Complete Notes in PDFColorado Mesa will play No. 18 Colorado Mines on Nov. 1. The game will be played at North Area Athletic Complex due to Colorado Mines stadium undergoing renovations. The winner of the game will retain possession of the Nyikos Cup.
Series
CMU leads the all-time series with Colorado Mines 6-5, including a 3-3 mark against the Miners in Golden. Mines has won the last five meetings between the two schools.
RMAC Title
Colorado Mesa enters Saturday's game at 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the RMAC. If the Mavericks win their last three games of the season and Chadron State suffers a loss CMU will be RMAC Champions.
Points off Turnovers
Colorado Mesa ranks ninth in the nation and leads the RMAC in turnovers gained at 22. The Mavericks have turned those 22 turnovers into 103 points this season. CMU has turned the ball over 16 times leading to just 34 points.
Blocking Kicks
Colorado Mesa has excelled at blocking kicks this season. The Mavericks have blocked seven kicks, second most in Div. II, and three punts, fifth most in Div. II.
Rivas Island
Dustin Rivas ranks second Div. II in passes defended with 2.1 per game. He leads the league and ranks seventh in the nation in interceptions with 2.1 per game. Solomon St. Pierre of Sioux Falls leads Div. II in passes defended averaging 2.4 per game.
Red Zone Defenses
The top two red zone defenses in the RMAC will square off this weekend. Colorado Mines ranks first (.565) and Colorado Mesa ranks second (.697).
Passing Game
Colorado Mines enters this week's game leading the RMAC in passing efficiency at 149.45. Colorado Mesa ranks second in the league in pass efficiency defense at 105.20.
Rare Kick Return
Fort Lewis returned a kickoff for a touchdown last weekend. It was the first kick return touchdown by a CMU opponent since Chadron State returned one in 2008.
Early Lead
CMU is 4-0 this season when it leads after the first quarter and 4-0 when it leads at halftime.
Punting
Austin Pitchford ranks fourth in the nation and third in the RMAC in punting at 44.6 yards per punt. He has 16 punts this season over 50 yards and 15 punts inside the 20.
Looking Ahead
Colorado Mesa will play its final two games of the regular season at home starting with CSU-Pueblo on Nov. 8.
