ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Playing the first game of the season in all of Division II football, Colorado Mesa was worn down in the second half Thursday afternoon, losing 41-14 to No. 21 Central Washington in the Rodeo Bowl.
The Wildcats used a strong running game and a quick-strike passing game to take control after leading only 7-0 at the half. They scored 20 points in the third quarter and never let the Mavericks gain any momentum.
Colorado Mesa's running game never materialized — the Mavericks gained only 46 net yards on the ground in 29 attempts, with the Wildcats' defensive line quick off the ball and the linebackers swarming to the ballcarrier. The Mavericks were tackled behind the line of scrimmage 11 times for 27 lost yards and took two sacks for 10 yards.
Early in the third quarter, Liu Aumavae hit Trek Keyworth for a 29-yard gain, with the redshirt sophomore making a terrific one-handed catch on the sideline. Alex Turpin then got open in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard TD pass from Aumavae to cut the lead to 14-7 with 9:09 on the clock.
Any momentum the Mavericks might have gained from that 7-play, 75-yard scoring drive quickly evaporated. Central Washington quarterback Kennedy McGill found Mason Juergens all alone for a 55-yard touchdown strike on the ensuing drive.
The first touchdown of the Division II season belonged to McGill, a 51-yard strike down the left side to Jalen Grable, who got behind the Mavs' young secondary.
Down 21-7, Aumavae was intercepted, with Brett McCalla making a leaping pick and taking it back 18 yards for the score. Kade Street blocked the point-after kick, but the Mavs found themselves down 27-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Both of CMU's touchdowns came through the air after the Wildcats' big defensive line all but canceled out the Mavs' running game.
Cole Hansen entered the game at quarterback in the fourth quarter down 34-7 and provided a quick spark, hitting Keyworth for a 66-yard touchdown on his first drive.
Hansen, a redshirt junior transfer from Minot State who was the Mavs' No. 3 quarterback last season, completed three of five passes for 65 yards and one touchdown. Aumavae was 18 of 27 for 192 yards, one interception and one TD. He was sacked twice.
Aiden Taylor carried the ball 14 times for 26 yards, Myles Newble had 13 yards on four carries and Marvin Jones had 12 more on two carries. Brandon Belgrave missed the game with an injury.
Keyworth caught four passes for 147 yards and the touchdown, with Turpin making three catches for 16 yards and a score. Jackson Hansen had four catches for 46 yards.
Defensively, the secondary, playing without injured cornerback Kash Bradley, was tested by the Wildcats, who threw for 224 yards. Central Washington ran the ball for 292 more. AJ Adams and George Soppe led CMU with seven tackles each, and Street and Hunter Hamilton teamed up on one quarterback sack.
Lane Branstetter made a crucial interception late in the second quarter with the Wildcats driving inside the 30. He returned the ball 30 yards to Central Washington's 46.
Aumavae, though, was picked off with three seconds left, but a personal foul against Central Washington gave the Mavs one more play. Sullivan Moon's field goal attempt from 53 yards out was long enough, but went wide.
The Mavericks play their home opener at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Stocker Stadium. It's the Mavs' first game under the lights at Stocker since 2022. CMU also plays a night home game on Oct. 11 against Adams State.
