Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa University defense intercepted five passes and held New Mexico Highlands to 407 yards of total offense in a 31-19 win over the Cowboys in RMAC football action Saturday (Oct. 11).

NMHU entered the game averaging over 550 yards of offense per game.

The Mavericks opened the scoring with a 36-yard field goal by Ryan Sheehan at 4:03 of the first quarter. Colorado Mesa extended its lead to 17-0 with a pair of touchdowns in the second.

Andrew Cota threw a 19-yard pass to Ian Juede at 5:47 and ran for an 18-yard score at 1:18.

The Maverick defense dominated in the first half, creating four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) a punt and a turnover on downs on the six offense drives by the Cowboys.

Cota would connect with Juede for the duo's second score, this one a nine-yard toss less than three minutes into the third quarter. Juede would finish the day with a team-high seven catches for a game-high 105 receiving yards.

Tanner Wright, who replaced Lance Orender at quarterback for Highlands, capped a 10-play 68-yard Cowboy drive with an eight-yard pass to Tyler Slavin in the third.

Lance Orender completed 21-of-35 passes for 155 yards and five interceptions. Tanner Wright tallied 116 passing yards on 10-of-16 attempts.

The Mavericks answered with their longest scoring drive of the day, a 12-play 74-yard drive, that ended with a one-yard run by Cota.

Highlands would tack on two touchdowns in the fourth but were unable to convert the two-point conversion on the first.

For the second straight game Andrew Cota finished with a team-high 108 yards rushing. He also completed 25-of-40 passes for a game-high 271 yards.

CMU finished with advantages in rushing yards (202-133), passing yards (275-274) and total yards (47—407).

The Mavericks offense was helped throughout the day by Jordan Price who averaged nearly 25 yards on three punt returns including a 35 yard return. Price also had one interception and four tackles.

Dustin Rivas finished with two interceptions while Tyler White had one and Salim Cleghorne returned his interception 24 yards.

Tom Saager and Marcus Cross finished with a team-high nine tackles a piece for CMU.
CMU (4-2, 3-1) will look for its fifth win of the season at Western New Mexico Oct. 18.