GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa football team sent their seniors out on the right note in their final home game as they defeated the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers 38-12 on Saturday (Nov. 8) afternoon at Stocker Stadium.
 
With the win, the Mavericks clinch a winning season as their record moves to 6-4 on the season and 5-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. It is the third straight winning season under head coach Miles Kochevar in his fourth season at the helm.
 
The win also gives the Mavericks a 4-1 record in the friendly confines of Stocker Stadium which is the second straight year earning four wins at home tying for the most since the 2021 season.
 
The two teams played to a 3-3 matchup until 1:54 to play in the first half when Cole Hansen found his tight end Alex Turpin for an 11-yard score to take the lead they would never give back. The touchdown pass capped a 15-play, 72-yard drive that chewed up 8:58 of clock in the half.
 
The Mavericks were not done in the half either as the defense was able to force a three-and-out on the ensuing South Dakota Mines drive setting up another touchdown for Colorado Mesa. Hansen would hook up with Trek Keyworth from 20-yards with three seconds left in the half to push the Maverick lead to 17-3 at the halftime break.
 
It was all Colorado Mesa in the second half as the Mavericks outscored the Hardrockers 21-9 that included two more touchdown passes from Cole Hansen. He hooked up with Evan Morris on a 32-yard pass and found his tight end Alex Turpin for a second touchdown on the day. Brandon Belgrave put the icing on the cake with a three-yard plunge with two minutes left in the game.
 
Hansen finished the day 19-for-29 (65.5%) for 233 yards and four touchdowns. The redshirt junior connected with seven different receivers and targeted a total of eight. Noah Greer led the charge with six catches for 83 yards. Turpin ended with three catches for 30 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
 
The ground game continued to churn as well as a group of five rushers finished with 183 yards and a touchdown. Senior Aiden Taylor picked up his sixth 100-yard rushing game as he finished with 109 yards.
 
The Colorado Mesa defense stood tall today as they limited South Dakota Mines to 261 yards of total offense and less than 100 yards on the ground. They also forced a pair of three-and-outs and two turnovers. Kash Bradley intercepted his third pass of the season on the third play of the fourth quarter while Braiden Vaughn picked off his first pass on the second play of the next drive for the Hardrockers.
 
Jake Sinz led Colorado Mesa with seven tackles.
 
The Mavericks will be on the road for the final game of the season as they head to Gunnison for a matchup with Western Colorado. The Mountaineers are coming off an overtime loss to Chadron State this week and will be playing their final regular season home game on November 15.