RAPID CITY, S.D. -
It took an extra drive, but the Colorado Mesa Mavericks were able to squeak out a 30-24 overtime win over the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers on Saturday afternoon here at O'Harra Stadium. The game was the first of conference play, improving the Mavs to 2-1 (1-0 RMAC).
Fifth-year QB
Liu Aumavae earned his third straight start, and it was a hot one. On his first pass attempt of the day, he found senior receiver
Trek Keyworth for a 42-yard stripe over the middle of the field. Aumavae was not done on the drive, also notching an 11-yard completion to senior wideout
Noah Greer. It was Greer's lone reception. The drive stalled but finished with a 26-yard field goal made by junior kicker
Kale Purvis. The Hardrockers responded emphatically, engineering a six-play, 72-yard touchdown drive that ended on a 23-yard touchdown carry, which was the longest for any player in the contest. A three-and-out followed by another South Dakota Mines touchdown towards the end of the period made it 14-3.
Within the first 90 seconds of the second quarter, safety
AJ Adams crashed an inside run, earning the punchout and recovering the fumble. CMU could not capitalize, as Aumavae threw an interception, the Mavs' only turnover in the game. South Dakota Mines got a score off the turnover, booting a 23-yard field goal. It would be their only score of the period. The teams traded punts, with CMU pinned inside their own 20. Aumavae strung together a trio of completions, including a 15-yard grab by senior tight end
Alex Turpin. Colorado Mesa ended the drive with Aumavae finding sophomore wide receiver
Bryson Brown in the end zone to bring the deficit back to one-possession with less than two minutes to go in the first half.
To begin the third, CMU booted the ball to the Hardrockers but did not allow more than two plays from the Hardrockers. Senior linebacker
Noah Williams fell on a muffed quarterback-running back exchange, setting the Mavericks up at the Hardrocker 17-yard line. Fifth-year quarterback
Cole Hansen toted the rock for four yards, before connecting with Turpin for a 13-yard touchdown. The pitch-and-catch was the only touchdown for the pair. Turpin finished with four grabs for 64 yards, averaging 16 yards per catch. Hansen finished 3-for-7, tallying 50 yards through the air. The Maverick offense stalled throughout the rest of the third, but the defense held their end of the bargain, only conceding one touchdown in the penultimate frame, with the Mavs still trailing 24-17.
In the start of the fourth, the Maverick defense showed their prowess, forcing three consecutive three-and-outs. Hansen took the snaps for CMU on their final drive of the game, where his legs made the difference. Hansen tallied 44 rushing yards on the final offensive drive of regulation for Mesa, capping it off with a 21-yard touchdown rush. Purvis scored the extra point, tying the game at 24 with 1:10 to go. The Maverick defense forced yet another punt, officially allowing zero offensive yards in the fourth quarter. Greer returned the punt 27 yards, setting Mesa up at the Hardrocker 33-yard line. A trio of rushes by senior running back
Jalen Hankins set the Mavs at the 25, but the field goal would fall no good.
Defense started the overtime period, continuing their reign, only allowing 15 yards. South Dakota Mines elected to try a field goal, missing it wide right. With the ball back in his hands, Hansen had a pair of rushes, gaining eight more yards, with Brown picking up seven on the ground of his own. With the ball at the 10, junior running back
Bronco Hartson took a pair of snaps in the wildcat, with his first being stuffed for just a yard. The second and nine snap was taken up the middle, with Hartson scampering into the end zone for the walk-off touchdown.
In the fourth quarter and overtime, South Dakota Mines was held to just 15 total yards, one first down and just 1-for-7 passing. Sophomore linebacker
Dante Vigil headed the defense with 17 total tackles, one of those a solo tackle for loss. Senior defensive lineman
Kade Street was held to just one tackle, but it was a solo sack of 10 yards.
Hartson had the most touches on the afternoon, with 19 carries for 49 yards while Hansen led the ground offensive, netting 54 yards. He finished the game with 104 all-purpose yards, with a touchdown on the ground and through the air. Hankins had just six carries for 18 yards, also hauling in an 18-yard reception.
Purvis did his job in the punting game, booting it away eight times including an 87 yarder and had 352 punt yards total. He also went 3-for-3 on extra points. Greer was the only Maverick with a punt return, having three for 42 total yards. The win also excised some demons for CMU, avenging a 17-14 heartbreak in Rapid City back in 2024. The overtime marks the first played by Colorado Mesa since September 9, 2023, a 28-21 win over DI University of San Diego.
The Mavericks will end their longest road swing of the year, returning home to take on the No. 8 ranked Western Colorado Mountaineers. Kickoff from Stocker Stadium is Saturday, September 19 at 6 p.m.
