With the season opener for Colorado Mesa football on Saturday (Oct. 10), it is only fitting that we release the football all-decade team this week.
 
The program went 62-48 (.563) over the past ten years but claimed three RMAC championships in the middle of the decade including a playoff appearance in 2016, the program's first since 2007.
 
Let's dive into the team beginning with the offense.
 
The quarterback of the all-decade team goes to Eystin Salum who played from 2015-2018 and now holds the program record for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a career. Salum didn't only burn opponents through the air but on the ground as well. He rushed for 2,374 yards in his four seasons which ranks him seventh on the all-time rushing list.
 
The running backs feature two all-time greats in David Tann and Jake Cimolino. Tann began his career as a defensive back for the Mavericks before transitioning to the back field. He went on to be sixth on the all-time rushing yards list with 2,734 yards and second in rushing touchdowns and second in rushing touchdowns with 44.
 
Cimolino ranks third on the all-time rushing yards list with 3,475 yards after having back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2012 and 2013. The Fort Bragg, Calif. native averaged over 124 yards per game during the 2012 season and he averaged over 105 yards per game during his career.
 
The most dynamic receiver in Maverick history claimed a spot on the all-decade team. Peter Anderson ranks in the top two in nearly every major receiving category including receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Anderson set the single season mark for yards, receptions and touchdowns during the 2018 season where he had 67 catches, 1,344 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
Virnel Moon is probably more on this list as a kick returner but also posed many teams problems as receiver as well. Moon was an all-American kick returner in 2017 after averaging over 31 yards per return with three touchdowns. He also finished his career with 78 catches for 1,570 yards and 17 touchdowns.
 
The lone member of the all-decade team that is also a current member of the team is tight end Dagan Rienks. A team captain for the 2020 squad, Rienks is both good in the run game and in the pass game. He caught 23 passes for 306 yards with three touchdowns, ranking second on the team in yards and third in receptions.
 
We move to the men in the trenches. Austin Fleer was one of the great tackles over the last ten years, earning all-American honors following the 2017 season. Fleer saw action for the Cincinnati Bengals in mini-camp and in the preseason following his Maverick days.
 
Zeth Ramsey played along the offensive line from 2012 to 2015. Ramsey came to the Mavericks as a tight end and transitioned to tackle after his freshman season. Ramsey played 38 games for Colorado Mesa before having an opportunity to play in the NFL with the then San Diego Chargers.
 
Aaron Simons played four seasons along the offensive line from 2014 to 2017. Simons saw action in 43 total games all across the offensive line including the lone playoff game of the decade in 2016. He garnered all-RMAC First Team honor in 2017.
 
Current Colorado Mesa strength and conditioning coach Ryan Swope saw plenty of action at the beginning of the decade at center. Swope opened holes for Maverick Hall of Honor recipient Bobby Coy during the middle of his career and earned all-RMAC honors in 2010.
 
The final member of the all-decade offensive unit is Trevor Stapp. Stapp was a two-sport athlete at Colorado Mesa also excelling in wrestling. He played in 42 total games and earned all-RMAC honors in 2011.
 
All-Decade Offense
QB – Eystin Salum, 2015-18
RB – David Tann, 2014-17
RB – Jake Cimolino, 2011-13
WR – Peter Anderson, 2016-19
WR – Virnel Moon, 2014-15, 17
TE – Dagan Rienks, 2018-current
OL – Austin Fleer, 2014-17
OL – Zeth Ramsey, 2012-15
OL – Aaron Simons, 2014-17
OL – Ryan Swope, 2006-10
OL – Trevor Stapp, 2009-12
 
On defense, we will begin with the lineman. Connor Wright played defensive end for the Mavericks for two years during the decade but he saved his best season for his final one in 2011. Wright claimed all-American honors after leading the team in tackles, tackles for loss and nearly led the country in sacks with 11.
 
Dom Lewis was another force to be reckoned with on the defensive front. Lewis finished his career with 39.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. His six forced fumbles ranks him fifth in program history.
 
Our next defensive lineman is from more recent memory having graduated just a season ago, Mason Newton. Newton had 11 sacks and 22 tackles, both were among the nations best, for loss during his senior season that earned him all-RMAC second team honors.
 
Blake Nelson earned all-American and RMAC Defensive Player of the Year honors following his senior season in 2017. The undersized end wreaked havoc on opposing lines. He ended his career with 24 sacks and 55 tackles for loss, good enough for third all-time. During his senior season, he was one of the nation's leaders in blocked kicks with four.
 
Now we move to the linebackers, Jake Edmiston was a tackling machine from the middle linebacker position. Edmiston finished his career with 411 tackles ranking him second in Maverick history. He finished his senior season with 177 tackles, leading the nation and setting a NCAA Division II record at the time and earned him all-American honors.
 
Tom Saager took over for Edmiston in 2014 and didn't slow down. Saager finished his career with 349 total tackles ranking him fourth on the all-time list. His sophomore season may have been his best when he recorded 114 tackles, two sacks and three passes defended. He earned a pair of all-RMAC First Team awards along the way.
 
Standing beside Saager for a couple of seasons was Marcus Cross. Cross totaled 195 tackles in his career. In 2014, he tallied 81 tackles with 5.5 sacks and 10 passes defended that included three interceptions. He returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown, sealing a win over Western New Mexico.
 
Now we head to the defensive backfield, starting with all-American Dustin Rivas. Rivas holds the all-time interception record with 17, including six his freshman season. He led the country in passes defended during the 2014 season with 2.2 PBUs per game. He earned three all-RMAC First Team honors in his career including one as a punt returner in 2015.
 
Jordan Price roamed the defensive backfield for four seasons and earned RMAC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2011. He finished his career with 14 interceptions and 63 passes defended that include 49 breakups, second all-time. His best season came his junior year where he had five interceptions and 16 passes defended and two forced fumbles.
 
Antonio Clark played in 34 games as a Maverick and made some important plays during his career. He finished with 53 passes defended including 24 during his senior season. He had four interceptions during his final season in 2018 earning him all-RMAC honors.
 
Our final defensive player is Michael Brady. Brady was a little bit of the Mavericks swiss army knife in the early part of the decade serving as the team's punter as well. He finished with 166 total tackles in his career and had 30 passes defended with 10 interceptions. He had six in his senior season where he earned all-RMAC honors.
 
All-Decade Defense
DL – Connor Wright, 2008-11
DL – Dom Lewis, 2009-12
DL – Mason Newton, 2016-19
DL – Blake Nelson, 2014-17
LB – Jake Edmiston, 2010-13
LB – Tommy Saager, 2014-18
LB – Marcus Cross, 2013-16
DB – Dustin Rivas, 2014-17
DB – Jordan Price, 2011-14
DB – Antonio Clark, 2016-18
DB – Michael Brady, 2010-13
 
The all-decade punter is also the best punter the program has seen in terms of yards per punt. Austin Pitchford punted 211 time in his career and averaged over 42 yards per punt, a program best mark. He had 43 punts of 50 yards or more with 62 landing inside the 20-yard line.
 
Ryan Sheehan made a program best 59 field goals in his career, connecting on 72 percent of his kick which is second on the all-time list. He made a career-long 51 yarder during his senior season in 2017. He earned all-American honors following his junior season in 2016 and all-RMAC honors in 2016 and 2017.
 
All-Decade Specialists
P – Austin Pitchford, 2014-17
K – Ryan Sheehan, 2014-17
 
 
Previous All-Decade Teams
Men's and Women's Tennis – Oct. 1
Volleyball – Sept. 24
Men's and Women's Cross Country – Sept. 17
Men's and Women's Golf – Sept. 10