GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa football team trailed 33-21 with 11:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, but a pair of touchdown runs from freshman running back Pailate Makakona propelled the Mavericks to a 36-33 victory over the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers in the season opener for both teams at Stocker Stadium.
 
Makakona scored on runs from 13-yards out and from 3-yards out in his collegiate debut. The West Valley City, Utah native finished with 55 yards on 10 carries and his second touchdown of the game sealed the win for the Mavericks.
 
South Dakota Mines opened the game by scoring the first 17 points unanswered before an Eystin Salum 4-yard touchdown pass to Peter Anderson got the Mavericks to within 10, 17-7 before the halftime break.
 
Colorado Mesa took the second kickoff and went 11 plays and going 59 yards for their second touchdown of the game to cut the Hardrocker lead to 17-14 with 9:52 to play in the third quarter. The touchdown came off a 5-yard touchdown run by Salum.
 
The senior quarterback finished his final season opener with 111 yards rushing on 16 carries and 22-of-42 for 257 yards with a touchdown and an interception through the air.
 
South Dakota Mines answered back with a 47-yard touchdown run by Connor Silveria to push their lead to 23-14 as they missed the point after attempt.
 
The two teams traded touchdowns as Jonathon Beverly scored on a 1-yard plunge with 2:26 to play in the third quarter to make it 23-21.
 
The final scoring play of the third quarter came out of the hand of Hardrocker quarterback Jake Sullivan. Sullivan found Isaiah Manley for a 37-yard scoring strike with just 1:16 to play in the third.
 
Sullivan accounted for three of the South Dakota Mines touchdowns on the day. He finished with 58 yards rushing and two touchdowns while completing 26-of-41 passes through the air for 268 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
 
An Enis Sefa 32-yard field goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter were the final points South Dakota Mines would score on the day with 11:42 left to play.
 
Makakona's first touchdown came from 13-yards out to cut the lead to 33-28.
 
Colorado Mesa pooch-kicked the ensuing kickoff with Matt Sorenson recovering the unintentional on-side kick to give the Mavericks starting field position inside South Dakota Mines territory.
 
After Makakona's second touchdown, the Mavericks were able to milk the clock down to just nine seconds before turning the ball over on downs to the Hardrockers.
 
Senior defensive back Antonio Clark intercepted a Jake Sullivan pass to seal the Maverick win. Clark finished the game with eight tackles and two pass break-ups in his final season opener.
 
The Maverick defense didn't have the best day on the field but stood strong in the fourth quarter, allowing just 32 yards in the period.
 
Colorado Mesa allowed over 420 yards of offense with over 225 coming in the first half.
 
Senior Tom Saager led the Mavericks in tackles with 10 while transfer DJ White had a sack and two quarterback hurries.
 
Colorado Mesa will play their non-conference game next week on the road in Portales, N.M. against Eastern New Mexico. The Greyhounds opened the season on the road with a loss to Missouri S&T, 31-14 on Thursday in Rolla, Missouri.