Full Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Five conference games took place during Week 9 of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football action.
No. 15 Colorado Mesa hosted the New Mexico Highlands’ Cowboys for homecoming on Saturday, repeating their performance from last week in a 77-14 win. The Mavericks dominated during the first half, scoring an unanswered 70 points against the Cowboys. During the first half, Mavericks’ Eystin Salum and David Tann combined for seven touchdowns, Salum passing for four and Tann rushing for three. A 31-yard interception return by Blake Brockett and a fourth rushing touchdown from Daryl Hawkins put the Mavericks into a 63-0 lead at halftime. Based on a mutual decision between both team’s coaches, the second half was played with 10-minute quarters based on the score. To open up the second half, Colorado Mesa’s Uriah Vigil scooped up a fumble, caused by Antonio Hill, taking it in for a score to extend the Mavericks’ lead to 70. On the ensuing kickoff, Cowboys’ Rodolph Zleh answered back with a 98-yard kickoff return, putting the Cowboys on the board for the first time. A second Hawkins rushing touchdown and a Cowboy’s passing touchdown would eventually cap off the Mavericks’ victory. Colorado Mesa improved to 8-1 overall and 8-1 in conference play.
The Cowboys fell to 1-7 in conference and 2-7 overall.
No. 24 CSU-Pueblo closed out their regular season home schedule this weekend against Western. The ThunderWolves played in decisive fashion, dominating for a 40-7 win. ThunderWolves’ Rex Dausin completed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Josh Smith in the final seconds of the first period, putting CSU-Pueblo up by 6 with a blocked extra point. A 13-yard rushing touchdown and a 25-yard interception return from Emery Taylor capped off the first half, leading to a 20-7 ThunderWolves lead. The Mountaineers’ defense attempted to turn the game around at the beginning of the third. Western’s Victor Alvarez scooped up a fumble and returned it 55-yards to put the Mountaineers on the board. During the remainder of the game, the Mountaineers would not be able to overcome their offensive struggles. The ThunderWolves responded with two field goals and two more passing touchdowns to cap off the 40-7 victory. CSU-Pueblo held Western to a combined 84 offensive yards (14 passing) during the matchup. CSU-Pueblo improved to 7-1 in RMAC play and 7-2 overall.
Western falls to 1-8 in conference play and 1-8 overall.
Colorado School of Mines took to the road, traveling to Chadron, Nebraska to take on the Chadron State Eagles. The Eagles started off strong, garnering a nine-point lead from a 34-yard field goal from Chadron State’s Will Morgan and a rushing score from Derek Jackson. The Orediggers responded on the ensuing drive with a 23-yard rushing score from Colorado School of Mines’ Cameron Mayberry. The Orediggers captured the lead in the second period from a 29-yard pass from Cody Limmer to Brody Oliver, sending both teams into the locker room at 13-9. The Orediggers extended their lead to 20-9 after the half with another passing touchdown from Limmer, this time to Riley Hoff. The Eagles responded on the ensuing drive with a rushing touchdown from Derek Jackson. In the final period, the Orediggers’ Cameron Mayberry scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one for 27 yards. The score from Mayberry capped off the 27-15 victory for the Orediggers. Colorado School of Mines ties Chadron State with both team’s records at 5-3 in RMAC play and 5-4 overall.
Dixie State hosted Adams State for homecoming on Saturday. The Trailblazers snapped their two-game losing skid with a 54-28 win. During the first period, the Trailblazers opened the game to a 14-0 lead with two rushing scores from Blake Barney. The Grizzlies would finally respond at the beginning of the second quarter with a 17-yard pass from Nick Rooney to James Holtrop, bringing the deficit back down to a score. Dixie State would extend the lead back to two possessions with a 30-yard field goal. On the ensuing drive, Adams State would score on a one-yard rush from Tyree Harris to put the Grizzlies within a field goal of tying the game. The Trailblazers would not let the Grizzlies tie or take the lead, as Dixie State would score a 22-yard field goal and a 32-yard pass from Barney to Kasey Allison to go into halftime with a 27-14 lead. After the break, the Trailblazers’ Barney hit Orlando Wallace for a 46-yard score to extend the lead to 20. The Grizzlies responded on the ensuing drive with a 13-yard pass from Rooney to Marquese Surrel to bring the game back within two scores. In the fourth, the two teams would again trade scores for 41-21 and 41-28. The Grizzlies couldn’t overcome the deficit, as the Trailblazers would seal the win with a four-yard rush from Sei-J Lauago and a 46-yard fumble recovery from Remington Kelly. The Trailblazers improved to 4-4 in conference play and 4-5 overall.
Adams State drops to 3-5 in RMAC play and 3-6 overall.
Fort Lewis hosted South Dakota Mines over the weekend. The Skyhawks and the Hardrockers traded scores in the first, leading to a 14-14 tie at the end of the period. Opening up the second, the Hardrockers’ took their first lead of the game as Jason Torres sacked Jake Lowry for a 20-yard loss in the end zone and a safety. South Dakota Mines extended their lead to 23-14 with a rushing score from Kevin Thompson. Fort Lewis responded later in the second with a 61-yard run from the Skyhawks’ Tyler Telphy, who rushed for a career-high 170-yards in the game. The Hardrockers would close out the first half with a 25-yard field goal, bringing the score to 26-21. With the Hardrockers set to receive the ball first in the second half, Skyhawks’ kicker Ben Raybon executed a successful onside kick, setting up a 25-yard field goal. The Skyhawks would gain the lead back in the third as Raybon hit two more field goals from 44- and 46- yards, a career-long. In the final period, Fort Lewis extended their lead to 11 with a nine-yard run from Jake Lowry. The Hardrockers responded on the ensuing drive with a 31-yard field goal, bringing the deficit down to a little more than one score. The Skyhawks’ defense would try to seal the victory with a 25-yard interception return from Donell Pleasant III, giving Fort Lewis their largest lead of the game at 44-29. The Hardrockers scored as the clock expired on a 27-yard pass from Jake Sullivan to Collin Zur, making the final score 44-35. The Skyhawks improved to 4-4 in RMAC play and 4-5 overall.
The Hardrockers fell to 3-5 in conference play and 4-5 overall.
RMAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Blake Barney, Dixie State
Barney captained a Dixie State offensive explosion in a 54-28 win over Adams State. Barney accounted for 350 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, completing 10-of-15 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for another 146 yards and two more touchdowns.
RMAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Dean Wenger, Colorado School of Mines
Wenger led the Colorado School of Mines' defense in a 27-15 win at Chadron State, making a game-high 11 tackles, 9 of which were solo, and snagging two interceptions. His second pick came with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter as the Eagles mounted a comeback attempt. He intercepted it in the red zone and returned it to midfield to seal the Orediggers' win.
RMAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Ben Raybon, Fort Lewis
Raybon accounted for 14 points in a 44-35 win over South Dakota Mines after making all three field goal attempts and all five extra point attempts. Two field goals broke his career-high record, going for 44 and 46 yards. He also averaged 61 yards on nine kickoffs. Raybon made an onside kick to start the
second half, giving his offense the ball, which led to a field goal.
About the RMAC:
The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15-member schools, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2018-19, Dixie State University will join the RMAC as the 16th member institution. The RMAC sponsors 23 varsity NCAA sports and has produced 59 NCAA Division II national champions and 48 national runners-up since 1992.