SEASON OPENERS
Colorado Mesa has won their last 10 season openers dating back to the 2013 season when they defeated Menlo College 34-0 on September 7 at Stocker Stadium. Their last loss in a season opener came during the 2012 season when they fell to then #21 Humboldt State (now Cal Poly Humboldt) 38-19 in Arcata, Calif.
During the 10 game season opening winning streak, the Mavericks have defeated six different opponents with seven of those wins coming over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents.
Results during the Winning Streak
Sept. 7, 2013: vs. Menlo, 34-0
Sept. 6, 2014: vs. Dixie State, 44-37 OT
Sept. 5, 2015: at Dixie State, 43-3
Sept. 3, 2016: at Western Colo., 34-14
Aug. 21, 2017: vs. Western Colo., 49-23
Sept. 1, 2018: vs. S.D. Mines, 36-33
Sept. 7, 2019: at S.D. Mines, 37-33
Oct. 10, 2020: vs. Chadron St., 10-7 OT
Sept. 2, 2021: vs. William Jewell, 40-3
Sept. 1, 2022: at William Jewell, 37-14
The Maverick defense has been stout in those openers as opponents have averaged 16.7 points in the last 10 season openers. They pitched a shutout at the beginning of the streak against Menlo in 2013. They also had a pair of games where they allowed just three points which came against then Dixie State and just two seasons ago against William Jewell at Stocker Stadium.
The Mavericks have scored 30 or more points in nine of the 10 games during the streak. They scored a streak-high 49 points against Western Colorado in the 2017 season opener. They scored 40 or more points four times including back-to-back games against Dixie State/Utah Tech.
Looking ahead, but not too far ahead, Colorado Mesa is scheduled to travel to Kingsville, Texas and open the 2024 season against the Javelinas on September 7.
THE MATCHUP
Colorado Mesa will be lining up across from a Lone Star Conference opponent for the first time since the 2019 season when the Mavericks fell to Eastern New Mexico 44-37 at Stocker Stadium.
The matchup will be the second all-time against the Javelinas with the only other matchup back in 2014 in Kingsville where Colorado Mesa fell in a defensive battle 17-14.
The Mavericks are 1-4 in the last 10 seasons against Lone Star Conference opponents. Their lone win came during the 2018 season against Eastern New Mexico in Portales when they came away with a 34-21 win. The record includes a loss to Midwestern State in Stocker Stadium, the loss to Kingsville on the road in 2014, and a loss to now Divisi0n I FCS foe Texas A&M Commerce in the 2016 NCAA Playoffs.
Previous Matchup
Sept. 13, 2014: in Kingsville, L 17-14
KNOW YOUR FOE
The Javelinas opened the 2022 campaign winning their first seven games and climbed into the national rankings peaking at No. 15 before falling to No. 2 ranked Angelo State 34-7 on October 22. Texas A&M-Kingsville wound up falling in their final five games of the season including a 38-21 setback to East Central 38-21 in the Fun Town Heritage Bowl in Corsicana, Texas.
The Javelinas return one of the best running backs in the Lone Star Conference in Christian Anderson. The Cypress, Texas native rushed for 812 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. He was his best in one of the biggest games last season when he rushed for a season-high 155 yards and two touchdowns in a win over nationally ranked West Texas A&M.
Colorado Mesa will have to play against one of the top defensive backs in all of Division II football as Amos Coleman is set to lineup as one of the two starting corners. The New Orleans native finished with 40 tackles and a team-high five interceptions and seven pass break-ups.
Gilberto Garza returns as the Javelinas kicker. He connected on 13-of-19 attempts including 3-for-5 beyond 50-yards. He hit a season-long 52 yarder in the win over West Texas A&M.
THE OFFENSE
Junior signal caller Gavin Herberg enters game one of the season as the starter for the first time in his career. Despite this being his first opening day start, he is not unfamiliar with the system or the position as he has played in 12 games and will be making his fourth start under center. He closed out the 2023 campaign with 667 yards through the air against Chadron State and New Mexico Highlands combined that included eight total touchdown passes.
Lining up alongside Herberg might be a different man every down. Gianni Hurd will get the start in game one but you could end up seeing plenty of Marvin Jones, Myles Newble and Ernesto Rios. None have a ton of experience for the Mavericks but the group could be potent this season.
Herberg will have a bevy of wide outs to throw to that includes David O'Connell, Noah Sarria, Keenan Brown, and Trevin Edwards. He will have a couple of new targets to throw to in transfers Jack Horsford and Toryian Tubbs along with freshman Trek Keyworth. One of his possible targets will continue to be tight end Markel Quinney who could see a lot of RedZone targets this season.
Up front the Mavericks will rely on third-year starter Caelan Keenan at center to guide the group that could be extremely young. They are slated to start three true freshman this weekend along with Keenan and Zach Farrow. The line is bigger than before but will need to wait to see how the younger kids develop as the season goes on.
THE DEFENSE
In the trenches, the Mavericks appear to be bigger, faster and stronger. They will continue to be on rotations this season but a trio of second year players will look to make an impact with Keelene Bradley, Ben Bogan, and Ryan Randall. Freshman Corbin Thorgmorton will start at nose against the Javelinas.
Maybe the most experienced group on both sides of the ball is the linebacking corps. Haydn Steffens, Lex Leany, Levi Krebs and Colin Stuhr are slated to start with Cam Nathan and Hudson Metcalf waiting in the wings.
Finishing off the quick look over the field might be the most improved group and the most to prove, the defensive backs. Liban Shongolo will lead the group in the secondary alongside JaCari WIlliams who finished the season with a team-high seven pass break-ups on the season. Kaleb Niumata and freshman Jason Thome are scheduled to start this weekend as well.
ON THE HORIZON
Colorado Mesa will travel to Southern California for a bout with Division I FCS foe University of San Diego. It will be their first matchup with an FCS foe since the 2013 season when they traveled to Bozeman to take on Montana State and fell 26-0.
The Mavericks will continue their longest road swing of the season the following week as they will travel to Rapid City, S.D. to take on South Dakota Mines to open the RMAC portion of their schedule.
CMU will return home for their first home conference matchup on September 23 when they play host to Black Hills State at Stocker Stadium at 1pm.
