Broncos deliver Matadors first loss
Bowl hopes on hold as AWC loses conference lead
Like so many other top-five junior college football teams before them this year, Arizona Western's unblemished season has come to an end.
The Matadors' 40-33 loss to New Mexico Military Institute on Saturday at Colt Field in Roswell, N.M. halted the program's best start since 1981 and put the brakes on thoughts of a bowl game invite.
Bronco running back Anthony Williams ran for 92 yards - 85 in the second half - and two touchdowns, and Watson Togiailua threw two touchdown passes for the NMMI, which only posted 241 yards of total offense compared to AWC's 444.
No. 5 AWC (5-1 overall, 3-1 Western States Football League) became the eighth team in the NJCAA to lose a game while ranked in the top five.
Trailing by one heading into the fourth quarter, NMMI had the only score of the final quarter against an AWC defense that hadn't allowed a second-half touchdown in its last three games. Starting deep in Matador territory after a 17-yard punt, Williams scored on a short-yardage run and the Broncos converted their two-point attempt.
The Matadors got to the Bronco 24-yard line on the final drive of the game with plenty of time on the clock, but never got closer than the 20 after a pair of penalties and a 6-yard loss on a screen pass moved them back.
New Mexico Military (5-2 overall, 3-2 WSFL) led by as many as 13 points in the game after a Reggie Bullock fumble was returned 91 yards for a touchdown by LeDarrius Cage. Othello Kossigbo kicked a 26-yard field goal to end the half and make it a 29-19 game.
The Matadors took the lead in the third with a pair of touchdown catches by Brock Ringo, who scored from 31 yards out on a screen pass from Brandon Gorsuch and was the open receiver on a 57-yard halfback option pass by Daniel King. Ringo finished the day with eight catches for 127 yards.
Gorsuch and George Conley each had rushing touchdowns, and AWC linebacker Maurice Alexander forced a fumble that rolled through the end zone for a safety.
Gorsuch was 24-37 for 254 yards and a touchdown through the air. Bullock finished with 81 yards on 18 carries.
Earlier in the day, Snow College beat Eastern Arizona 30-23 in Ephraim, Utah to remain unbeaten in league play.
AWC will host Pima at 2:30 p.m. Saturday for its Homecoming game.
