Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Jerreon Dennis scored a one-yard touchdown in overtime to lift the Colorado Mesa football team to a 44-37 season opening win in front of 5,018 fans at Stocker Stadium Saturday (Sept. 6).

DJ Hubbard opened the game in dramatic fashion returning the opening kick-off 95-yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good due to a botched hold.

Hubbard racked up 209 yards of total offense, with the majority coming from 144 return yards.

CMU averaged 59 yards on kick-off returns for the game.

Dixie responded with a 14 play 59 yard drive that was halted when DJ Hubbard blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt by the Red Storm.

The Mavericks first offensive play of the game was a 61-yard pass from Aric Kaiser to Ricky Trinidad. The drive concluded with a 32-yard chip shot by Ryan Sheehan to extend the CMU lead to 9-0.

Dixie State got on the board with a 14-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Hayden Gavett to cap a 10 play 72 yard drive.

Aric Kaiser completed a pair of 14-yard touchdown passes to Daniel Rankin and Jerreon Dennis to highlight the second quarter for CMU.

The Mavs entered the locker room with a 23-13 win after a late Red Storm touchdown with less than one minute remaining in the half.

Dixie started the second half with back-to-back touchdowns to take the lead 27-23.

Ryan Sheehan made his second field goal of the game, but Dixie took its largest lead of the game at 34-26 with a touchdown late in the quarter.

Kaiser threw his third touchdown of the game when he found Daniel Perse in the back of the end zone. He then completed a pass to Steven Lindquist for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 34. Kaiser completed 21-of-40 attempts for 286 yards.

The Red Storm marched 72 yards down the field, and took their lead of the game, 37-34, compliments of a 25-yard field goal by Alex Giordani.

The Mavericks responded by moving the ball 44-yards in just 41 seconds. True freshman Ryan Sheehan, who had missed his previous two field goal attempts, booted a 40-yard field goal with one second remaining to send the game to overtime.

CMU finally scored on a fourth and goal rush by Jerreon Dennis from the one yard line.

Dustin Rivas secured the overtime win for CMU when he picked off a pass by Hayden Gavett in the end zone. Gavett finished the night 25-of-44 for 339 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Rivas finished with a game-high eight solo tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Dixie dominated the game offensively racking up 640 yards of offense, including 339 yards through the air and 301 yards on the ground.

Mesa tallied 417 yards of total offense, 286 yards passing and 131 yards rushing.

The Mavericks dominated the turnover battle forcing five fumbles, recovering three. CMU also picked off two passes.

Marcus Cross led the defense for CMU with 10 tackles, five solo, two sacks and a forced fumble.

The Mavericks will play a non-conference game at Texas A&M – Kingsville Sept. 13.