The 2017 Western New Mexico Mustangs football team represented Western New Mexico University (WNMU) in the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by eighth-year head coach Adam Clark. The Mustangs played their home games at Altamirano Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference.
Following the season, Clark announced that he would be stepping down as the program's head coach. Clark finished his tenure at WNMU with an overall record of 33–54 through eight seasons.
Preseason LSC media poll The LSC media poll was released on August 22, 2017. The Mustangs were predicted to finish tied for last in the conference.
Schedule Western New Mexico announced its 2017 football schedule on January 23, 2017. The schedule consisted of six home and five away games in the regular season. The Mustangs hosted LSC foes Eastern New Mexico, Tarleton State, Texas A&M–Kingsville, and UT Permian Basin and traveled to Angelo State, Midwestern State, Texas A&M–Commerce, and West Texas A&M.
The Mustangs hosted two of its three non-conference games against Fort Lewis from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and Western Oregon, and traveled to San Diego from the Pioneer Football League.
Game summaries At San Diego
Statistics WNMUUSD First downs 24 14 Total yards 516 339 Rushing yards 52 152 Passing yards 464 187 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 30:38 29:22 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 39/62, 464 yards, 3 TD Rushing Justin Harris 13 rushes, 63 yards Receiving D'Angelo Bowie 19 receptions, 263 yards, 2 TDSan Diego Passing Anthony Lawrence 15/28, 187 yards, 2 TD Rushing Emilio Martinez 17 rushes, 96 yards, TD Receiving Justin Priest 4 receptions, 95 yards, TD
Eastern New Mexico
Statistics ENMUWNMU First downs 21 21 Total yards 404 444 Rushing yards 367 26 Passing yards 37 418 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 35:05 24:55 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern New Mexico Passing Wyatt Strand 4/9, 37 yards Rushing Tayshaun Gary 9 rushes, 113 yards Receiving Russell Montoya 2 receptions, 26 yardsWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 21/41, 418 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing DeAndre Williams 9 rushes, 17 yards Receiving Evan Beebe 5 receptions, 125 yards, TD
Western Oregon
Statistics WOUWNMU First downs 16 22 Total yards 436 367 Rushing yards 92 92 Passing yards 344 275 Turnovers 1 6 Time of possession 29:44 30:16 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Oregon Passing Nick Duckworth 17/24, 293 yards, 4 TD Rushing Torreahno Sweet 8 rushes, 71 yards, TD Receiving Paul Revis 10 receptions, 133 yards, TDWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 22/45, 275 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT Rushing Justin Harris 10 rushes, 81 yards, TD Receiving D'Angelo Bowie 6 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
UT Permian Basin
Statistics UTPBWNMU First downs 16 31 Total yards 311 572 Rushing yards 143 76 Passing yards 168 496 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 24:32 35:28 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Permian Basin Passing Kameron Mathis 12/34, 168 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Brandon Infiesto 18 rushes, 78 yards, TD Receiving Mitchell Leonard 5 receptions, 81 yards, TDWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hill 42/70, 496 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Justin Harris 13 rushes, 38 yards Receiving D'Angelo Bowie 12 receptions, 158 yards, TD
At No. 12 Midwestern State
Statistics WNMUMSU First downs 28 23 Total yards 467 432 Rushing yards 139 106 Passing yards 328 326 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 36:25 23:35 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 28/41, 328 yards, 2 TD Rushing Justin Harris 18 rushes, 109 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Jones 5 receptions, 73 yardsMidwestern State Passing Layton Rabb 20/31, 326 yards, 2 TD Rushing Adrian Seales 19 rushes, 86 yards, TD Receiving D. J. Myers 4 receptions, 130 yards, TD
Tarleton State
Statistics TSUWNMU First downs 17 18 Total yards 259 324 Rushing yards 27 135 Passing yards 232 189 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:34 31:26 Team Category Player StatisticsTarleton State Passing Zed Woerner 20/35, 232 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Xavier Turner 8 rushes, 28 yards Receiving Del'Michael High 9 receptions, 121 yards, TDWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 18/40, 183 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Justin Harris 16 rushes, 92 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Jones 4 receptions, 67 yards, TD
At No. 11 Texas A&M–Commerce
Statistics WNMUTAMUC First downs 14 15 Total yards 237 430 Rushing yards 108 39 Passing yards 129 391 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 34:51 25:09 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern New Mexico Passing Matt Hommel 17/35, 124 yards, 2 INT Rushing Justin Harris 16 rushes, 75 yards Receiving D'Angelo Bowie 3 receptions, 36 yardsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Luis Perez 23/32, 358 yards, 5 TD Rushing Darrius Webb 7 rushes, 54 yards Receiving D'Arthur Cowan 4 receptions, 87 yards, TD
Fort Lewis
Statistics FLCWNMU First downs 13 20 Total yards 256 332 Rushing yards 154 85 Passing yards 102 247 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 29:28 30:32 Team Category Player StatisticsFort Lewis Passing Bo Coleman 4/9, 81 yards Rushing Tyler Telphy 18 rushes, 49 yards, TD Receiving Jake Lowry 1 reception, 48 yardsWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 27/46, 247 yards, TD Rushing DeAndre Williams 15 rushes, 52 yards, TD Receiving Evan Beebe 8 receptions, 92 yards
At Angelo State
Statistics WNMUASU First downs 12 32 Total yards 241 587 Rushing yards 68 235 Passing yards 173 352 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 24:57 35:03 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 18/44, 173 yards, TD, INT Rushing Justin Harris 16 rushes, 45 yards Receiving Evan Beebe 5 receptions, 91 yardsAngelo State Passing Jake Faber 27/40, 335 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Tyrese Nathan 15 rushes, 82 yards, TD Receiving Tyrese Nathan 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Statistics TAMUKWNMU First downs 16 25 Total yards 268 380 Rushing yards 104 153 Passing yards 164 227 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 26:26 33:34 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Kingsville Passing Cade Dyal 15/23, 151 yards, TD, INT Rushing Nick Pelrean 14 rushes, 78 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Thomas 3 receptions,, 57 yards, 2 TDWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 23/41, 227 yards, 3 TD Rushing Justin Harris 25 rushes, 153 yards, TD Receiving D'Angelo Bowie 9 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD
At West Texas A&M
Statistics WNMUWTAMU First downs 21 17 Total yards 300 353 Rushing yards 105 116 Passing yards 195 237 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 26:57 33:03 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern New Mexico Passing Javia Hall 17/28, 195 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Justin Harris 9 rushes, 55 yards Receiving D'Angelo Bowie 9 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDWest Texas A&M Passing Ben Arbuckle 17/31, 237 yards, 2 TD Rushing Warren Witherspoon 21 rushes, 75 yards Receiving Avery Lewis 4 receptions, 64 yards, TD
References