GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 23 Colorado Mesa football team opened the season on Thursday night (Aug. 31) against RMAC rival and Western Slope foe Western State at Stocker Stadium. The Mavericks piled up 499 yards of offense in a 49-23 win over the Mountaineers.
 
The Mavericks opened the scoring early in the first quarter capping a short two-play drive with an Eystin Salum 30-yard strike to Marcus Hines for a touchdown giving CMU a 7-0 lead just 52 seconds into the season.
 
After a three and out by Western State, Salum found David Tann for a 5-yard touchdown giving the Mavericks a 14-0 advantage with 11:19 to play in the first quarter. The touchdown capped a six play, 59-yard drive.
 
Still in the first quarter, Salum connected with Peter Anderson for a 55-yard touchdown completion putting the Mavericks ahead 21-0. It was the first play of the drive and the junior quarterback's third touchdown pass of the quarter.
 
Western State responded with 48-yard Max Smith field goal to make it 21-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Mountaineers took over deep in Maverick territory after picking off Salum after a tipped ball.
 
Just before halftime, Virnel Moon caught a 27-yd touchdown to give the Mavericks the 28-3 advantage heading into the break.
 
In the second half, Colorado Mesa headed to the ground to grind the second half away.
 
Salum scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground, one from just nine yards out and the other on a 23-yard scamper giving the Mavericks the cushion they were looking for at 42-3 with 6:01 to play in the third quarter.
 
Junior transfer Isaiah Smith capped the Maverick scoring in late in the third quarter with a 25-yard touchdown reception from Salum to make it 49-3.
 
Western State did not go away scoring three touchdowns, including a 75-yard Dylan Jacob strike to Elijah Gilbert, however, the deficit was too much.
 
Colorado Mesa had a chance to add to their lead on three separate occasions. Two Virnel Moon kickoff returns for touchdown and one Josh Brown return for a touchdown were called back due to penalties. Nonetheless they averaged 32.6 yards per kick return and 21 yards per punt return in the game.
 
Salum finished the night 14-of-20 with 290 yards and five touchdowns through the air and added 53 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.
 
Senior David Tann rushed 10 times for 57 yards and caught a pair of passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
 
Peter Anderson led the receiving corps with three catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.
 
Kicker Ryan Sheehan converted all seven extra points and averaged over 60 yards per kickoff.
 
The Maverick defense forced 10 Western State punts and was able to pickoff one pass.
 
Blake Brockett finished with a team-high eight tackles and a sack on the night.
 
Marco Garcia, Brad Gillis and Ricky Hayes all finished the night with a sack.
 
All-American Dustin Rivas recorded a pair of tackles and picked off Western State and returned it 22-yards in the third quarter.
 
The win gives the Mavericks five straight season opening wins under head coach Russ Martin, dating back to the 2013 season-opening win 34-0 win over Menlo College at Stocker Stadium.
 
Colorado Mesa will be on the road next week at Chadron State on Sept. 9.