RAPID CITY, S.D. – No. 15 Colorado Mesa used a strong defensive effort to propel them to a 69-7 win over South Dakota School of Mines, capping off the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule for the Mavericks. The win gives Colorado Mesa a share of the RMAC Championship for the third straight season.
 
The Maverick defense forced four interceptions, blocked two kicks and added a sack. Two of those turnovers were returned for touchdowns.
 
With 20 seconds left in the first quarter, Matt Sorenson blocked a Hardrocker punt that was scooped up by Corbin Covey and returned seven yards for a touchdown. The score gave Colorado Mesa a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
The other defensive touchdown came late in the game. Defensive back Cameron French intercepted a pass in the back of the endzone and returned it all 100 yards for touchdown.
 
Linebacker Marco Garcia blocked the other punt for Colorado Mesa while Darian Turner, Garrett Reece-Scott, and Steven Sumey all intercepted passes in the game. Turner and Reece-Scott each have three interceptions on the season.
 
Sumey led the defense with 11 total tackles.
 
The offense also chipped in with 483 yards of total offense including 186 yards on the ground.
 
Running back David Tann churned up 115 yards on the ground and added two touchdowns. Tann scored on runs of one and three yards to move his touchdown total to 18 on the season and 43 rushing touchdowns in his career.
 
Salum was the Mavericks second leading rusher with 46 yards on 11 carries. He found the endzone on a read option keeper that completely fooled the defense midway through the third quarter.
 
Quarterback Eystin Salum was also efficient through the air. The junior was 14-for-24 for 288 yards with two touchdowns.
 
Salum found Justin Brown for a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of action to give the Mavericks a 31-0 lead.
 
After the South Dakota Mines touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half, Salum found Virnel Moon for a 75-yard strike and gave the 38-7 lead at halftime.
 
Daryl Hawkins also had a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
 
Senior placekicker Ryan Sheehan was a perfect 2-for-2 on his field goal opportunities, hitting on attempts from 29 and 31 yards. Sheehan also extended his PAT streak to 149 straight attempts made after going 9-for-9 this afternoon.
 
The Mavericks move to 9-1 on the season and in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference while the Hardrockers fall to 4-5 on the season and 3-5 in the RMAC.
 
Colorado Mesa will travel to Azusa Pacific for the final game of the regular season. With a win, Colorado Mesa would all but assure themselves a spot in the Division II Playoffs for the second straight season.