This game recap is presented by MAA Corporate Partner Alpine Orthopaedics
GUNNISON, Colo. - It was a tale of two halves Saturday in Gunnison for the Western State Colorado University football team. After scoring 28 points in the first 30 minutes, the Mountaineers were held to just 10 points in the second half. Western New Mexico University took advantage, scoring 28 points of their own in the second half, winning the game 48-38.
Western's (3-5, 2-4 RMAC) offense gained a total of 622 yards on the day. However, 391 of those came in the first half.
Leading the way for the Mountaineers was running back
Austin Ekeler (So., Eaton, Colorado). Ekeler gave the Mountaineers the start they were looking for, breaking away for a 51 yard touchdown on the fourth play of the game. Ekeler recorded 254 yards on the ground, a career high. It also ranks as the fifth most rushing yards in a game in Western's history.
Western scored again in the first quarter, taking a 14-0 lead with 5:46 remaining in the first quarter.
WNMU (3-5, 2-4 RMAC) managed to get a first quarter touchdown back on a 40-yard pass from Mitch Glasmann to Marcus Smith with less than a minute remaining in the quarter. It was the first of three touchdowns for Glasmann who also threw for 400 yards on the day.
Both teams scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, but a blocked WNMU extra point by Western's
Gerald Coleman (Jr., Richmond, Texas), helped the Mountaineers take a 28-20 lead into halftime.
As good as the Mountaineers looked in the first half, WNMU looked equally as good in the second. The Mustangs scored 28 unanswered points before Western's
Brett Arrivey (So., Woodinville, Washington) connected with
Kyle Adkins (So., Woodinville, Washington) for a 22-yard catch to cut the Mustang lead to 10 points with 48 seconds remaining in the game. Arrivey threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday.
Western attempted the onside kick but failed to convert. WNMU ran out the clock and escaped with a win.
With 28 completions on Saturday, Arrivey became Western's all-time leader in passing completions with 431. Arrivey surpassed Jason Davis who completed 418 passes from 1993-96.
Defensively,
Cole Waliczek (Sr., Thornton, Colorado) earned the only turnover for Western, an interception returned for 25 yards.
Jaden Terry (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colorado) led all players with 13 tackles. With 324 tackles during his time at Western, Terry is tied for eighth place all-time in school history with Steve Gaber (1983-85).
Western will look to get back on the right track next Saturday when they travel to play Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
