Focus and Intensity

Two words that first year head coach Russ Martin, and his staff have preached to his players since his first team meeting last November. Saturday afternoon in Silver City N.M, the Mavericks (2-4, 2-2 RMAC) had plenty of both focus, and intensity as they defeated the Western New Mexico Mustangs (3-3, 2-2 RMAC) 31-14 at the Mustangs homecoming game.

The Mavericks have been part of an up and down season, and their record will show there have been more downs then ups.

The two teams spent most of the first quarter feeling each other out, and punting the ball back and forth to each other. After a poor offensive series by the Mavericks which saw them only lose yardage, the Mustangs gained possession of the ball and made quick work of the Mavs. A five play, 57 yard drive that took just one minute and 14 seconds the Mustangs put up the first points of the games with just over six minutes remaining in the quarter.

The first quarter ended with Mesa not being able to answer back to the Mustangs original score.

The second quarter started with CMU nearly putting points on the board after a six minute drive that led to coach Martin sending kicker Caleb Pavy out to attempt a 45 yard field goal, from New Mexico's 35. Pavy's kick was blocked by a Mustang defender keeping the Mavericks off the board.

New defensive coordinator Todd Auer's defense led to CMU's first scoring drive of the game. A Mustangs fumble, recovered by sophomore defensive back Jordan Price, who returned it to Western New Mexico's 10 yard line. A hand off to Jake Cimolino for 10 yards in to the endzone, the Mavericks were on the board with 11 and half minutes to go in the half.

The Mustangs would answer back. Nine plays, 85 yards and four minutes later and the Mustangs had taken back the lead.

After the quick score by Western New Mexico, Jason Haferman could not find a grip, or a receiver the rest of the half. Six times Haferman dropped back to pass, and six times the ball fell to the ground incomplete. The run game was not that much stronger for the Mavs as Jake Cimolino put up only 17 yards on the ground on the final six touches of the half.

“The coaches made small adjustments at halftime, nothing major.” Coach Martin said. “But what we told the players was that most everything they were doing just required more focus and intensity.”

“The coaches told us that we control our own destiny and if we weren't going to be physical or wanted the game bad enough then the outcome wouldn't be what we wanted.” Haferman said.

More focus and intensity is exactly what the Mavs had coming out of the break.

The Mavericks heeded their coach's instructions and came out inspired in the second half.

After starting with the ball on their 20 yard line, the offensive trio of Haferman, Cimolino and Maverick utility man DJ Hubbard went to work. A combination of rushes by both Haferman and Cimolino coupled with a pair of 16 yard passes to Austin Rodriguez and DJ Hubbard, the Mavs ate up nearly six minutes of the third quarter that ended with a play action pass to DJ Hubbard for a 14 yard touchdown reception. “That was an awesome play.” Cimolino said. “We were trying to run it so much that they bit hard on a play fake and DJ burned his guy deep. Jason made an awesome throw.”

The Mavs stingy defense kept the Mustangs off the board after Western missed a 24 yard field goal. With the ball back in the Mavs possession, the Mavericks kept their foot on the gas and their hand on the Mustangs throat as they scored again on another Haferman to Hubbard connection.

As the Mustangs possessed the ball, the game crossed into the final quarter of the night. After defensive end Justin Brown recovered a Mustang fumble deep in CMU territory, the Mavs once again went on another scoring drive. A quick four-play 65-yard drive was capped off by a Jake Cimolino 31-yard rushing touchdown. The Mavericks were in firm control of the contest as the game winded down.

Travis McRae and Jake Edmiston led the defense forcing the Mustangs to punt, giving the Mavs their fourth possession of the half, which would result in their fourth straight score of the half.  A fourth and seven situation led to Caleb Pavy connecting on a 47-yard field goal.

The remainder of the game allowed each team to have the ball two more times, but neither would score off their final two touches. CMU's defense was perfect in the second half; and was the wet blanket to what has been a potent Mustang offense.

The Mavericks would get on the bus after not only upsetting Western New Mexico, but ruining the Mustangs homecoming after Western New Mexico did the same to the Mavericks last season.

“The guys came out with a lot more intensity and played much better in the second half.” Coach Martin said.

The Mavericks return  home to Stocker stadium next Saturday as they take on a winless Ft. Lewis College team.