Colorado Mesa will host CSU Pueblo on Saturday at 1:00pm at Stocker Stadium for their homecoming game this year. CSU Pueblo owns a 14-7-1 advantage in the all-time series with the Mavericks and have won the past four matchups in the series with three of those coming in the Steel City.
At halftime, Colorado Mesa will do their Hall of Honor and Distinguished Alumni and Faculty presentation. Former Maverick football standouts Jeff Tootle and Charles Dukes will be inducted into the Hall of Honor.
In a quick national news tidbit, the NCAA will release their first official regional rankings next week as teams in consideration were announced this week
Fans have been asked to wear white from the Colorado Mesa students as a part of their 'Mavalanche' for homecoming.
WEEKLY REWIND
Colorado Mesa remained susceptable to the big play on Saturday against Adams State in a 45-31 loss to Adams State in Alamosa. It was the first loss to the Grizzlies since November 16, 2013. In the third quarter, the Mavericks allowed three big plays that all went for touchdowns with each score coming from a different facet of the game. They gave up a 75-yard touchdown pass, a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The offense outgained the Grizzlies 474-335 as Karst Hunter went 28-for-50 with 325 yards and a touchdown. He added 79 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground. Senior running back Jullen Ison finished with 58 yards rushing and a touchdown while catching six passes for 61 yards.
On defense, the Mavericks limited the Grizzlies to 32 yards on the ground and just four rushing first downs. Cam Nathan led the Maverick defense with eight tackles while Lex Leany finished with six tackles and two and a half going for a loss of six yards. Senior defensive lineman Zach Elefante recorded his first career sack on Saturday. He was able to track down Grizzly quarterback Marckell Grayson for a seven yard loss.
THE MATCHUP
Colorado Mesa will look to snap a four game losing streak against the ThunderWolves this weekend. The Mavericks have lost the last four to CSU Pueblo with two coming by one possession and two coming by double digits. Colorado Mesa and CSU Pueblo will be meeting for the 16th time in both programs' rich history. The ThunderWolves own a 14-7-1 mark in the all-time series with the Pack winning the last four matchups. The two teams first met in 1976 at a neutral site. The game was on November 13 with CSU Pueblo (then Southern Colorado) taking a 20-6 matchup. CSU Pueblo dropped football following the 1984 season and did not have a program from 1985-2007. Prior to the departure of the program, the two teams were 4-4-1 against each other.
υ In last season's matchup, the ThunderWolves claimed a 19-13 double overtime victory at the ThunderBowl. The Mavericks led 10-7 heading to the final quarter but CSU Pueblo scored a touchdown with 7:49 to play to tie it up. Both teams traded field goals in the first overtime before the Pack secured a touchdown in the front half of overtime number two.
Last Five Matchups
Oct. 2, 2021: in Pueblo, L 19-13 (2OT)
Oct. 19, 2019: in Pueblo, L 48-22
Oct. 13, 2018: in Grand Jct., L 36-14
Sept. 30, 2017: in Pueblo, L 30-24
Oct. 1, 2016: in Grand Jct., W 20-19
KNOW YOUR FOE
CSU Pueblo opened the season with a huge 59-27 win over then No. 24 Midwestern State in Wichita Falls before a major matchup at the ThunderBowl with No. 5 Grand Valley State. The Lakers escaped Pueblo with a 35-10 win in the non-conference portion of the season. Nonetheless, CSU Pueblo sits at 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference with their two losses coming to Western Colorado and Colorado School of Mines in the conference.
Heading into the matchup, CSU Pueblo once again has a stout defense and this season they rank No. 1 in the RMAC in pass defense as they are allowing just a touch over 190 yards per game. Offensively, they overtook Colorado Mesa as the top red zone offense team converting on 93.1 percent of their opportunities.
The Pack split quarterbacks through the first handful of game but now looks like it rests in the hands of Hunter Raquet. The senior has 14 touchdowns against three interceptions for 1,081 yards this season. One of the favorite targets is Andrew Cook who has 26 catches with 10 of those coming for touchdowns.
Trey Botts is the leader of the CSU Pueblo defense with a team-high 55 tackles and four sacks. He had 15 tackles and three sacks in the matchup with New Mexico Highlands two weeks ago.
THE OFFENSE
Quarterback Karst Hunter has been using his legs more in the past three games and the stats are backing that up. Hunter is averaging 319 yards of total offense by himself which ranks him seventh nationally in NCAA Division II and third in the RMAC. He is gaining 42.1 yards on the ground (with sacks taken out) and 263 yards through the air.
Running back Jullen Ison may not have had the most productive day on the ground as he gained just 58 yards on 15 carries. What he was able to do was pick up some of the slack in the receiving game as he had a season-high six catches for 61 yards against Adams State. For the season, Booda has 365 yards rushing and four touchdowns while catching 20 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown.
The offensive line continues to gel as the season has progressed. Center Caelan Keenan is the anchor of the group along with veterans Ozzy Torres and Caleb Rodriguez. The two other spots across the line have been mixed and matched throughout the season with injuries and other issues. Gus Campbell and Jesus Garcia figure to earn the second straight start this week.
THE DEFENSE
Linebacker Kaden Stewart continues to be one of the more disruptive players in the conference. He currently leads the team in tackles for loss with 6.5 and also leads in sacks with three. This past weekend he had a half a tackle for loss and a pass break-up where he hit the Adams State quarterback that forced the ball in the air and was nearly intercepted.
Defensive backs JaCari Williams and Scrappy Norman lead the team in pass break-ups with five and four respectively. The duo has not only been good in pass defense but have been pivotal in run support as they have combined for 45 total tackles.
Up front, the Mavericks have gotten solid games from all three starters in Zach Elefante, Micah Smith and Nathan Deitrick. The tri has made every start this season while grooming a set of young players behind them. Five freshman or redshirt freshman have seen time across the defensive front.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Colorado Mesa coaching staff has several connections to CSU Pueblo. Current Maverick head coach Miles Kochevar served as the defensive coordinator last season at CSU Pueblo while linebackers coach Nic Braaten was the defensive line coach and linebackers coach for the Pack a year ago. Current Safeties coach Tanner Draper is a 2021 graduate of CSU Pueblo where he was a multi-time All-Region selection.
The trend works the other way as well as CSU Pueblo Wide Receivers coach Brayle Brown was the Mavericks offensive coordinator a year ago while Matt Helton is now a graduate assistant coach for offense at CSU Pueblo after spending last season at CMU.
ON THE HORIZON
The Mavericks will head out on the road for the final time during the 2022 season as they will travel to Chadron, Neb. to take on Chadron State at Noon from Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium. The Eagles host New Mexico Highlands this weekend at Noon.
Colorado Mesa will host New Mexico Highlands in the final game of the season on Nov. 12 at 1:00pm at Stocker Stadium. This game will serve as Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day.
