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The game preview is presented by MAA Corporate Partner Gunnison Country Times

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GUNNISON, Colo. - Coming off a 34-13 victory over Black Hills State University a week ago, Western State Colorado University football travels to Las Vegas, New Mexico for a showdown with Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent New Mexico Highlands University.  The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. from Perkins Stadium.

Western (3-3, 2-2 RMAC) and NMHU (2-4, 2-2 RMAC) will meet for the 49th time on Saturday.  The Mountaineers have won 32 of those games.

NMHU is coming off a 19-31 loss at the hands of Colorado Mesa University last weekend.

The Cowboys and Mountaineers are currently tied for fifth in the RMAC standings.

Last season, Western earned their first victory of the year, defeating NMHU 33-27 at home.  The Mountaineers compiled over 300 yards of offense and forced two turnovers.  Senior defensive lineman, Lane Stuht, recorded 2.5 sacks in the game, including one on the final play of the game.

Fans in Gunnison can listen to the action live on KEJJ 98.3 FM.  Gene Hill and Steve Williams will have the call live from Las Vegas.

Game 7 Notes:

Start of Something Good...
The Mountaineers began the season 2-2 for the first time since 2008.

Western has already surpassed last season's win total of two 2013.

The last time Western had three wins in a season was 2009.

If Western defeats NMHU it will be the first time the Mountaineers reach four wins in a season since 2003.

Passing History...
In just his second season as Western's play caller, quarterback Brett Arrivey is moving up Western's career passing records.

Arrivey is a mere 45 completions away from surpassing Jason Davis as Western's all-time leader in passing completions.  Arrivey is currently in second with 374, while Davis sits in first with 418.

Arrivey currently sits in fifth place all-time in career passing attempts at Western with 623.  He needs one more attempt to pull even with Eric Hannah who attempted 624 passes from 1997-98 and 86 more to pull even with Nate Baca who attempted 709 passes from 2001-04.

Tackling to the Top...
Linebacker Jaden Terry moved into the Western career record books after the week four matchup against Adams State University, and continues to move up the list.

Terry is currently ninth in career tackles with 299.  To move into eighth place, Terry will need 26 more tackles to pass Steve Gaber's 324 tackles from 1983-85.

Break On Through...
In just his sophomore season, running back Austin Ekeler rushed into the Western record book.  Ekeler has compiled 1,995 yards rushing in his first two years at Western, which ranks ninth all-time.

Ekeler sits 110 yards away from surpassing Sam Seale in eighth place.  Seale rushed for 2,104 yards from 1980-83 and went on to play in the NFL.

Chasing History...
Defensive back Gerald Coleman has five career interceptions as a Mountaineer.  Colman needs just one more to tie for 10th all-time in Western history with four others who have accomplished the feat.

Coleman Island...
Gerald Coleman is averaging 0.7 pass interceptions per game this season for the Mountaineers.

With four interceptions on the season, Coleman is tied for the 13th most interceptions at the Division II level this season.

Coleman needs just one more interception to tie for seventh place on Western's all-time list for most interceptions in a season and tie for 10th in career interceptions with four others.

Coleman also ranks tied for the 13th most passes defended per game in Division II with 1.8.

National Leaders...
Below are Western players and where they rank at the Division II level after the fifth week of play:

Austin Ekeler - 156.0 rushing yards per game - 4th

Austin Ekeler - 936 total rushing yards - 5th

Austin Ekeler - 197.0 all-purpose yards per game - 4th

Gerald Coleman - 4 interceptions - T-13th

Gerald Coleman - 1.8 passes defended per game - T-13th

Thomas Chavira - 5.0 sacks - T-37th

Ryan Winke - 1.6 field goals per game - T-10th

Ryan Winke - .833 field goal percentage - T-16th

Dakota Swinehart - 42.6 average yards per punt - 13th

Offensive Output...
Western's 39 points against Adams State in week four are the most points Western has scored in regulation since a 53-24 victory over Western New Mexico in 2008.

Last year, the Mountaineers scored 48 total points against Black Hills State University in three overtimes.  Western scored 28 points in regulation.

Week 6 Honors...
Kicker Ryan Winke was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance against Black Hills State.  Winke  hit two field goals in Western's 34-13 Hall of Fame Game win.  Winke made his first field goal from 25 yards out and the second from 30 yards away.  Winke accounted for a total of nine points against the Yellow Jackets.

Last Time Out...
Totaling nearly 500 yards of offense, the Western State Colorado University football team improved to .500 on the season with a win over Black Hills State University.  The Mountaineers broke through for 34 points, defeating the Yellow Jackets 34-13 at home on Saturday.

The Mountaineers led for most of the game, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 13-3 in the second half.

Ekeler ran for a total of 163 yards, and tied for the eighth longest run in Western history at 80 yards.  Arrivey threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns.

Prelude to Something Larger...
Western State began the season with a 1-1 record for the first time since 1998.  The Mountaineers went onto win their second straight RMAC Championship under Head Coach Duke Iverson.

For the first time since 1997, Western won the season opener.  The 1997 team also went onto win the RMAC title.

The Mountaineers defeated Wayland Baptist 38-21 in the first game of the season and lost to Angelo State University 38-6 in the following week.

Week 1 Honors...
After a convincing win and tremendous individual efforts, linebacker Jaden Terry and running back Austin Ekeler were named RMAC Athletes of the Week.

Ekeler ran for 247 yards on 31 carries, averaging 8.0 yards per carry.  Ekeler also reached the end zone twice, one of which was a 48-yard scamper.

Terry, also named the NFFCC Player of the Week, recorded one interception and one fumble recovery, both of which were returned for touchdowns.  Terry also tied for a team high eight tackles, three of which were for a loss, including one sack.

Week 1 Record Breaking Performances...
The Mountaineers charged to victory and also into the record books after the week-one victory.

Austin Ekeler recorded the fifth most rushing yards in a game by a Mountaineer with 247 yards.  His 31 carries also tied for 10th place all-time at Western.

Thomas Chavira tied a Western record, sacking the Wayland Baptist quarterback four times, three of which came in the first half.

Chavira also recorded five tackles for a loss which is good enough for second all-time by a Mountaineer.
Kicker Ryan Winke hit a 51-yard field goal, tying Gary Savoren's attempt in 1976 for the 10th longest field goal all-time in Western history.

Gerald Coleman tied for second most all-time interceptions in a single game with two.

Familiar Territory...
Western State began their season in the state of Texas for the third time in four years.

For the fourth consecutive season, the Mountaineers faced an opponent from the state of Texas in the season opener.
After beating Wayland Baptist 38-21, Western has gone 1-3 during that span.

Captain Oh Captain...
Captains for the 2014 season are quarterback Brett Arrivey, running back Austin Ekeler, punter Dakota Swinehart, and  linebackers Jaden Terry and Kalvin Winter.