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How do you know when fall is officially over in Grand Junction? When the Mavericks have played their last home regular season game at Stocker Stadium.

Led by the team's 11 seniors who have been a part of so much at CMU, the Mavericks (4-6, 4-4 RMAC) ended their home season on a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon beating Western State Colorado University Mountaineers 22-19 (1-9, 1-7 RMAC).

“It's a feeling you don't know you're going to have till you have it. I'm just ecstatic that we were able to fight and win,” said senior center Matt Mankoff. “It hasn't set in yet that this is the last time I'll get to do this.”

As the seniors stepped on to their home field for the last time in a Maverick jersey, the number one ranked rush defense in the RMAC came ready to play.

The start of the game showcased both team's defenses, as neither team could produce a first down on either of their first two possessions.

It was on the Mountaineers second possession that they made their first mistake. Off a third down pass attempt and tip, Trevor deBraga picked the ball out of the air turning it back over to the Mavericks.

After a 34-yard pass to the Mavericks iron man; Jake Cimolino, the Mavs were inside the Mountaineers 5-yard line. After committing back-to back false start penalties, CMU was backed up to the 13-yard line. On the ensuing play, Deke Cisco faked the handoff to Cimolino and ran in for the first score of the game.

After flexing their muscle again on the Mountaineer offense, the Maverick defense forced another Western State punt. While going back for the punt, Trent deBraga muffed the punt and chased it back to the CMU 10-yard line. Playing in the shadow of their goalpost, the Mavs could not produce a first down and left the field to punt.

It wasn't until the Mountaineers fourth offensive possession in the game, late in the first quarter that they earned their first, first down of the game. From there the Mountaineers began to roll. As the first quarter ended, the Mountaineers offense was backing the Maverick defense up. The second quarter got started with a 12-yard rush and touchdown to tie the score at 7-7.

Turnovers continued to plague the Mountaineers in the second quarter. Turmour Battle picked off a Western State pass down the home sideline, and returned it to the WSCU 20. Four plays later, a handoff to DJ Hubbard resulted in the Mavericks first rushing touchdown by a running back in two weeks.

The Mountaineers would answer back, and quickly. On the first play from scrimmage, deep in their own territory WSCU wide receiver L.A McGee took the ball 77 yards for the score and a 14-14 tie.

As the second quarter was winding down; a Western punt downed at the CMU one yard line, would put Deke Cisco's field managing ability to the test. The test didn't last long. On a right side handoff to Cimolino, the Mountaineers defense swallowed Cimolino up inside the end zone for the first safety of the year inside Stocker Stadium and a WSCU 16-14 lead.

Going into the locker room at halftime, the Mountaineers led 16-14.  Deke Cisco had yet to throw a deep ball in the first thirty minutes of play. Cisco was 2 for 7 in the first half for a total of 32 yards. Cimolino gained 42 yards on ten carries without a touchdown in the first half.

The second half started with the third muffed special teams return of the game, as DJ Hubbard dropped the ball, attempted to take a knee then ran out of the end zone to the 17-yard line. After a three-and-out series CMU punted the ball. 

CMU defense answered back as Trevor deBraga picked up the first quarterback sack on the day, taking down Kyle Motal to force a third and 16 and an eventual punt.

On the Mavericks next offensive possession, a different looking Maverick offense took the field. DJ Hubbard stood behind center Matt Mankoff to take the snap with Cimolino behind him, and Cisco playing slot receiver to the right. The attempt at wild-cat went for a loss of yardage; followed by another three-and-out, the Maverick offense continued to search for a grip.

“If you look at their strength, their strength is on defense. Our strength is in the run game.”

The remainder of the third quarter was an exercise in futility as the Mavericks offense fought to simply keep their head above water. The ship began to take on water when Cisco threw an interception that got returned to the CMU five yard line. Not being able to move the ball inside the five, the Mountaineers settled for a 21 yard field goal to push the Mountaineer lead to 19-14. 

As the third quarter ended, composure on both teams began to fade away. On the kick return, a CMU player was called for a personal foul to back the Mavs up. The Mountaineers were flagged on the very next play for a pass interference call.

The start of the fourth quarter was slow, but the Mavs offense began to shows signs of life.  Opening the playbook, and testing Cisco, proved successful as the Mavs moved inside WSCU territory 12 plays into a six-plus minute drive.  Completing the longest drive of the season for the Mavericks, DJ Hubbard scored on a six yard rush capping off a 16 play, 93 yard drive. Going up by one point, Coach Martin kept his offense on the field to go for two. Again, it was Hubbard with an inside handoff scoring on the two point conversion to give CMU a 22-19 lead.

Cees Doxsey got the Mav offense back on the field after scooping up a fumble by WSCU quarterback Kyle Motal.

The Mavericks caught a case of the fumbles themselves. Cimolino fumbled after a ten yard run that was recovered by the Mavs. Two plays later, in a hurry to get the play off, Cisco fumbled and recovered the snap. The productivity of the previous Maverick drive could not be close to duplicated, and the Mavs punted to the Mountaineers with less than four minutes remaining.

As the clock clicked down, led by Kyle Motal's accurate passing, led the Mountaineers down the field in a late game drive. The Mountaineers would set up for 36-yard field goal to tie the game. After two timeouts, and some mounting pressure, the kick sailed wide right handing the Mavericks the ball back with one minute on the clock.

With a knee by Cisco the Mavs second home game of the season was secured.

Jake Edmiston led all players with 15 tackles, including two solo tackles and one quarterback hurry.

The Mavericks travel to Adams State (7-3, 5-3 RMAC) next week for the final game of the 2012 season.