1968 New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football team

American college football season February 2026 July 2024 1968 New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football Independent 9–0 John Levra 2nd The 1968 New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico Highlands University as an independent during the 1968 NAIA football season. In their second year under head coach John Levra, the Cowboys compiled a perfect 9–0 record and outscored opponents by a total of 533 to 53. The Cowboys set new school records with 533 points scored and 4,685 yards of total offense. They gained an average of 520.6 yards of total offense per game, consisting of 331.0 rushing yards and 189.6 passing yards. On defense, the Cowboys held opponents to an average of 191.2 yards per game, 84.2 yards rushing and 107.0 yards passing.Highlands Cowboys Broke 23 Records The New Mexican December 15, 1968 A15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-highlands-cowbo/142314507/ Newspapers.com Halfback Carl Garrett was selected as a first-team player on the 1968 Little All-America college football team. He tallied 1,373 rushing yards (8.3 yards per carry, 171.6 yards per game) in 1968 and scored 132 points. He received Little All-American honors each year from 1966 to 1968 and totaled 3,364 rushing yards.Highlands' Carl Garrett Selected All-American Albuquerque Journal December 3, 1968 B2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-highlands-carl-garr/142312601/ Newspapers.com Other key players included quarterback Grady Herold (broke school records with 22 touchdown passes and .642 completion percentage), fullback Benny Cortez (646 yards, 4.1 yards per carry), and George Taplin (broke school record with nine touchdown receptions and 540 receiving yards). At the end of the season, the NAIA placed New Mexico Highlands on probation until June 30, 1969. The NAIA took the action as a result of Highlands' cancelling four basketball games without giving sufficient notice. As a result, the football team was disqualified from competing in the NAIA playoffs despite being ranked No. 1.Probation eliminates Highlands from gridiron bowl Las Vegas Optic November 19, 1968 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/las-vegas-optic-probation-eliminates-hig/142299099/ Newspapers.com Schedule y September 14 1968 Simon Fraser Clan Simon Fraser Las Vegas, NM W 34-9 Highlands Wins Opener The New Mexican September 15, 1968 B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-highlands-wins/142301232/ Newspapers.com September 21 1968 Southern Utah Thunderbirds Southern Utah Las Vegas, NM W 85-0 Highlands Blasts Southern Utah 85-0 The New Mexican September 22, 1968 B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-highlands-blast/142300046/ Newspapers.com September 28 1968 Hiram Scott Scotties Hiram Scott Las Vegas, NM W 72-0 HU Beats Hiram Scott 72-0 The New Mexican September 29, 1968 B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-hu-beats-hiram/142302803/ Newspapers.com October 5 at 1968 Adams State Grizzlies Adams State Alamosa, CO W 28-6 NM Highlands Cowboys Win Fourth Straight: Herold Tosses 4 TD Passes The New Mexican October 6, 1968 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-nm-highlands-co/142305225/ Newspapers.com October 12 at 1968 Westminster Griffins Westminster (UT) Salt Lake City, UT W 49-0 Third shutout: Highlands Cowpokes show stature in 49-0 victory over Westminster Las Vegas Optic October 14, 1968 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/las-vegas-optic-third-shutout-highlands/142305625/ Newspapers.com October 19 1968 Colorado Mines Orediggers Colorado Mines<hc> Las Vegas, NM W 85-14 Cowboys smash Mines 85-14 Las Vegas Optic October 21, 1968 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/las-vegas-optic-cowboys-smash-mines-85-1/142306168/ Newspapers.com October 26 1968 Western New Mexico Mustangs Western New Mexico Las Vegas, NM W 62-7 Top Rated Cowboys Score In Every Period ... Highlands Swamps Western 62-7 Silver City Daily Press October 28, 1968 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/silver-city-daily-press-top-rated-cowboy/142306636/ Newspapers.com November 2 at 1968 Western State Mountaineers Western State (CO) Gunnison, CO W 70-7 Highlands Wins Seventh Straight: Garrett Paces 70-7 Win With Five TDs The New Mexican November 3, 1968 B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-highlands-wins/142304825/ Newspapers.com November 9 at 1968 Southern Colorado Indians Southern Colorado Pueblo, CO W 48-10 Highlands Undefeated For 2nd Straight Year: Cowboys End 1968 Season The New Mexican November 10, 1968 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-highlands-undef/142297554/ Newspapers.com10-0 Deficit Didn't Worry Highlands University Pokes The New Mexican November 11, 1968 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-10-0-deficit-di/142297036/ Newspapers.com Personnel The following 36 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1968 New Mexico Highlands football team:36 HU Footballers Awarded Football Letters for 1968 The New Mexican December 15, 1968 A15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-36-hu-footballe/142313886/ Newspapers.com 30em Carl Browning, sophomore, defensive end-center, Midland, TX Permon Chavious, senior, tackle, Columbia, SC Ben Cortez, senior, fullback, Kingsville, TX Andrew Crawford, junior, defensive end, Corpus Christi, TX Roy Culberson, junior, linebacker, El Paso, TX Jim Elam, senior, defensive back, Kingsville, TX McKinney Evans, sophomore, defensive back, Denton, TX Jim Fortner, junior, defensive back, Lovington, NM Carl Garrett, senior, halfback, Denton, TX Leonard Garrett, sophomore, tight end, Silsbee, TX Ron Gentry, senior, guard, Corpus Christi, TX Tom Gillespie, senior, flanker, Centerline, MI George Gomez, sophomore, defensive tackle, El Paso, TX David Graham, junior, defensive tackle, Abilene, TX Fred Hernandez, senior, center, Corpus Christi, TX Grady Herold, senior, quarterback, Cercedes, TX Larry Herold, junior, fullback, Mercedes, TX John Keith, junior, linebacker-end, Rantoul, IL Larry Kell, junior, split end, Corpus Christi, TX Gary Killion, sophomore, linebacker, Weatherford, TX Pat Lindelow, sophomore, tackle, Kansas City, KS Harry Long, senior, guard, Richmond, KY George Parr, freshman, safety, El Paso, TX Steve Pruitt, sophomore, quarterback, Borger, TX Buddy Roberts, junior, punter, Harlingen, TX David Robledo, senior, defensive safety, Harlingen, TX Greg Roero, junior, defensive tackle, Opa Locka, FL Al Sheldon, junior, tackle, Corpus Christi, TX John Smith, junior, linebacker, Santa Fe, NM Ralph Szydlik, junior, halfback, Centerline, MI George Taplin, sophomore, flanker, Fort Worth, TX Al Tolentino, junior, safety, El Paso, TX Hayden White, sophomore, center, Port Neches, TX Floyd Worlow, freshman, tackle, Springtown, TX Ron L. Young, sophomore, guard-linebacker, Lubbock, TX Ron S. Young, senior, guard, Miami, FL References New Mexico Highlands Category:New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football