THE HEAD COACH
Russ Martin begins his eighth season at the helm of the Colorado Mesa football program. Coach Martin has 50-27 mark in his seven seasons with a NCAA Playoff appearance in 2016. He has coach the Mavericks to three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference titles, winning them in three straight seasons from 2015 thru 2017.
 
Coach Martin has made stops at various levels during his coaching career that include Baylor, Missouri State, Black Hills State, Bethany College, Kansas Wesleyan and Nebraska-Kearney. He played football and earned his degree from RMAC school Chadron State.
 
MAVERICKS vs. HARDROCKERS HISTORY
Colorado Mesa and South Dakota Mines have squared off just three times in the two schools' history with the Mavericks coming away with the victory in all three contests. The Mavericks scored 15 points in the final quarter on a pair of rushing touchdowns for the come-from-behind victory in Grand Junction.
 
September 1, 2018 – Colorado Mesa 36, South Dakota Mines 33  Box Score  |  Game Recap
November 4, 2017 – Colorado Mesa 69, South Dakota Mines 7  Box Score  |  Game Recap
November 5, 2016 – Colorado Mesa 48, South Dakota Mines 38  Box Score  |  Game Recap
 
QUARTERBACK SITUATION
The Mavericks will likely start the season with a three-headed attack behind center. Senior Rope Ruel will likely see a bulk of the load in week one against South Dakota Mines. A year ago, Ruel was 23-for-38 with 414 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
 
Sophomore Aaron Howard will be in the fold after seeing action in five games during his redshirt freshman season. He was 15-for-20 with 201 yards and two touchdowns, both of those came against Colorado School of Mines.
 
Redshirt sophomore Hayden Bollinger will likely make his collegiate debut this weekend against the Hardrockers.
 
TOTING THE ROCK
Sophomore Isaac Maestas is slated to start at running back to start the season after playing a majority of his redshirt freshman season at linebacker and punter. Maestas had a pair of attempts last season that went for 52 yards. The Palisade High School product came to Colorado Mesa as a running back.
 
Fellow sophomore Trey Windham will see carries as well after playing in four games with 14 carries a year ago. Windham had five carries for 40 yards against Dixie State last season.
 
NO FLY ZONE
The Colorado Mesa version of the Denver Broncos 'No Fly Zone' features the team's most experienced group of players. Darian Turner returns for his senior season after missing out on the 2018 season with a lower leg injury sustained during spring ball. The 2017 honorable mention All-RMAC recipient had three interceptions and was third on the team in tackles with 67 in his junior season.
 
The team will also welcome back Nick Ciccio who missed last season after being deemed ineligible. The redshirt sophomore played in all 11 games his freshman season and recorded 23 tackles.
 
The group will feature a newcomer that bring high praise. Naijel Hale will likely start at one of the corner positions after transferring from Washington. Hale played in all 14 games during his freshman season for the Huskies in 2014.
 
IN THE TRENCHES
The defensive line will feature a smaller faster approach this week with seniors Reed Rowan, Ricky Hayes, and Mason Newton and sophomore Logan Bayus. Rowan checks in as the biggest defender at 6-3, 285 while Hayes and Newton check in at 235 pounds each.
 
Newton is the most experienced of the group having played in 32 games and made 19 starts in that span. Hayes made six starts last year while Rowan started the last five games last season. Bayus will be making his first start of his collegiate career.
 
KICKING GAME
Sophomore Lucas Ruiz-Diaz returns as the Mavericks place kicker this season. The Montrose, Colo. product was a perfect 49-of-49 on his PATs and was 12-for-16 in his field goal attempts in his first collegiate season. He made a season-long 43 yarder in week two against Eastern New Mexico.
 
Isaac Maestas will continue to handle the punting duties. The sophomore averaged 40.4 yards per punt with six boots of 50 yards or more and pinned opponents inside-the-20 20 times last season.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Colorado Mesa received one vote in the preseason American Football Coaches Association poll (AFCA) released last week. Reigning national champion Valdosta State received 29 of the 32 first place votes to claim the top spot with Ferris State second with three first place votes.
 
RMAC foes CSU-Pueblo was No. 9 and Colorado School of Mines was No. 17.
 
THIS WEEK IN THE RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference will feature five conference matchups every week with one school facing a non-conference opponent or a bye. Western squares off with Division I FCS opponent Idaho State in Pocatello on Thursday as the non-conference matchup.
 
The 'showcase' game this week will be #9 CSU-Pueblo traveling to St. George to battle Dixie State at 7pm.