A New Mexico Highlands touchdown with 11-seconds remaining in regulation gave the Cowboys (4-0, 2-0) a 41-38 RMAC victory Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas, N.M.

CMU (1-3, 0-2) took a 38-34 lead with 2:55 remaining in the game on an 80-yard drive set up by Chris Henderson to Tanner Whaley 75-yard reception to the Highlands' 5-yard line. Will Halboth scored on a 5-yard run to give the Mavericks the lead.

On the ensuing kick-off NMHU's Abdul Kanneh returned the kick 30-yards to the Highlands 31. The Cowboys drove 69 yards in 12 plays scoring the winning touchdown on a 1-yard pass completion from Nick Ponce to Kevon Williams. On the drive Ponce connected on six consecutive passes. On third and six on the CMU 34 a pass interference call on the Mavs spotted the ball on the CMU 19-yard line and an automatic first down. NMHU reached the 1-yard line on completed pass from Ponce to Williams. CMU held the Cowboys on second-and-goal on the 1-yard line for no gain. Highlands called a timeout with 12-seconds left. The Cowboys scored on the next play completing a 1-yard pass.

The back-and-forth contest saw five lead changes and over 1,000 yards of combined offense. CMU's Chris Henderson passed for 374 yards completing 22-of-35, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Tanner Whaley had three receptions for 140 yards and eight different players recorded at least one reception. CMU rushed for 116 yards led by Jake Cimolino's 73 yards on 13 carries.

Defensively the Mavericks forced four turnovers including a fumble recovery by Jake Bruno on the NMHU 24-yard line late in the game (4:17). CMU scored on the very next play (Henderson to Austin Rodriguez), to pull to within 31-34. Jake Edmiston led the Mavs with 15 tackles, 9 solo. Three Mavericks recorded double digit tackles; Trent deBraga (13) and Connor Wright (12).

CMU scored first on a Caleb Pavy 20-yard field goal, the only scoring in the first quarter. NMHU took the lead 7-3 before CMU scored 10-unanswered points for a 17-7 lead with 5:34 in the first half. NMHU scored two touchdowns in the final 3:35 of the half to take a 21-17 lead at intermission.

NMHU jumped out to a 27-17 lead, posting the only points in the third quarter.

CMU and NMHU traded touchdowns early in the fourth with the Cowboys still holding a 10-point advantage (34-24). CMU closed the gap to three points (31-34) following the fumble recovery by Bruno. The Mavericks took the lead (38-34) on a two-play, 80-yard scoring drive. NMHU answered back on the final drive and remain undefeated in a 41-38 victory.

CMU will host Western New Mexico in the Mavs' Homecoming game next Saturday, 1 p.m. at Stocker Stadium.

Box Score