GUNNISON, Colo. - The Mountaineers of Western State Colorado University return to Mountaineer Bowl Saturday when they host Chadron State College. Game time is 1 p.m. for Western's Hall of Fame game.

Western (0-4, 0-2 RMAC) is coming off a tough 52-51 double-overtime loss to rival Adams State University a week ago. The Mountaineers will be looking to rebound on their home field.

The Mountaineer offense is led by quarterback Brett Arrivey (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) and running back Austin Ekeler (Jr., Eaton, Colorado). The duo has combined for over 1,500 yards of total offense in just the first four weeks of the season. Each near the top of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and Division II in multiple categories. Ekeler leads Division II in rushing yards per game with 184.7 yards per game.

On the defensive side, Western is led by inside linebacker Jacob Bernhard (Sr., Fort Lupton, Colorado). Bernhard has recorded 46 tackles this season, including 14 or more in the each of the past three games. Averaging 15.3 tackles per game, Bernhard ranks second in Division II. 

The Mountaineers' opponent, CSC (1-3, 0-2 RMAC) is also coming off a loss. The Eagles fell to Colorado Mesa University 23-13 last week in Chadron, Nebraska. CSC's offense if fueled by running back Derek Johnson. Johnson has carried the ball 72 times this season for 450 yards rushing. Defensively, Ryan Wood has recorded 40 tackles to lead the Eagles.

Saturday is the Hall of Fame Game, where Western will honor the 21st Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame class at halftime. Being inducted into the MSHOF on Friday night is men's basketball player Travis Bradley, skiers Ray Hensley and Lifetime Athletic Achievement Award Recipient Jim Burkholder, wrestlers Jared Haberman and Adrian Jiron, and the 1991 football team. For more information on the 2015 MSHOF class, click here.

For those unable to make the trip, fans can watch a free live online stream of the game on portal.stretchinternet.com/gomountaineers, listen on KEJJ 98.3 FM in the Gunnison valley, or listen online at www.kwsb.org. Live stats will also be made available by clicking here.

Fans can also receive live updates by following the Twitter accounts of Mountaineer Athletics (@WSCUMountaineers) and Mountaineer Football (@MountaineerFB).

GAME NOTES

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game will mark the 32nd meeting between the two schools. After winning 10 of the first 14 meetings, Chadron has won the last 17. 

Western's last victory against the Eagles came on Oct. 4, 1997 when the Mountaineers won 16-14 in Mountaineer Bowl. 

At home, Western has a 5-8-1 record against CSC.

HALL OF FAME GAME
Saturday is Western's Hall of Fame Game. Friday night, Western Athletics will induct former men's basketball player Travis Bradley, wrestlers Jared Haberman and Adrian Jiron, skiers Jim Burkholder as the Lifetime Athletic Achievement Award Recipient and Ray Hensley, and the 1991 football team into the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame. The class of 2015 is the 21st class to enter the MSHOF.

Since 2010, Western is 2-3 in Hall of Fame games. The Mountaineers have won the past two consecutive, defeating New Mexico Highlands University in 2013 by a score of 33-27 and Black Hills State University in 2014 by a score of 34-13.

Western will honor all of the inductees during halftime of Saturday's game.

BALANCING ACT
Western's running back Austin Ekeler and linebacker Jacob Bernhard are climbing the national rankings. On the offensive side, Ekeler leads the Division II in rushing yards per game with 184.4. The only player in Division I averaging more rushing yards per game is LSU's Leonard Fournette.

On defense, Bernhard has recorded 14 or more tackles in the last three games. He is currently averaging 15.3 tackles per game, which ranks second in Division II.

TOUGH OUT THE GATE
Western's 2015 schedule is loaded with tough matchups and the front end. The Mountaineers began the season against NCAA Division I FCS opponent Northern Colorado. Western then faced No. 12 ranked Angelo State University in the home opener. The Rams are currently ranked sixth in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

The Mountaineers then faced defending National Champions Colorado State University - Pueblo. The ThunderWolves opened the season ranked second in Division II and were 13th when Western faced CSU-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves are currently ranked 10th in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

STREAKING
Western has been streaking over the past two games. Here is where their streaks currently are.

