GOLDEN, CO- On a cool fall afternoon in Golden Colorado, the Colorado Mesa Mavericks (3-5, 3-3 RMAC) took on the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (5-3, 3-3 RMC).

The game was an important in conference matchup for both teams.

Starting with the ball in the first quarter Mines could not move the ball on their first possession. After giving the Mavericks a shot at it, the Orediggers came back on their second possession with a mixture of the pass and the run. Driving down the field Mines quarterback Matt Brown found receiver Jerrod Doucet for a one yard touchdown pass.

On the Orediggers third possession, Koa Asing forced an Oredigger fumble recovered by Jake Edmiston inside the Orediggers 40-yard line. Unable to make anything happen on the field, Caleb Pavy attempted a 42 yard field goal that missed left.

The first quarter ended with the Orediggers kicking a 37-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.

The first minute of the second half would be an eventful one. On a second and 19, Jason Haferman found Alex Zemezonak for a long completion down the middle. The next play, while attempting a pass, Haferman was hit causing a fumble. The Mines defense picked up the ball and returned it to the Mesa nine yard line. The Orediggers would score on a rush from the Mesa three yard line, putting Mines up 17-0 one minute into the second quarter.

A 13-yard pass from Haferman to Zemezonak put the Mavericks into Mines territory for the first time in the second quarter. Followed up by a 10 yard run by D.J Hubbard, and a first down pass brought in by Austin Rodriguez the Mavs had their best looking drive of the game. At the Mines 20-yard line, Jake Cimolino rushed for seven yards, followed by a run to the right for two more. On third down the Mavs handed the ball to Cimolino again, and the Orediggers knew it. Stuffed on the play, the Mavericks went for it on fourth down. A run to the right side by Cimolino was not enough for the Mavs, turning the ball over to the Orediggers with seven minutes remaining in the half.

The story of the first half was simple for the Mavericks. Penalties. The Mavericks racked up eight penalties for 66 yards in the first half. Including holding calls, delay of game, and several pass interference calls.

CMU opened the second half with the ball and while standing in the pocket looking for an open receiver, Haferman was leveled by a blitzing middle linebacker.

After trading a pair of possessions that ended in punts for both teams, the Mavericks were able to force a Mines fumble and recover the ball. As the Mavs looked to have a chance of finally putting points on the board, Jason Haferman threw an interception on the very next play.

Both teams had a severe case of the turn overs halfway through the second half. After the Orediggers got the ball back from Haferman's pick, they threw the ball to a covered Mines receiver. The ball was tipped by Jordan Price, and picked out of the air by Travis McRae. On the very next play, on an inside run by Cimolino, the Mavs fumbled and the Orediggers fell on the ball.  

Just when it seemed that no one wanted to score in the second half, the Orediggers successfully completed a 34-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter for a 27-0 lead.

With the seconds counting down in the third quarter, Haferman connected with D.J Hubbard down the middle of the field for a first down. Haferman followed that play up with another first down to Zemezonak. On the connection to Zemezonak, Haferman stood in the pocket and took a low hit from a Mines defender. Haferman would leave the field, handing the ball over to early season starter, Deke Cisco. “He got a good shot on me” Haferman said “I knew something was wrong, I just couldn't tell what.”

Cisco opened the fourth quarter with a pass to D.J Hubbard that went for a first down. After a series of back and forth penalties, Cisco threw an interception deep inside Mines territory. The pass was returned for an Oredigger touchdown. “Out there I saw everything we saw on film. Nothing really new”, said Cisco.  

Late in the fourth quarter, on an Oredigger pass inside the CMU 20, Jordan Price picked off Matt Brown and ran it back 95 yards for the touchdown; but before Price could get to the end zone, yellow flags were on the field. An illegal block brought the ball back to the CMU 4-yard line.

Cisco used his legs and his arm to finally put the Mavs on the board. Cisco unloaded a 62-yard pass to Turmour Battle for the touchdown.

The turnover's and the game finally came to an end, as the Mavericks fell to the  Orediggers 34-7.

 “We did pretty good today, the first half we came out pretty slow. The second half we improved.” Jordan Price said of the Maverick defense.

 “Mines came out and probably played their best game of the year.” Coach Russ Martin said “I'm going to give them a lot of credit, but we have got to focus on us.”

 Next week the Mavericks are at home, as they host undefeated and No. 1-ranked CSU-Pueblo. Kickoff is slated for 6 pm.