#RMACfb Weekly Release: Week 11
Full Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- Colorado Mines and CSU-Pueblo join Colorado Mesa as 2016 football co-champions of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
No.21 Colorado Mines and CSU-Pueblo improved to 8-2 in the final week of the regular season to become RMAC football co-champions with No.24 Colorado Mesa. This is the first three-way tie since the 1934 season when Colorado, Northern Colorado and Colorado State tied for the RMAC title. The only other three-way tie in RMAC history was in 1933 with Utah, Denver and Colorado State named co-champions.
Colorado Mines traveled to Spearfish, South Dakota for the final week of the regular season, defeating Black Hills State 83-28. The Orediggers scored 20 or more points in each quarter and gained 717 yards of total offense in the win. Five different Orediggers rushed for a touchdown, led by Sam Seeton’s 204 yards and two scores. Zac Guy added 102 yards on the ground and a touchdown as quarterback Justin Dvorak threw for five touchdowns and added another score on the ground. Dvorak leads the conference in total offense with a 390.5 yard average.
The Orediggers will face Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship on November 19. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
Colorado Mesa hosted Azusa Pacific in a non-conference game Saturday, winning 33-24. The Mavericks had already claimed a share of the RMAC title with an 8-2 conference record. David Tann rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Sean Rubalcaba had 23 completions on 33 attempts for 172 yards and a score. Defensive back Dustin Rivas helped seal the game for the Mavericks with a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter as teammate Antonio Clark recovered the loose ball and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. Tann leads the RMAC in scoring with 25 touchdowns this season as kicker Ryan Sheehan leads the conference with 22 made field goals this year.
The Mavericks will take on Texas A&M-Commerce in Commerce, Texas in the first round of the NCAA Championship. Kickoff is set for November 19 at 12 p.m.
CSU-Pueblo defeated Chadron State 27-14 on Senior Day for a share of the RMAC title. The ThunderWolves did not give up a single point in the final three quarters of the win. The ThunderWolves defense had five takeaways in the game on three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Joseph Jones got the scoring started for the ThunderWolves returning an interception 82 yards for a touchdown following a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter. Jones would also have a fumble recovery and seven tackles in the game. The ThunderWolves end the season with an 8-2 conference record and 8-3 record overall.
Western State took on South Dakota Mines in a 42-7 win for the Mountaineers. Quarterback Brett Arrivey completed 26 of his 37 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns, adding a score on the ground for six total touchdowns. Kyle Adkins had eight catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns as teammate Vince Grasso rushed for 147 yards in the win. The Mountaineers finish the season with a 7-3 RMAC record and 7-4 record overall.
Dixie State ended its season with a 16-14 win over Fort Lewis Saturday. The Trailblazers took a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter but the Skyhawks would fight their way back into the game with a Bo Coleman rushing touchdown as the first half ended. Fort Lewis scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter but failed on a two-point conversion to tie the game as the Trailblazers held on for the win. Running back DeJon Coleman gained 145 yards on the ground and rushed for two touchdowns for Dixie State. The Trailblazer finish their first season in the RMAC with a 6-4 conference record.
Adams State traveled to Las Vegas, New Mexico for a shootout with New Mexico Highlands. Both teams scored early and often as the Grizzlies pulled out the 50-40 victory. Corey Brown rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns on the day for the Grizzlies as quarterback Jorge Hernandez threw for 387 yards and five scores. Receivers Phil Romero and Chad Hovasse both eclipsed the century mark for receiving yards with 196 and three touchdowns and 145 yards and a score respectively. Hovasse and Romero are second and third in the conference in receptions per game and receiving yards per game this season. Adams State finishes the season with a 2-8 record.
RMAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Brett Arrivey, Western State
RMAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Blake Nelson, Colorado Mesa
RMAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Dustin Rivas, Colorado Mesa