Team leads throughout most of the game, but cannot stop Broncos last drive, lose 21-14

Mesa had this one in their sights but a late Bronco drive would send Mesa to it's eighth loss in nine games of 2009.

NMMI got on the board first with a 40-yard field goal from Kevin Perez with 8:23 to go in quarter number one. 

Mesa would get things going in retaliation.  

Tanner Rehrer caught a 22-yard dart from Taylor Perkins to take the lead just four minutes later.  

NMMI would come right back with another field goal off the boot of Perez, this time a 28-yarder, as the clock showed 12:31 left in the first half.    

Anthony Williams ripped off a 40-yard run to put NMMI back on top  13-7.  Williams would rush for 182 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns. 

As the second half got underway, Mesa's Jarison Johnson scored from seven yards out for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.  Zach Richards extra point put Mesa up 14-13 with 11:54 to go in the third.  

Mesa would hold that lead until 1:33 left in the game, when Anthony WIlliams struck again after a sustained drive.  His one-yard plunge put the dagger in the Homecoming hearts of Mesa fans.  

It wasn't only Anthony Williams efforts that halted Mesa from getting their second win on the year, Mesa had four opportunities in the red zone in the game and came away with points just once.  

Mesa finally got a ground attack going, gaining 192 yards on 38 carries, a solid 5.1 YPC average.  Aaron Hardwick gained 128 on 21 carries, good for a 6.1 YPC average.  Jarison Johnson gained 56 on ten carries, scoring once.  

Taylor Perkins was 15 of 27 for 190 yards and one touchdown.  

Justin Brown (four for 39), Mike Nielson (three for 23), Tanner Rehrer (two for 52, TD), and Jordan Fox (two for 35) handled the receiving.  

Joel Gunter led the way defensively for Mesa with 71/2 tackles.  Daniel Thomas continued his fine season, notching seven tackles.  Will Shaw also had seven tackles for the T'Birds. 

Mesa outgained NMMI 382 to 347, won time of possession 32 minutes to 28, tallied the lone turnover of the game, an interception by Anthony Sanders, but the Thunderbirds could not finish drives. 

Mesa travels to Pima Saturday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. for the final game of 2009.