Eagles, 48-8.
The fifth-seeded Institute's powerful running game racked up almost eight yards per carry and seven touchdowns against the twelfth-seeded Eagles.
Two of those TDs came on the Colts' first plays from the line of of scrimmage: a 29-yard run by Alex Sanchez after NMMI stopped Navajo Prep on a fourth-and-six, then a 46-yard rip around the right side option by Cohen Tomasits.
The Eagles came back with a razzle-dazzle reverse option pass, resulting in a 78-yard catch-and-carry TD by Lane Wilson. After a successful tow-point conversion, it was 14-8 with 6:25 still left in the first quarter.
NMMI managed two more touchdowns in the first period: a 46-yard run by Tegin Maloney, then a one-yard keeper by quarterback Cole Seidenberger after a forced fumble and recovery by Colt defensive lineman William Rosser.
The Colts added one more touchdown in the second, the sole scoring drive in the period. That six was setup by a blocked punt which gave the Institute posssession at the Eagle two yard line. Seidenberger again got the TD, following in his fullback into the endzone.
NMMI scored on their opening possession of the second half, making it a running clock for the rest of the game. Seidenberger had a 27-yard pass to Tomasits, but the rest came on the ground with solid rushes by Seidenberger, Tomasits, Sanchez, and a final ten-yard TD plunge by Maloney.
Seidenberger added more more score for the Colts before the end of the third, finishing off a six play, 45-yard drive - his third TD on the afternoon.
Neither team put points on the board in the fourth.
Maloney was the top yardage gainer for the Colts. He had just three carries in the game, but two were for TDs, and cranked out 67 total yards. Tomasits was close behind with 65 yards on four carries, while Sanchez had three rushes for 35.
Seidenberger finished with nine carries - three for touchdowns - and 27 net yards. He also went 2-for-2 in the air, good for another 38 yards.
Three Colts tied for the top position in tackles: Maloney, Santiago Lordmendez and Samuel McCargish each with seven.
With the win, the Colts' record improves to 9-2 and they'll advance to the quartfinals on the Class 3A State Playoffs. Their next game will be Friday, Nov. 10 at 5:00 pm, as they travel to play the No. 4 West Las Vegas Dons.