Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press

In front of a rowdy group of cadets, the New Mexico Military Institute won its home opener 28-0 over the McCurdy Bobcats on Friday night at Colt Field.

The Colts have outscored their opponents 56-0 to start the season 2-0.

“It’s just a process everybody goes through especially for us because we’re all learning, still trying to figure out where we can put people. It was a great team win,” said NMMI head coach Randy Montoya.

NMMI’s special teams unit got the offense in great field position to start the game.

McCurdy had a punt blocked on fourth-and-eight by Diego Hernandez. The loose ball was picked up by Nicholas Rice.

The Colts capitalized with a five-yard touchdown run by Simen Johansen with 9:34 in the opening quarter.

There was a pause in the action after the kickoff as a McCurdy player had to be carted off the field by an ambulance while on a stretcher.

Play resumed after the 30-minute delay in the action.

After a four-and-out by the Bobcats, NMMI found the end zone with a four-play, 40-yard drive that was capped off with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Juan Badillo to Norberto Valencia with 6:51 left to go in the first quarter.

McCurdy struggled for much of the game, tallying only 87 yards of total offense.

On the first play of the second quarter, Badillo tallied his second touchdown pass of the night as he connected with a wide open Darrell Ochieng for a 43-yard score to increase NMMI’s lead to 21-0.

Up by three scores coming out of the locker room to start the second half, the Colts scored on a five-play, 60-yard drive to begin the third quarter.

Johansen scored his second rushing touchdown, this time from two yards out to make the score 28-0.

NMMI struggled with seven penalties for 86 yards.

Despite the miscues, the Colts managed to put together 189 rushing yards off 27 carries.

Badillo accounted for 165 yards of total offense. Johansen finished with 34 yards rushing on four carries.

Ochieng was the second-best rusher of the night, carrying the ball 41 yards on four carries while he tallied two catches for 54 yards.

McCurdy had only seven first downs while completing three passes on the night. NMMI had 14 first downs in the contest.

The Colts will have a tough challenge ahead of them as Texico comes into Roswell next Friday at 7 p.m.

“Lot of penalties. I wasn’t proud of that. We’ve got to clean (that) up in order for us to be able to compete at that next level,” Montoya added. “We’re going to enjoy this win for right now, and it’s great to be 2-0 for the start of the season. We just got to continue to get better.”

NMMI 28, McCurdy 0

NMMI          14          7          7          0

McCurdy       0          0          0          0

FIRST QUARTER

NMMI — Simen Johansen 5 run (William Cox kick), 9:34

NMMI --- Juan Badillo 10 pass to Norberto Valencia (William Cox kick), 6:51

SECOND QUARTER

NMMI — Juan Badillo 43 pass to Darrell Ochieng (William Cox kick), 11:51

THIRD QUARTER

NMMI — Simen Johansen 2 run (William Cox kick), 9:00

NMMI STATISTICS

Rushes-Yards: 27-189

Passing: 85

Comp-Att-Int: 6-12-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: NMMI, Juan Badillo 8-80, Darrell Ochieng 4-41, Simen Johansen 4-34, David WendeIn-Lankard 4-23.

Passing: NMMI, Juan Badillo 6-10-0 – 85, David WendeIn-Lankard 0-2 – 0.

Receiving: NMMI, Darrell Ochieng 2-54, Norberto Valencia 2-23, Diego Hernandez 1-6, Matthew Castillo 1-2.