AFTER ADAMS STATE
QB - Brett Arrivey
Has thrown for a touchdown in 10 straight games, dating back to Oct. 11, 2014 against Black Hills State. Arrivey has thrown for two or more touchdowns in nine of those games. 

LB - Jacob Bernhard
Has recorded 14 or more tackles in the previous three games.

Defense
Western's defense has had a player record 14 or more tackles in three consecutive games. (Lopez at UNC 14; Coleman vs. Angelo 14; Bernhard vs. Angelo 16; Bernhard at CSU-Pueblo 16, Bernhard at ASU 14).

AFTER CSU-PUEBLO
Defense
Western's defense has had a player record 14 or more tackles in two consecutive games. (Lopez at UNC 14; Coleman vs. Angelo 14; Bernhard vs. Angelo 16; Bernhard at CSU-Pueblo 16).

AFTER ANGELO STATE
QB - Brett Arrivey
Arrivey threw for 309 yards, recording his eighth straight game passing for 200 or more yards, which started on Oct. 11, 2014. Arrivey also passed for over 300 yards in his second consecutive games.

Defense
Western's defense has had a player record 14 or more tackles in two consecutive games. (Lopez at UNC 14; Coleman vs. Angelo 14; Bernhard vs. Angelo 16)

AFTER UNC
RB - AUSTIN EKELER
Ekeler ran for 226 yards for his seventh consecutive game of 100 or more rushing yards, which started on Oct. 11, 2014.

QB - Brett Arrivey
Arrivey threw for 302 yards, recording his seventh straight game passing for 200 or more yards, which started on Oct. 11, 2014.

RECORD WATCH
These Mountaineers are climbing the Western all-time lists.

After week four, Ekeler moved into third place all-time for career rushing yards, tied for fifth most career rushing touchdowns and tied for fourth all-time for career scoring.

After week three, Ekeler moved into second place all-time for career rushing attempts; Arrivey moves into fourth all-time in career passing touchdowns

After week two, Arrivey moved into third place all-time for career passing yards and moved into a tie for the fourth most passing touchdowns.

After week one, Ekeler moved into third place for all-time career rushing attempts, tied for sixth most career rushing touchdowns, tied for fifth place in career scoring; Arrivey became Western's all-time leader in pass attempts, moved into fourth for career passing yards; Haney moved into seventh for career receptions

CAREER RUSHING YARDS
1. Bill Rhodes    1953-56    4,297
2. Nate Campbell    1999-02    3,619
3. Austin Ekeler    2013-    3,279

CAREER RUSHING ATTEMPTS
1. Nate Campbell    1999-02 806
2. Austin Ekeler 2013- 765

CAREER PASSING ATTEMPTS
1. Brett Arrivey 2013- 982
2. Jason Davis 1993-96 827

CAREER PASSING YARDS
1. Jason Davis    1993-96    5,837
2. Jayson Merrill    1990-91    5,830
3. Brett Arrivey    2013-    5,625

CAREER PASSING COMPLETIONS
1. Brett Arrivey 2013- 586
2. Jason Davis 1993-96 418

CAREER RECEPTIONS
5. Jeremy Craighead    2000-03    136
6. Joe Wuebben    1995-98    132
7. Travis Haney    2012-    119

CAREER RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
4. Cory Davis    1989-92    31
5. Chaumont Bouknight 2001-04 26
     Austin Ekeler 2013- 26

CAREER PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
2. Jason Davis 1993-96 50
3. Eric Hannah 1997-98 46
4. Brett Arrivey 2013- 40

CAREER SCORING
3. Tyrone Johnson    1990-93    210
4. Sam Seale    1980-83    184
     Austin Ekeler    2013-    174

RECORD BREAKING GAMES
Here are the Western game records broken by week.

