GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa football team hung strong with No. 21 Colorado School of Mines for nearly 30 minutes but too many big plays by the Orediggers did the Mavericks in during a 48-21 defeat on Saturday (Oct. 8) at Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
 
The Mavericks led early in the game as they forced an Oredigger three-and-out on their first drive and responded with an eight play, 81-yard touchdown drive to take an early 7-0 lead with 9:52 to play in the first quarter. The drive was capped off by a Jullen Ison 9-yard touchdown run and aided by a 46-yard reception by Dagan Rienks to get the ball down to the Mines 9-yard line.
 
Mines answered back a little over four minutes later with a 60-yard pitch and catch to make it 7-7 in the waning moment of the first quarter.
 
Colorado Mesa answered back on their next possession with a 16-play, 83-yard drive that was capped off by a Karst Hunter 2-yard touchdown plunge to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter. The big play on the drive was once again a 25-yard completion to Dagan Rienks that got the Mavericks out to midfield.
 
The Orediggers scored on their next possession to even the score back up at 14-14. The Mines score came on a 64-yard touchdown pass from John Matocha to Max McLeod.
 
After a three-and-out for the Mavericks, Mines took their first and only lead they would need in the game as they would never trail again. The Orediggers took the ball and drove 10 plays and 90 yards in 4:42 capped by a Michael Zeman touchdown run to make it 21-14.
 
Colorado Mesa wouldn't go away as they answered with a 7-play, 83-yard drive that finished with a Karst Hunter pass to David O'Connell for a 23-yard score to make it 21-21. O'Connell ran a little fade to the corner of the end zone where he used his 6-6 frame to his advantage on the catch.
 
The defense held the Orediggers to just a field goal on their next possession to make it 24-21 and then the Orediggers had a major momentum changing play with just 11 seconds left in the half.
 
The Orediggers intercepted a Karst Hunter pass and took it back 27-yards for a touchdown just before half to make it 31-21.
 
In total, the two teams scored 38 points and accounted for over 300 yards of offense in the second quarter alone.
 
Colorado School of Mines would shutout the Mavericks in the second half and tack on 17 more points of their own.
 
Hunter would finish the game 19-for-36 for 252 yards a touchdown and an interception in the game. He found eight different receivers in the game with Jacob Whitmer and Budda Ison each finishing with four catches while Rienks finished with a team-high 71 yards on just two catches.
 
The Mavericks managed 277 yards of total offense while possessing the ball for just over 24 minutes.
 
Michael Chavez made the most of his first career start as he finished with 17 total tackles and a pass break-up while Hadyn Steffens continued his solid season with 11 tackles.
 
Colorado School of Mines took back possession of the Nyikos Cup after the Mavericks won it last season in Grand Junction.
 
The Mavericks will be back home next weekend as they take on Fort Lewis at 6pm at Stocker Stadium. It will be Youth Football and Community Night at the stadium so be sure to get your tickets early by visiting CMUMavericks.com/tickets.
 
Other RMAC Scores
Chadron State 56, Fort Lewis 3
New Mexico Highlands 30, Black Hills State 28
CSU Pueblo 52, Adams State 20
South Dakota Mines 38, Western Colorado 10