By Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus

Offensive help from quarterback Elliot Paskett-Bell and defensive assistance from Rayden Aphayvong helped Oliver Soukup earn his first home win for the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) Broncos Sept. 21 with a 21-16 victory over Blinn College in Roswell.

Paskett-Bell rushed for 124 yards and passed for 204 yards and Aphayvong broke up a potential touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to secure the win for the former Carlsbad High School football coach.

It was Soukup’s first game coaching in southeast New Mexico since Oct. 28, 2022, when the Cavemen lost to the Hobbs Eagles in Carlsbad 42-7.

Soukup spent the 2022 season at Carlsbad High School before moving to the collegiate ranks at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales in 2023. After serving one season there as an assistant coach, he moved to Roswell earlier this year to take over the Broncos’ head coaching position.

“It was awesome. It was good to be back in the Wool Bowl. I was pretty jacked up,” Soukup said.

He served as assistant coach for the Broncos in 2011.

Recapping the Blinn game

Paskett-Bell completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Karl Peterson in the opening minutes of the first quarter and Soukup’s Broncos led 7-6 at halftime.

Blinn’s Buccaneers overtook NMMI with 9:04 left in the third quarter as Jalen Washington scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. The extra point kick was good for a 13-7 Blinn lead.

The Broncos reclaimed the lead on Joel Jones’ 8-yard TD run with 5:43 left in the third period.

Paskett-Bell gave New Mexico Military some fourth quarter insurance after a three-minute offensive drive, finding Javion McKay wide open in the end zone on a 32-yard pass with 11:46 left in the game.

“The offense did some real good things,” Soukup said. “They got inside the red zone multiple times.”

Trailing 21-13, the Buccaneers closed the gap to 21-16 on Max Nowak’s 35-yard field goal with 8:41 remaining.

Blinn made a late bid for the winning touchdown but Aphayvong broke up a pass intended for Breck Chambers. Aphayvong, a 6-foot-1 defensive back from St. Thomas in Ontario, Canada, finished the game with 12 total tackles.

Through four games this season he has 34 total tackles and two interceptions.

“The defense held their own,” Soukup said. “Overall, I’m really impressed.”

NMMI’s overall record is 2-2 and 1-1 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC).

The game was Blinn’s conference opener, the Buccaneers are 1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Odds and ends

The Broncos are off this week and return to road action Oct. 5 at Tyler Junior College in Texas and Oct. 12 at Cisco College, also in Texas.

After the victory over Blinn College, Soukup gave the team some time off.

“They’ve been going hard for nine weeks. They deserve a couple of days off,” he said.

NMMI returns to Roswell Oct. 19 for homecoming against Northeast Oklahoma A&M College.

Mike Smith can be reached via email at msmith@currentargus.com or by phone at 575-308-8734.