GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. – The Colorado Mesa University football team claimed a share of the 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Football Title with a dramatic 48-38 win over South Dakota Mines Saturday (Nov. 5).

The Mavericks finish with an 8-2 league record and will close the regular season with a non-conference contest against Azusa Pacific Nov. 12.

The Hardrockers scored on their first drive of the game kicking a 46-yard field goal to complete an eight-play, 40-yard drive.

The Mavericks took the lead after a 10-yard touchdown pass from Eystin Salum found the hands of Marcus Hines with 5:52 remaining in the first. The play completed an eight-play, 85-yard drive that took 2:06.

The second quarter turned into an offensive shootout with each team finding the endzone three times.

Connor Silveria scored the first touchdown of the game for the Hardrockers with a three-yard run.

Peter Anderson caught a 37-yard touchdown pass for Mesa, but Mines responded with back-to-back touchdowns.

The Mavericks regained the lead just before halftime with a pair of touchdowns. Eystin Salum scored on a 15-yard run, and David Tann found the endzone on a 10-yard scamper.

After a scoreless third period, the two teams combined for 34 points over the final 15 minutes.

Marcus Hines caught his second touchdown pass of the game, this one from 51-yards, as part of a two-play drive that lasted only 29 seconds. Hines finished with a game-high 12 catches for a team-high 122 yards.

The Hardrockers scored on a long pass of their own when Isaiah Manley rumbled 70-yards to the endzone.

Ryan Sheehan kicked a 37-yard field goal for CMU, but SDSMT tied the game with an 11-yard run from Connor Silveria with 10:18 remaining.

The Hardrockers attempted a 21-yard field goal to take the lead with 3:30 remaining but a low snap caused the attempt to be blocked and it was returned by Antonio Clark 70-yards for a touchdown.

Blake Brockett halted Mines next drive with an interception, his second of the game.

The Mavericks turned the turnover into three points off the foot of Ryan Sheehan from 22-yards out.

Mines' final drive covered just 22 yards on seven plays and stalled out on downs.

CMU tallied 459 yards of total offense (245 rushing, 214 passing) while giving up 583 yards of total offense (265 rushing, 318 passing).

Eystin Salum ran for a team-high 143 yards (4.9 ypc) to go along with 217 yards passing.

Josh Brown racked up 240 all-purpose yards, including 189 yards on kick returns.

Blake Nelson was a force defensively for the Mavericks recording a game-high 14 tackles, one sack and two of the team's seven tackles for loss.