GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A trio of forced turnovers, along with a third quarter offensive masterclass powered the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks (3-3, 2-2 RMAC) over the Chadron State College Eagles (1-5, 0-4 RMAC) 30-20 here at Stocker Stadium on Saturday night (Oct. 3). The win marks the first home victory for CMU in the 2026 season.
The first quarter was a defensive showcase, seeing neither team having a play go for more than 10 yards in the first eight minutes. The Mavericks picked up a first down on their second play of the day, before a pair of incompletions stalled the drive. The Maverick defense forced a punt on the Eagles' opening drive but couldn't get anything going on the ensuing offensive drive. The defense continued to be the story in the first quarter, with freshman defensive back Braylon Washington jumping a route, and taking an interception back for a touchdown to put CMU up 7-0. Chadron State had no trouble responding, mounting a five-play, 77-yard drive to even things up at seven in to the break. CMU only had 33 yards in the first quarter.
The Eagles worked themselves into the redzone early in the second quarter but pushed a kick wide right to keep the deadlock. The offense continued to sputter, but the Maverick defense did enough to keep them in the game. Inside five minutes to go in the quarter, junior defensive end Hunter Hamilton jumped in front of a screen pass to give the Mavericks possession in Eagle territory. Fifth-year quarterback Cole Hansen then found senior receiver Noah Greer for a 25-yard gain. A few short gains lead to the only field goal of the night by junior kicker Kale Purvis to give the Mavericks a 10-7 lead with 2:31 to play in the half. CSC had to punt yet again, giving the Mavericks an 88-yard field to drive with 61 seconds left. Hansen yet again kickstarted the drive, picking up 30 yards on a scramble. A pass interference call set up Purvis with another field goal look, but it twisted just right at the last second. CMU took a 10-7 lead into the halftime locker room.
The offense finally came together in the third quarter, with the Mavs generating 124 yards of offense while allowing just 39 Eagle yards. The lone scoring play of the drive came from a jet sweep to sophomore wideout Bryson Brown, housing the handoff for 53 yards on the three play, 59-yard drive. The carry was Brown's lone tote, with him grabbing a single catch for 14 yards. The defense stayed tough, holding CSC to 0-for-3 on third down, with an average of just three yards per play. Junior defensive lineman O'Marius Dimry-Lockhart earned a highlight play of his own, wrapping up a Chadron running back and forcing a fumble the Mavericks would not recover. Dimry-Lockhart set his career high in sacks in the game, having two. They took a 17-7 lead into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter started on the right foot, with junior running back Bronco Hartson taking a snap out of the Buckin' Bronco package, grabbing a four-yard touchdown carry. Hartson had another efficient day as a power back, with 11 carries for 29 yards and a touchdown. The CMU defense had one more caused turnover in their system, when junior linebacker George Soppe grabbed an interception when he was all alone in the middle of the field. CMU's offense took advantage of the third caused turnover of the night, when Hansen ran a QB sneak into the end zone. Hansen finished with six carries for 40 yards, while going 11-for-24 with 96 yards through the air. The Eagles wound up scoring a pair of touchdowns, but the game was already well out of reach.
Sophomore running back Amari Brown took advantage of his first game with volume carries, having 11 carries for 43 yards. Greer led the team in receiving yards, taking a pair of catches for 29 yards. Senior linebacker La'Markus Reed had another night leading in tackles, with 16 tackles, a pair of which were tackles for loss.
As a team, CMU was outgained with Chadron gaining 394 yards and Colorado Mesa only grabbing 304. The ground game had its second game of superiority, with 208 yards as a team. Despite the usual ball control, CMU lost the time of possession battle, having the ball for 29:29, in comparison the 30:31 of CSC. The Maverick offensive line did their job well, not allowing a single sack.
Colorado Mesa now gets a week to recover, with the entire RMAC observing the universal bye week. Their next contest is slated for 1 p.m. on October 17, welcoming in the Colorado School of Mines for their homecoming game. CMU has bested the Orediggers in the last two renditions of the Battle for the Nyikos Cup and will look to have their longest stretch of victories against CSM since a three-game streak from 2015-17.
