Box Score PORTALES N.M. – A two-plus hour rain delay posed no threat to the Colorado Mesa offense, as they earned a 42-23 victory over the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds here at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. The Saturday win that took over six hours to complete was the first of the year for the Mavericks, improving their record to 1-1.

Eastern New Mexico scored the first points of the game, utilizing their new-look air raid offense to complete a 46-yard touchdown pass just 61 seconds into the contest. A missed PAT left their lead at just six. The Greyhounds and Mavericks would trade punts, leading to a missed field goal by the Greyhounds. Following the miss, 5^th year quarterback Liu Aumavae found junior wideout Trek Keyworth down the middle of the field for a 48-yard touchdown strike, converting the PAT to take their first lead of the game. The touchdown was Keyworth's only of the game, with him chipping in 93 yards on five grabs.

ENMU was able to mount a responding drive, getting down to the CMU six-yard line before putting a field goal in, giving the Greyhounds a 9-6 lead, their last time with a lead during the entire game. During the ensuing 75-yard drive, CMU benefitted from a pass interference flag on a third and four to move the chains. Senior running back Jalen Hankins finished the job, toting the rock 28 yards to the end zone, and giving the Mavericks a lead they would not relinquish. Hankins' carry was the longest of the night for either team, with him netting 39 yards on 10 tries.

The Maverick offense wasn't finished in the 2^nd quarter, when 5^th year receiver Ky Oday Jr. hauled in his first of two touchdown passes on the night. His day finished with three catches for 69 yards to supplement the pair of TDs.
CMU's defense kept ENMU off the board towards the end of the half, but the Mavs couldn't capitalize on the turnover, seeing 5^th year quarterback Cole Hansen throw his only interception as the halftime clock expired. Hansen finished the day 6-13 with 56 yards.

The trend continued after CMU received the 3^rd quarter kickoff, completing an eight-play touchdown drive, crescendoed with Aumavae's third and final touchdown pass of the night, with Oday Jr. taking a short pass 54 yards to the house. Aumavae's three touchdown passes ties his career high and marks the second straight year that he's had three TD's against ENMU. He'd go 8-for-12 through the air with 160 yards over the course of the game.
CMU's defense kept the pressure up following the TD, forcing a turnover on downs. Their trend of 3^rd quarter takeaways continued, with senior linebacker La'Markus Reed jumping a route to notch CMU's lone defensive turnover of the evening. The short field caused by the pick gave an easy path to junior Bronco Hartson to take it in 11 yards for the score, putting CMU up by 26. Harston finished the game with 12 carries for 61 yards, with the touchdown run being his longest.

The start of the 4^th was more of the same for the Mavs, with Hartson punching in a 2-yard rush for what was the final CMU score of the night. The Greyhounds would score a pair of touchdowns in the closing quarter, but the game was already well in hand.
Junior kicker Kale Purvis was perfect in PATs, going 6-for-6. He would be called upon to punt five times, averaging 39.2 yards per boot, and pinning the Greyhounds inside the 20 four times.

The Mavericks were outgained 553 yards to 412, including a concession of 366 passing yards. CMU grabbed 224 yards through the air, with 188 yards on the ground, the second straight game their passing attack has outpaced their production on the ground.

The defense embodied the 'bend but don't break mentality', forcing three punts, three turnovers on downs, a missed field goal and the singular interception. They also held ENMU to just eight third down conversions in 19 total attempts. Sacks were also crucial for the Mavs, as they notched four.

This rights the road-opener ship for CMU, following their loss to Central Washington to open their road campaign a year ago. The 42-point outburst marks the most points in a road opening contest since 2021, when 56 points were put up against RMAC foe New Mexico Highlands. This also makes the Mavericks 9-1 in road openers since 2017.

Colorado Mesa now gears up for their longest road trip of the season, taking on conference foe South Dakota Mines. The Hardrockers are 2-0 on the early season, including a win over DI Drake University.  Kickoff is Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 p.m.