ALAMOSA, COLO. (Nov. 9, 2019)- The Colorado Mesa University football team wasted no time getting onto the scoreboard today, in their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup against Adams State University, taking a 7-0 lead over the Grizzlies less than a minute into the contest at Rex Stadium in Alamosa Colorado.
 
The Mavericks opened up the game with a trick play on a handoff from quarterback Rope Ruel to Isaac Maestas, who then pitched it back to Peter Anderson. Anderson took it 52 yards down field to the Adams State 11-yard line. A carry by Maestas set the Mavericks up on the one-yard line, and then Ruel finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead over the Grizzlies.
 
When the Grizzlies got the ball for the first time, John Buksa was met by the Mavericks' Ricky Hayes and Mason Newton for a loss of a yard. The drive would result in a three and out by the Adams State offense, but they made it onto the board later in the quarter, with a touchdown. The touchdown would turn out to be the first of only two scores by the Grizzlies, after a field goal attempt was blocked and recovered by the Mavericks on their own 29-yard line to start the second quarter.
 
On the next ASU drive, Nick Ciccio intercepted a Markell White pass to give the Mavericks the ball on the ASU 37-yard line. Jesse Rodriguez powered the ball downfield, and then took it into the endzone himself for a 19-yard rushing touchdown to increase the Mesa lead to 14-7.
 
To open the second half the Colorado Mesa defense forced back to back three and outs on Adams State University. On ASU's second drive of the half, White was sacked by Kyle Schulman for a loss of eight yards. The Grizzlies were forced to punt it down field, yet again, where the Mavericks would take over on the CMU 32-yard line.
 
The drive began with a 9-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Howard to Anderson. Trey Windham would take it another 6 yards for a CMU first down. Next Howard passed it to Dagan Rienks for a gain of 11, and then to Bradley Toussaint for a gain of 14, and back to back first downs. After two more run plays by Howard and Windham, Howard hit Anderson for an eight-yard touchdown.
 
The Mavericks got the ball back later in the third after a forced fumble by Dylan Tait was recovered on the Mesa 43-yard line. Ruel opened the drive with a pass to Toussaint for a gain of 49 yards. Windham then carried it eight yards into the end zone to make the score 28-7 with just under a minute left to play in the third.
 
But before long, the Colorado Mesa offense returned to the field for another score. To begin the drive, Ruel came back out and hit Jack Parsons for a 20-yard gain. Then consecutive Rodriguez rushes put the Mavericks on the 25-yard line, where Ruel would run it eight yards himself, and then Windham would take it in to the end zone. The score by Windham would put the Mavericks up 35-7.
 
When the Grizzlies took to the field again, Ciccio would snag another pass by White for his second interception of the game. Ciccio now has seven interceptions, 14 pass break ups, and two forced fumbles on the 2019 season. With less than five minutes left to play the Grizzlies drove the ball downfield for a touchdown to make the score 35-13 after the Mavericks', White blocked the extra point attempt.
 
The Mavericks offensive line, led by Senior Ty Leonard, held tough throughout the day to allow the Mavericks to accumulate 291 yards on the ground. The Colorado Mesa defense was also impressive, with four sacks, and two interceptions on the day.
 
The Mavericks wrapped up their road games for the season with the 35-13 win over Adams State University at Rex Stadium in Alamosa, Colorado.
 
Next Week
Colorado Mesa football will conclude the 2019 season next Saturday, November 16^th at 1pm at Ralph Stocker Stadium against RMAC opponent, New Mexico Highlands University.