WEEK FOUR

GAME RUSHING YARDS
7.    Austin Ekeler at Adams State
    9/26/15    242

GAME PASSING COMPLETIONS
T-2.    Brett Arrivey at Adams State
    9/24/15    31

GAME RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
T-10. Austin Ekeler at Adams State
    9/24/15    3

GAME PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
T-6.    Brett Arrivey at Adams State
    9/24/15    4

GAME TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
T-2.    Kyle Adkins at Adams State
    9/24/15    2

WEEK TWO

GAME PASSING ATTEMPTS
1.    Brett Arrivey vs. Angelo State
    9/12/15    59

GAME COMPLETIONS
2.    Brett Arrivey vs. Angelo State
    9/12/15    31

LONG PUNT
5.    Dakota Swinehart vs. Angelo State
    9/12/15    69

WEEK ONE

GAME RUSHING YARDS
8.    Austin Ekeler at Northern Colorado
    9/5/15    226

GAME RUSHING ATTEMPTS
T-10.     Austin Ekeler at Northern Colorado
    9/5/15    32

GAME COMPLETIONS
T-6.    Brett Arrivey at Northern Colorado
    9/5/15    28

MOUNTAINEERS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
This is where individual Mountaineers rank in the top 25 of NCAA Division II stats.

RB - AUSTIN EKELER
    All-Purpose Yards Per Game - 3rd (218.00)
    Yards Per Carry - 11th (7.39)
    Rushing Yards - 8th (554)
    Rushing Yards Per Game - 1st (184.7)

QB - BRETT ARRIVEY
    Completions - 6th (105)
    Average Completions Per Game - 7th (26.25)
    Passing Yards - T-25th (1,094)

S - GERALD COLEMAN
    Average Yards Per Punt Return - 12th (16.8)

K - RYAN WINKE
    Field Goals Per Game - T-15th (1.50)

P - DAKOTA SWINEHART
    Average Punting Yards Per Punt - T-8th (44.0)

WR - KYLE ADKINS
    Touchdown Receptions - T-25th (4)

LB - JACOB BERNHARD
    Solo Tackles Per Game - 2nd (8.3)
    Total Tackles - 2nd (15.3)

MOUNTAINEERS IN THE RMAC RANKINGS
This is where individual Mountaineers rank in the top three of RMAC stats.

RB - AUSTIN EKELER
    Average Rushing Yards Per Game - 1st (184.7)
    Rushing Yards - 2nd (554)
    Rushing Touchdowns - T-2nd (5)
    All-Purpose Yards Per Game - 1st (218.0)
    Points Per Game - 3rd (10.0)

QB - BRETT ARRIVEY
    Average Passing Yards Per Game - 3rd (273.5)
    Passing Yards - 3rd (1,094)
    Completions - 3rd (105)
    Passing Attempts - 2nd (169)
    Total Offense Per Game - 3rd (263.3)
    Total Offense - 3rd (1,160)

K - RYAN WINKE
    Kicking Points Per Game - T-2nd (7.8)
    Field Goals - T-2nd (6)
    Field Goals Per Game - 2nd (1.5)

S - GERALD COLEMAN
    Yards Per Punt Return - 2nd (16.8)

P - DAKOTA SWINEHART
    Average Punting Yards Per Game - 1st (44.1)
    Long Punt - 2nd (69)

LB - JACOB BERNHARD
    Tackles Per Game - 1st (15.3)
    Total Tackles - 2nd (46)
    Solo Tackles - 2nd (25)

LB - JORDAN WOODYARD
    Tackles Per Game - 2nd (10.7)

S - GERALD COLEMAN
    Tackles Per Game - 3rd (10.3)

DE - DYLAN BOYCE
    Assisted Tackles For a Loss - 1st (5)

VERY SPECIAL TEAMS
Western's special teams have been going at full throttle this season. The Mountaineers blocked two extra points, and returned one for two points but was eventually called back because of illegal batting against Angelo State in week two. The Mountaineers also forced and recovered a fumble on kickoff coverage.
Senior Dakota Swinehart recorded 334 yards on seven punts, averaging 47.7 yards per punt. Kicking three punts over 50 yards, his longest of 69 yards ranks fifth all-time in Western's history. Swinehart pinned the Rams within their own 20-yard line three times in week two.

Gerald Coleman added another blocked kick for the Mountaineers against Adams State University in week three.

Through week four Western is ranked in the top 50 of net punting, punt returns and kickoff returns.

RMAC OPENERS
The Mountaineers have struggled winning the conference opener recently. Over the past 10 seasons, Western has a 1-10 record in their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference openers. The lone victory came against New Mexico Highlands University in 2006 on the road, with the Mountaineers winning 14-9.  On the road since 2005, Western has a record of 1-5 in RMAC openers. 

