Grand Junction, Colo. – Colorado Mesa used a 28-point second quarter to best the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys 59-46 here at Stocker Stadium Saturday (Oct. 31) afternoon.
The offensive outburst marks the second straight week CMU has put up 59 points and moves them north of .500 at 5-4 (4-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) for the second time this season. With the loss, the Cowboys drop to 3-6 (1-6 RMAC).
The first quarter started sluggishly, with the Mavericks being held to their lone three-and-out of the game. The Cowboys would make good of the lone Maverick punt, netting a field goal after a six-plus minute drive. The CMU offense kicked it into gear, needing just one play. Fifth-year quarterback
Cole Hansen unleashed a deep post to sophomore wide receiver
Bryson Brown, who made a house call on the 69-yard reception. Highlands responded on the following drive, utilizing a pair of defensive penalties to march down the field and convert on a second down QB keeper to give the Cowboys their final lead of the game at 10-7.
CMU wouldn't let that lead stick around for long, with Hansen finding senior running back
Jalen Hankins and junior tight end
Logan Ryan for back-to-back 11-yard completions. On the first play of the second quarter, Brown took a touch pass behind the line of scrimmage 45 yards to score his second touchdown of the day. Brown finished the ball game with just two receptions, but amassing 114 yards and two touchdowns. The 114 yards are the most of his career, surpassing his previous high of 101 yards he set on the road against Chadron State last year. It also marks the most single game receiving touchdowns he's scored. It would also be the last time CMU's offense would touch the field for 10 minutes and 47 seconds of game time. In the interim, CMU's special teams carried the weight. The ensuing drive saw the Cowboys go 3-and-out.
With their punter backed up inside his own 10-yard line, the CMU rush got home, with senior linebacker
Jake Sinz blocking the punt, which was recovered inside the end zone by sophomore defensive back
Kalvin Floyd to run the Maverick lead to 21-10. Highlands was able to drive down the field in just over four minutes, but the Maverick defense held their high-octane scoring offense to another field goal. The third phase continued to shine for the Mavericks, when senior H-back
Noah Greer fielded the kickoff at his own 4-yard line. A lane opened up, and Greer was off to the races, notching the second kick return touchdown of his Maverick career.
The Cowboys later worked their way in to the red zone, but freshman cornerback
Braylon Washington read a pass over the middle of the field perfectly, grabbing the first of two Maverick turnovers in the game. The pick brought Hansen and the Mavericks back on to the field and CMU picked up right where they left off. With 2:16 to go in the half, Hansen connected with junior tight end
Logan Ryan but the play was called back on a procedural penalty. Hansen didn't mind doing it again, however, as he connected with senior receiver
Trek Keyworth for Keyworth's lone reception on the day, a grab that went to the house. Highlands, however, responded with a nine play, 70-yard touchdown drive to run the halftime score to 35-19 in favor of the Mavericks.
Off of the second half kick, the CMU defense forced their second and final three-and-out of the day, keeping the Cowboys from gaining a single yard. The offense continued their chunk play ways, going with a direct snap to the junior running back 'Buckin'
Bronco Hartson on 4th-and-one. The lane right up the middle opened for Hartson, with him galloping 51-yards to the end zone to score his lone rushing touchdown of the day. He'd finish with eight carries for 73 yards. The CMU defense wasn't finished yet in the quarter, forcing a turnover on downs. The drive off of the turnover was short-lived, with the Mavericks coughing up a fumble on the first play of the ensuing drive. CMU's defense responded with a takeaway of their own, sophomore defensive back Sam Pollman jumping a pass up the middle and returning the interception 35 yards to give CMU their shortest field of the day. The offense couldn't get in the end zone, but the sure-footed junior kicker
Kale Purvis punched a 20-yard field goal through the uprights. The Cowboys continued to battle in the 3rd, scoring yet another touchdown on a deep pass. They'd go for two and fail, putting the Mavericks up 45-25 heading into the final frame.
On the third play of the 4th quarter, Hansen scored his lone rushing touchdown of the day, converting on a QB sneak to fall forward for a yard into the promised land. Hansen had yet another spectacular day overall, going 9-for-11 through the air for 229 yards and three touchdowns, chipping in 13 yards and the touchdown carry. NMHU continued their spectacular offensive day, responding with yet another touchdown but a second failed 2-point try put the CMU lead up to 21, 52-31. With the ball and 9:57 to go in the game, Hankins received a handoff to the left side of the offensive line in an attempt to chew clock. Instead, Hankins took off for 62 yards to give the Mavericks their final scoring play. Highlands continued to battle, scoring twice more, but their comeback attempt fell well short, giving CMU the 59-46 victory.
The 105 combined points is the most scored in a game the Mavericks have participated in since Nov. 3, 2018 when CMU won a 64-63 overtime thriller against Adams State, also in Stocker Stadium. Eight different Mavericks caught a pass, with seven players garnering a rushing attempt.
CMU will look to build its longest win streak of the year next Saturday (Nov. 7), when they travel to Durango to face the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks. The Skyhawks are currently 2-6 on the year, coming off of a 34-3 loss to Chadron State. Kickoff is scheduled for noon from Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
