NMMI Broncos upset Cisco College, host Northeastern Oklahoma Saturday
By Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus
msmith@currentargus.com
Quarterback Elliot Paskett-Bell had 228 yards in total offense and New Mexico Military Institute’s defense limited the scoring attack of nationally ranked Cisco College as the Broncos rolled to a 20-5 victory Oct. 12 in Cisco, Texas.
The Cisco Wranglers were ranked No. 11 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll heading into last week’s game against New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), a public military junior college and high school in Roswell.
“Our guys did a real good job,” said Broncos head coach Oliver Soukup. “Cisco is extremely explosive. We kept ‘em to five points.”
Soukup, a former head coach at Carlsbad High School, has NMMI at 3-3 overall and 2-2 in Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) play.
The Broncos scored two touchdowns in the opening period as Paskett-Bell completed a 25-yard pass to Kendall Jones and running back Zahir Favors found the end zone from the two-yard line.
Late in the first quarter, the Wranglers mounted a 60-yard drive but the Broncos’ defense made Cisco settle for a 23-yard field goal by David Michel. The Wranglers’ other two points came on a third-quarter safety when Cisco’s Jake South recovered an end-zone fumble by NMMI’s Javion McKay.
Bronco kicker Jack Nelson converted a field goal in the second quarter and another in the third to cap NMMI’s scoring efforts.
“It was awesome in terms of ball control and getting first downs,” Soukup said. “Sometimes time off the clock is better than points if we don’t allow the other offense on the field.”
Paskett-Ball had 126 yards passing and 102 yards rushing.
“He did a real good job in terms of controlling everything,” Soukup said of the Albuquerque native.
The sophomore quarterback has completed 91 of 190 passes this season for 1,146 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Scouting Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
The Golden Norsemen from Miami, Oklahoma, are on a four-game losing streaking heading into their Oct. 19 game in Roswell for NMMI’s homecoming. Kickoff at the Wool Bowl is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Overall, Northeastern Oklahoma is 1-4 and 0-4 in SWJCFC play. Soukup said the record is misleading.
“They’re extremely dangerous. They have a lot of talented weapons on the team,” he said.
The Golden Norsemen defeated Butler Community College 26-23 in overtime to open the season Aug. 31.
“Butler is a top contender in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference,” Soukup said.
Northeastern Oklahoma lost to Cisco College 42-35 at home on Oct. 5.
“The Cisco game came down to the last two plays of the game,” Soukup said.
The Golden Norsemen were off last week.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com