Colorado Mesa University Athletics

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Tremaine Jackson era at Colorado Mesa University has officially begun with an overtime 38-yard game-winning field goal by Lucas Ruiz Diaz gave the Mavericks their first win of the 2020 season. Jackson is now 1-0 as a head coach as they downed Chadron State College 10-7 on Saturday afternoon at Stocker Stadium.
 
Before the overtime field goal, Ruiz Diaz missed his first two prior attempts. One was a 45-yarder that was tipped and fell short in the first quarter, the second was a 28-yarder that veered wide left as time expired at the end of the first half.
 
Colorado Mesa had a 7-0 lead until 25 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Chadron State quarterback Dalton Holst found wideout Jalon'e Rice for a nine-yard strike to tie the game up 7-7 with a successful PAT.
 
The Mavericks won the overtime coin toss and elected to be on defense first.  The same defense who allowed only 246 yards of total offense all game, came through in the clutch when Jordan Ellis intercepted Dalton Holst in the back of the endzone to end Chadron's attempt to take the lead.
 
Three plays into CMU's turn on offense, Jesse Rodriquez ran the ball down to the Chadron 21-yard line before Ruiz Diaz sealed the game-winner.
 
The first two quarters went scoreless for both teams as the Mavericks and Eagles combined 11 drives that ended in four failed FG attempts, six punts, and one turnover. CMU did put up 189 yards of offense in the first half compared to CSC's 103 yards. Jesse Rodriquez took over the duty as primary ball carrier after Isaac Maestas went down on the first play of scrimmage with an injury.  
 
The Bennett native racked up career-high 173 yards and one touchdown off 22 attempts. The lone score came off a 61-yard dash to the endzone with 12:20 remaining in the third quarter to give CMU the 7-0 lead.
 
Rodriquez averaged 7.9 yards per carry and had two 60-yard runs throughout the game.
 
Aaron Howard got his first start of the 2020 season at quarterback and recorded 17 completions off 37 attempts for 118 yards and an INT. Howard completed passes to six different targets including Trey Windham who led the team with 29 yards off three receptions.
 
Defense and special teams made the difference for the Mavericks in their first win. Grayson Matalus and Bryant Bowen lead the way with 22 combined tackles. Matalus led the team with 14 total tackles and four solo while Bowen recorded two tackles for loss.
 
Logan Bayus had a monster day from the defensive line with one sack, two tackles for loss and a blocked field goal.
 
The Mavericks ended up blocking two different field goals on Saturday.
 
Tremaine Jackson's defense got to Dalton Holst a total of seven times while sacking him four times. The Mavericks held Holst to only 208 yards passing off 21 completions compared to the 2019 season when Holst averaged 283 yards per game in 2019.
 
The Eagles racked up only two rushing first downs and 58 yards on the ground averaging 1.6 yards per carry. CMU also held them to 6-of-20 on third downs and 1-of-6 on attempts inside the red zone. In penalties, Chadron gave up 49 yards off five penalties while CMU surrendered 73 yards off eight.
 
The Mavericks will travel to Spearfish, SD to take on the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets next Saturday on Oct. 17 with a noon kickoff time. Last season CMU routed BHS 58-21 in the 2019 homecoming game.
 
Note: The 10-7 victory is the lowest scoring win in since Sept. 8, 2001, where the Mavericks defeated Southern Utah University 13-10.