GRAND JUNCTION, COLO.- The Colorado Mesa football team put up 14 points in the first two minutes of the game against Black Hills State University, to help catapult them to a 58-21 win over the Black Hills State in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest Saturday at Ralph Stocker Stadium.
 
Colorado Mesa couldn't stay off the board today and took an early lead in the contest when Justin White took the opening kickoff 100 yards to the house on the first play of the game. With a good attempt on a Lucas Ruiz-Diaz kick the Mavs stepped out in front at 7-0, after only 13 seconds.    
 
Black Hills' offense took to the field for the first time, already in a deficit. After two plays with minimal gain a Chance Eben pass was intercepted by Mesa's Nick Ciccio at the Black Hills 22-yard line. Ciccio took it 32 yards for another Maverick touchdown, a good kick attempt by Ruiz-Diaz made the score 14-0.
 
Colorado Mesa got the ball for the third time, with no opposing points on the board and with no time to waste Bollinger moved it down the field with a pass to Shaun Apiki for a 13-yard gain and a Maverick first down. The Mavericks continued the drive with forward progress on carries by Maestas and Jesse Rodriguez for another first down. Then, KJ Sapp caught a pass for another 18-yard gain, and yet another Maverick first down, and then Bollinger took it the 8-yards himself for a gain of six. With a good Ruiz-Diaz kick, the score was 21-0.
 
The next time the BHSU offense took to the field, Eben was met with a sack by Reed Rowan and Simote Samate. The Mesa defense wasn't ready to quit and forced two more Black Hills State three and outs. The Mavericks got the ball on the Black Hills 11-yard line with 13 seconds left in the first quarter after a Jacob Parks punt was blocked by White. Bollinger then connected with Rodriquez on a screen pass for an 11-yard touchdown. The Mavericks ended the first quarter with a 28-0 lead over the yellow jackets.
 
Black Hills made it on the board on carry by Payten Gilmore, to make the score 28-7. After trading scoreless drives, the Yellow Jackets had the ball on their own 22-yard line, where Dylan Tait picked off a deflected pass for a pick six to regain the Mavericks 28-point lead, 34-7 with under six minutes left in the half.
 
When the Yellow Jackets got the ball back, it didn't last long after Samate forced a fumble, that was recovered by White. But, the next time BHSU offense took to the field Eben would connect with Gilmore to make the score 34-14.
 
On the ensuing drive, Rodriquez rushed for seven yards, and then another 18 for a Maverick first down. Then, Bollinger sent one to Christopher Brown for a gain of 47 yards to the 3-yard line, where once again Rodriguez would take it in for the touchdown, followed by a good kick attempt by Ruiz-Diaz and a 41-14 halftime lead.
 
On their second drive of the second half Colorado Mesa was once again eager to get into the end zone. Isaac Maestas would account for his first touchdown of the day after a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:37 to go in the third quarter. The drive would be the lone score of the third quarter, and the score headed into the fourth would be 48-14.
 
The Mavericks traded Bollinger for Aaron Howard in the third and then introduced fans to Justice Ogueri in the fourth. Ogueri rushed for a gain of 27 and a Maverick first down, and then another three, to bring out Ruiz-Diaz for a 32-yard field goal, making the score 51-14.
 
Colorado Mesa brought their third quarterback of the game in Rope Ruel. Ruel kept the offense rolling and scored on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
 
The Mavericks improve to 4-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play and the Yellow Jackets fell to 2-6.
 
Colorado Mesa Football will have two consecutive road games coming up. Next week on Saturday November 2^nd, Mesa is headed to St. George to take on Dixie State University at 1pm at Trailblazer Stadium. The Mavericks will return home for their final game of the season on November 16^th, at Ralph Stocker Stadium at 1pm to take on New Mexico Highlands University.