WEEKLY REWIND
Colorado Mesa moved to 4-0 all-time in Rapid City with a 38-30 win over South Dakota Mines last Saturday. The win also pushed the Mavericks to 2-1 on the season and back-to-back road wins that spanned over 3,920 miles.
Jason Thome led the Maverick defense with three interceptions and kept the Hardorcker offense at bay just enough for the victory. The three interceptions along with a fumble gave Colorado Mesa foour takeaways in the game.
Hadyn Steffens led the Mavericks with 12 total tackles in the game. All 12 of his tackles were listed as solo tackles and was a part of a blocked point after touchdown attempt.
The Maverick offense generated 278 yards with 204 coming through the air off the hand of Gavin Herberg. The junior signal caller also rushed for a pair of touchdowns while leading the rushing attack with 43 yards and a pair of scores.
Trevin Edwards tied for the team-lead in targets with four but came away with all four catches for a career-high 121 yards and a touchdown.
Special teams and the return game were the story of the game for the Mavericks as they had over 300 yards in returns during the game. Thome had 75 yards on his interception returns while RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week Kash Bradley had 169 yards in returns including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
THE MATCHUP
Colorado Mesa and Black Hills State will square off for the 12th time in the two programs' history. The Mavericks lead the all-time series 8-3 and are a perfect 5-0 at home against the Yellow Jackets. Fortunate enough for Colorado Mesa as they are just 3-3 all-time in Spearfish including last season's 31-28 setback.
The series began back in 2012, when Black Hills State entered the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and Colorado Mesa coming away with a 31-29 victory in Spearfish. The Mavericks largest margin of victory came during the matchup during the COVID season of 2020 when they defeated the Yellow Jackets 56-7 in a snow storm at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish.
This year's matchup will feature all three of this past week's RMAC Players of the Week as the Mavericks claimed the Special Teams Player of the Week along with the Defensive Player of the Week while Black Hills State's Hasaan Williams claimed the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Last Five Matchups with Black Hills
Sept. 24, 2022: L, 31-28 in Spearfish
Nov. 6, 2021: W, 52-9 in Grand Jct.
Oct. 17, 2020: W, 56-7 in Spearfish
Oct. 26, 2019: W, 58-21 in Grand Jct.
Oct. 20, 2018: L, 31-26 in Spearfish
KNOW YOUR FOE
The Yellow Jackets opened the season 2-1 with wins over Chadron State and Southwest Baptist with their lone loss coming on the road to FCS opponent St. Thomas 36-26 in St. Paul, Minn. They had one if not the best start in program history when they won their first five games last season before falling to New Mexico Highlands on the road in week six.
Black Hills State head coach Josh Breske is in his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. Breske led the Yellow Jackets to their best season since 2016 in 2022 when they went 7-4 and the program has improved each season under his tutelage. Breske was an offensive lineman at BH from 2005-09 and was named an NAIA All-American in two of those seasons.
Senior wideout Hasaan Williams is one of the nation's top receivers this year. He was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week after a monster game against Chadron State. He had eight catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns in the win. He currently ranks seventh nationally in receiving yards at 339 yards and second in receiving touchdowns with five.
Senior linebacker, and Parker, Colo. product, Ryder Blair is one of the top tacklers in the RMAC at eight tackles a game which ranks seventh in the conference. He has 26 total tackles this season including 12 last weekend against Chadron State.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
True freshman safety Jason Thome was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against South Dakota Mines. Thome had three interceptions in the game with the Hardrockers along with a solo tackle, a pass break-up and 75 yards worth of returns.
Thome is the first Maverick with three interceptions in a game since Damar'ren Mitchell intercepted three passes on October 20, 2018 against Black Hills State, ironically, in South Dakota. He is also the sixth Maverick player to intercept three passes in a game since accurate stats were kept which began around 1986. He joins Mitchell, Brandon Waymire, Art Berlanga, Dustin Rivas, and Vic Dutandette as Mavericks with three interceptions in a game.
With three interceptions, the Ralston Valley High School product, ranks second nationally with three interceptions and is the top interceptor in the RMAC.
STRAIGHT KASH HOMIE
Sophomore Kash Bradley was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his return game performance against South Dakota Mines. Bradley had 169 yards worth of returns in the win including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Bradley joins three other Mavericks to have a 100-yard kickoff return since the 1982 season. The last person to have a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was Justin White on October 26, 2019 against Black Hills State at Stocker Stadium. White is now playing defensive back and returner for the Michigan State Spartans. Jordan Price (2011) and Jerry Larghe (1982) also have 100-yard kick return touchdowns.
Bradley averages 27.8 yards per kick return which ranks 22nd nationally for the all-conference returner a season ago. He is tied with 17 other football student-athletes who all have one kickoff return for a touchdown in Division II.
MAVS ON THE TUBE
It was recently announced that the final four home games will be broadcast on KREX/KGJT in Grand Junction. It will be on channels 5.1 and 27.1 via antenna and channel 16 for Spectrum users. Ethan Jordan will provide play-by-play with Paxton Ritchey providing the color commentary.
While those games will be broadcast on TV, fans may still also watch the game on the RMAC Network by visiting CMUMavericks.com/TV
ON THE HORIZON
The Mavericks will embark on their shortest road trip of the season the next week as they make the trek up the mountain to Gunnison for a matchup with their rivals, the Western Colorado Mountaineers. Western is ranked No. 19 in this week's AFCA National poll following a 3-0 start to the season. Last week, they defeated CSU Pueblo 30-14 in the conference opener on the road.
Colorado Mesa's next home game will be against 2023 National Runner-up Colorado School of Mines on Saturday October 7 at 1:05pm. The annual Steak & Crab Fest will be that day as well with tickets available at CMUMavericks.com/Tickets.