After falling in week two against CSU-Pueblo 20-10, Western is 1-1 against CSU-Pueblo in RMAC openers. The Mountaineers lost last season's RMAC opener against the ThunderWolves 23-26 in Gunnison. The only other meeting between the two schools in the conference opener came in 1976 when the Mountaineers travelled to Pueblo and won 17-6.

CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN
This year's captains on the offensive side are running back Austin Ekeler and quarterback Brett Arrivey. For the defense, linebackers Jacob Bernhard and Jordan Woodyard are captains. Punter Dakota Swinehart is Western's captain on special teams.

HOMECOMING GAMES
After losing to Angelo State the Mountaineers have won 27.3 percent (3-of-8) of homecoming games since 2008. Against out-of-state opponents during homecoming since 2008, Western has a record of 2-4. In last season's homecoming game, the Mountaineers defeated Adams State University 39-37 to win the Colorado Classic trophy. 

SEASON OPENERS
For the first time since 2010, Western opened the season against an opponent outside of the state of Texas. It was also be the first time since 2009 the Mountaineers played their season opener in the state of Colorado.

Western is 32-58 in season openers. Since 1995, the Mountaineers are 1-20 in season openers. Last season, Western defeated Wayland Baptist University 38-21 in the season opener. This season, the Mountaineers fell to the University of Northern Colorado 42-34. 

RECOGNIZABLE FACES
The Mountaineers will look familiar from a year ago as 15 starters return. Of those 15 returners, 10 earned All-RMAC honors. The offense returns nine starters, while the defense returns six. Western also returns their starting punter and place kicker, both of which also earned all-conference honors.

Offensive Starters Returning (9)
WR Kyle Adkins (28 rec, 291 yds, 4 TD) QB Brett Arrivey (233-394-13, 2,456 yds, 17 TD) WR Darren Brady (30 rec, 430 yds, 2 TD) OL Chase Cline (7 GS) RB Austin Ekeler (298 att, 1,676 yds, 14 TD; 38 rec, 417 yds, 2 TD) WR Travis Haney (63 rec, 610 yds, 4 TD) OL Jared Mendicino (10 GS) OL Holden Rexius (10 GS) OL Landis Rowe-Dooley (10 GS)

Defensive Starters Returning (6)
DL Victor Alvarez (28 TT, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack) LB Jacob Bernhard (40 TT, 4 TFL, 2 sacks) DL Thomas Chavira (42 TT, 8.5 TFL, 5 sacks) DB Gerald Coleman (54 TT, 4 INT, 10 PBU) DB Mike Lopez (62 TT, 1 TFL, 2 FR) DL Austin Yurko (40 TT, 3.5 TFL)

Specialists Returning (2)
P Dakota Swinehart (53 punts, 43.7 avg, 2,315 yds, 25 I-20, 16 50+, 2 KO) PK Ryan Winke (19-24 FG, 27-31 PAT, 8 KO)

PRESEASON HONORS
Here's a look at Western's preseason honors through Aug. 30.

PRESEASON ALL-ROCKY MOUNTAIN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
RB Austin Ekeler (Jr., Eaton, Colorado)
DB Gerald Coleman (Sr., Richmond, Texas)
PK Ryan Winke (Jr., Aurora, Colorado)
P Dakota Swinehart (Sr., Taos, New Mexico)

HERO SPORTS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
P Dakota Swinehart (Sr., Taos, New Mexico)

PRESEASON STANDINGS
After finishing last season tied for sixth place in the RMAC, Western was picked to finish fifth in the annual RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Mountaineers improved their win total by three games in 2014 from the season before, ending with a 4-7 overall record and 3-6 conference mark.

2015 RMAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. CSU-Pueblo (9) – 81 points
2. Colorado Mines (1) – 72 points
3. Chadron State – 62 points
4. Colorado Mesa – 56 points
5. Western State Colo. – 47 points
6. Adams State – 41 points
7. Western New Mexico – 29 points
8. Fort Lewis – 27 points
9. Black Hills State – 22 points
10. NM Highlands – 13 points