SEASON OPENERS
The Mavericks are opening their 99th season of football this season with a trip to Texas. CMU enters the season with 491 program wins including their very first win that came on October 24, 1925. The Mavericks defeated Fruita Union High School 9-7 and went on to finish 3-1 during the inaugural season.

Colorado Mesa will open the season on the road as they take on Texas A&M-Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas. This is the first time in the Mavericks four-year college history that they will open the season in the state of Texas. Previous season opening states have included California, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

The Mavericks had won 11 straight season openers prior to last season's setback to the Javelinas 30-10 in Grand Junction. That streak included wins over Utah Tech, South Dakota Mines, William Jewell, and rival Western Colorado to name a few.

Last Five Season Openers
Sept. 2, 2023: L, 30-10 vs. TAMUK
Sept. 1, 2022: W, 37-14 at Wil. Jewell
Sept. 2, 2021: W, 40-3 vs. Wil. Jewell
Oct. 10, 2020: W, 10-7 OT vs. Chadron
Sept. 7, 2019: W, 37-33 at S.D. Mines

THE MATCHUP
The Mavericks and Javelinas will be meeting for the third time in the series history. Both of the previous matchups went in favor of Texas A&M-Kingsville with the most recnet game occurring in the season opener for both teams last season in Grand Junction. 

The two teams dont have a ton of history as this will be just the third meeting. The first meeting occurred in 2014 in Kingsvile where the Mavericks fell 17-14. In that game the Mavericks scored a pair of safeties, a Ryan Sheehan field goal and a Aric Kaiser touchdown run.

The Mavericks are squaring off with a Lone Star Conference opponent for the 11th time in the program's history. They are 2-8 in those matchups with their only two wins coming against Eastern New Mexico in 1983 and 2018. The Mavericks will face off with LSC associate member for football Central Washington after a bye week next week. 

Last Two Matchups with Kingsville 
Sept. 2, 2023: L, 30-10 in Grand Jct.
Sept. 13, 2014: L, 17-14 in Kingsville

KNOW YOUR FOE
The Javelinas enter the 2024 season receiving votes in the AFCA National Poll after going 7-3 during the 2023 season. They finished with a win over nationally ranked West Georgia and only fell to NCAA Playoff teams Texas Permian Basin, Central Washington and Angelo State.

Texas A&M-Kingsville is headed up by Mike Salinas in his fifth season and has a record of 19-15 in that time. He has led the Javelinas to back-to-back seven win seasons the past two seasons.

The Javelinas are slated to start Kannon Williams at quarterback for the second straight season. Williams played in four games last season that included the matchup with the Mavericks in Grand Junction. He was 13-for-16 for 124 yards in the win over Colorado Mesa. Williams will be protected by a line that are all over 280 pounds. 

Texas A&M-Kingsville returns their top tackler from the 2023 season in linebacker Jaylen Hackney.The junior finished last season with a team-leading 52 tackles that included three sacks and an interception. The secondary will be led by Southern Miss transfer Khalen Leonard who had two interceptions in 2023. 

THE OFFENSE
The Mavericks will likely get some form of double barrel action in the opener with Leslie Richardson and Liu Aumavae lining up behind center. Richardson is entering his second season in the program after transferring from CSU Pueblo while Aumavae is in his first year after transferring in from San Diego State.

Trevin Edwards and Brandon Belgrave are going to be asked to lead the skill position players. Edwards tied for the team lead in receptions with 24 while Belgrave is in his second season with the program and will start at running back in the opener. Watch for transfer Aiden Taylor to factor into the running game as well.

Up front, the Mavericks will once again be young but they have a little more experience. The Mavericks are slated to start three sophomores, a redshirt freshman and a redshirt junior across the line, all of which gained significant playing time last season. Cooper Mumford will anchor the left tackle position with the elder Gus Campbell starting at right guard.

THE DEFENSE
The defense returns eight of the 11 starters on the defense from a season ago. Two of the newcoming spots will be occupied by true freshman in Troy Mataia at defensive line and George Soppe at linebacker.

Ben Bogan and Ryan Randall will anchor the defensive line and should get big contributions from Kade Street. The aforementioned Troy Mataia will start in the opener after earning the praise of his coaches for his strength and ability to pick up the schemes quickly.

The linebacking group will rely on the speed of sophmore Charlie Smith, the hard hitting ability of Ricky Weimer, and the experience of Levi Krebs and Colin Stuhr. George Soppe is slated to start as a true freshman after catching some eyes in camp. 

The secondary is one of the better units in the conference with all four starters returning. JaCari WIlliams and Kash Bradley will start at the two corner positions while Liban Shongolo and Jason Thome will start at the safeties.

SPECIAL TEAMS
CSU Pueblo transfer Sullivan Moon is slated to takeover all kicking duties this season with Coby May backing him up. The 6-4, 200 pound kicker prepped at Cheyenne Mountain High School before playing his first two seasons in the Steel City. Moon punted 17 times in 2023 and averaged 40.47 yards per punt to lead the ThunderWolves.

Kash Bradley returns to his role as the primary punt and kick returner for Colorado Mesa. The junior averaged 26.25 yards per kick return and 10.5 yards per punt return during his sophomore season. 

MAVS ON THE TUBE
Colorado Mesa and KREX/KGJT TV are continuing their partnership by allowing patrons to view all RMAC and home games this year through the RMAC Network. Viewers will be able to access the video broadcasts through CMUMavericks.com/TV along with WesternSlopeNow.com.

While those games will be broadcast on TV, fans may still also watch the game on the RMAC Network by visiting CMUMavericks.com/TV

This week's game will be broadcast on FloSports as the Lone Star Conference has an agreement with them to provide streaming services for the conference. It is a subscription based network that fans will be able to purchase to view the team on the road against Lone Star Conference foes. 

ON THE HORIZON
After playing in the newly added Zero Week, Colorado Mesa will be off until Saturday September 14 when they host NCAA Super Region 4 finalist and nationally ranked Central Washington for their home opener. The Wildcats are opening this season on Saturday when they travel to San Diego to take on the Toreros. 

The Mavericks will open the conference schedule on Saturday September 21 when they travel to the Steel City to battle with CSU Pueblo in the ThunderBowl.