No. 23 Colorado Mesa University will play at No. 10 Colorado Mines Saturday (Sept. 17). The match-up will feature two of the three unbeaten teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. 

Polls
Both teams are ranked in this week's American Football Coach's Association Top-25 Poll. Colorado Mesa moved up two spots to No. 23. Colorado Mines moved up one spot to No. 10.  

Series History
Colorado Mesa leads the series with Colorado Mines 28-12, including a 10-5 mark in Golden. The Mavericks defeated the Orediggers 31-17 last year for its first win over Mines since 2008. 

Nyikos Cup
The Colorado Mesa University Alumni Association and the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Association launched a new tradition in October 2010: The Nyikos Cup. The trophy, honoring Dr. Michael Nyikos, goes to the winner each year of the football contest between Colorado Mesa and Mines.
Dr. Nyikos served as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Mesa, as well as Vice President of Student Affairs and External Relations at Colorado School of Mines. Mines won the Nyikos Cup the first four times, but Mesa won the trophy last year. 

Player of the Week
Dustin Rivas, a junior defensive back, was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week  and the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter Player of the Week after intercepting three passes, returning one for a touchdown, in Colorado Mesa's home opening win against Chadron State. His first interception came in the end zone on the Eagles first trip to the red zone, and his interception return for a touchdown in the beginning of the fourth quarter helped seal the victory for the Mavericks, as he added six tackles in the game.

Second Player of the Week
Sheehan, a junior kicker, was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting four field goals on four attempts helping Colorado Mesa defeat Chadron State 47-33. His game long 37 yard field goal came in the third quarter to put the Mavericks up by two touchdowns. He is six for seven on field goals so far this season and a perfect nine for nine on PAT's, leading all kickers in points through week two of the season.

First Downs
CMU leads the RMAC and ranks 13th in Div. II in first downs with 52. 

Fourth Downs
Colorado Mesa ranks second in the league in fourth down conversion at .667 (2-3). 

Turnovers
Colorado Mesa is one of 15 teams in Div. II who have not turned the ball over this season. 

Kicking Game
RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week Ryan Sheehan ranks in the nation in field goals per game (3.0) and 13th in the nation in scoring (13.5). 

Offensive Shootout
This weekends meeting between Colorado Mesa and Colorado Mines will feature the top-two offenses in the RMAC. Mines enters the game averaging 554.5 yards of total offense and Mesa is second at 513.4 ypg. Both teams love to throw the ball around. CSM leads the nation averaging 432.5 passing yards per game and CMU is ninth in the nation and second in the league at 361.0 ypg. 

Quarterback Play 
Sean Rubalcaba has done well this season under center. The Grand Junction, Colo., native ranks in the top-25 in the nation in six different categories; fifth in total offense (398.0), seventh in passing yards (722), eighth in passing yards per game (361.0), 15th in completions in per game (24.5), 16th in yards per pass attempt (9.63) and 25th in passing efficiency (159.4).

No Interceptions
Colorado Mesa is one of 35 teams who has not had a pass intercepted. 

No Sacks
Colorado Mesa is one of seven teams in Div. II this season that have not allowed a sack.  

No Field Goals
Colorado Mesa has not had an opponent attempt a field goal this year. 

Red Zone Offense
Colorado Mesa has scored on 11-of-its-12 (.920) trips into the red zone this season. The Mavs have scored five touchdowns ands six field goals during its 12 trips inside the redzone. 

Looking Ahead
Colorado Mesa will play on the road for the second straight week when it plays at Fort Lewis Sept. 24.