Grand Junction, Colo. – Colorado Mesa football suffered their third home loss of the season Saturday (Oct. 17) afternoon, falling to the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers 31-24 here at Stocker Stadium.
The Mavericks, now 3-4 (2-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference), lose the Nykios Cup for the first time since 2023, when they suffered a 52-0 defeat, also at Stocker. The loss pushes the cup-era record against mines to 10-6, in favor of the Orediggers.
The first Oredigger possession was a three-and-out, with Junior linebacker
George Soppe and senior backer
Noah Williams stuffing an interior run on a 3rd-and-2. The CMU offense came out swinging, converting an early third down and long on an 11-yard strike from senior quarterback
Cole Hansen to senior wide receiver
Trek Keyworth. The Mavs got in trouble yet again on the drive, after a sack placed them at 2nd-and-17 at their own 31-yard line. Hansen would orchestrate another improbable conversion, scrambling for 16 yards, with junior running back
Bronco Hartson converting the third down with a 19-yard scamper. CMU gained 15 more yards by committee, leading to a 36-yard field goal by junior kicker
Kale Purvis. CMU kept the 3-0 lead into the end of the first, with 45 of the 56 total yards coming on the ground.
The lead wouldn't carry itself long into the second quarter, with the Orediggers finding paydirt just three seconds into the frame, to put themselves on top 7-0. Alternating punts got the ball back to the Orediggers with 5:10 to go in the first half, where they orchestrated an eight play, 75-yard touchdown drive ending at the 2-minute timeout. The touchdown put Mines up by 14-3.
CMU received the ensuing kickoff, taking a touchback out to the 25-yard line. Hansen started the drive hot, linking up with senior receiver
Noah Greer for 18 yards. Hansen's air raid would not soon cease, including a nine-yard connection to junior tight end
Logan Ryan, and finishing the drive with a 17-yard completion to Keyworth for six. CMU was down by just four, with just over a minute remaining.
Just when the Mavs thought the half would end, Mines put in a 60-yard field goal, the longest a Mines kicker had made since the early 1970's. CMU trailed 17-10 going into the extended half time break.
The third quarter wouldn't start well for CMU, as they lost a fumble just over a minute into the penultimate period. Mines wouldn't waste their only caused turnover of the afternoon, mounting a quick scoring drive to run their lead to 14 points. The Mavericks responded immediately, with Hansen finding Greer for a 20-yard gain and Keyworth for 30 the following play. A pair of rushes by senior running back
Jalen Hankins for a combined six yards set up Hansen to let it fly to Greer on a quick out. Greer danced along the sideline, evading three would-be tacklers to score his lone touchdown of the afternoon. He finished with three grabs for 53 yards.
In the last minute of the quarter, Purvis punted it away on a line drive. The punt skipped to the Oredigger 19-yard line, where it deflected off the hands of the Mines returner. CMU swarmed to the dropped ball, but Mines was able to get on top of it spoiling the Mavs' lone opportunity for a turnover.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Mines converted on their fresh lease on life, scoring their final touchdown of the day just over three minutes into the period. CMU's offense still couldn't create momentum, going 3-and-out on their first touch of the fourth. The defense held up its end of the bargain afterwards with the only first down of the following drive being a scramble drill on the first play.
CMU's offense got in to gear on their second touch of the final quarter, helped by a pair of Oredigger penalties, and Hansen's 52 yards of passing. Keyworth caught his second touchdown of the game, mossing a Mines corner for a touchdown with just 5:42 remaining.
CMU wouldn't get another possession in the game, seeing the Mavericks fall 31-24.
Hansen had his best game of the year, going 16-for-30 with 202 yards and three touchdowns, without throwing an interception. Keyworth lead the receiving efforts, making five catches for 77 yards. Hartson lead the rushing efforts, having eight tries for 37 yards.
CMU will now turn the corner to their second-to-last road trip of the year, heading down to Alamosa to take on Adams State. The Grizzlies are still searching for their first conference win of the season, having recently suffering a 69-0 loss to Chadron State. Kickoff from Rex Stadium is Saturday, October 24 at noon.
