GUNNISON, Colo. - Western State Colorado University football dominated from start to finish against New Mexico Highlands University Saturday. The Mountaineers defeated the Cowboys 56-7, holding NMHU scoreless through three quarters.

Western (2-5, 2-3 RMAC) went 57 yards in 1:33 to open the game. The drive ended with a Mountaineer touchdown, courtesy of a Kyle Adkins (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) end-around from six yards out. It would be the first of eight Mountaineer touchdowns in the game.

Adkins, Mountaineer quarterback Brett Arrivey (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) and running back Austin Ekeler (Jr., Eaton, Colorado) each found the end zone three times. Arrivey threw for three touchdown passes, two of which went to Adkins. Arrivey has passed for two or more touchdowns in four straight games and has thrown two or more touchdown passes in six of seven games this season.

Ekeler added three more scores on the ground, rushing for 139 yards in the game. With 3,667 career yards rushing, Ekeler moves into second place all-time at Western for rushing yards, surpassing Nate Campbell who rushed for 3,619 yards from 1999-2002.

The Mountaineers would score 42 first-half points, denying NMHU (0-7, 0-5 RMAC) any points. Western scored one third quarter touchdown to make the score 49-0 before the Cowboys hit pay-dirt at the 13:37 mark of the fourth quarter. It would be NMHU's only score of the game.

Western's defense kept the Cowboy offense off balance all day, holding NMHU to 79 yards passing. It was the first time since 2013 Western held an opponent to 100 or fewer yards passing. Western's defensive backs force two interceptions. Cade Wasser (So., Cedaredge, Colorado) recorded his second interception of the season, while senior safety Mike Lopez (Sr., Centennial, Colorado) made his first interception of the season.

Leading the Mountaineers in tackles once again was linebacker Jacob Bernhard (Sr., Fort Lupton, Colorado). Bernhard recorded a game high 15 tackles. It is the sixth consecutive game Bernhard has recorded 14 or more tackles in a game. Western's had at least one defender record 14 or more tackles all seven games this season. Bernhard also recorded a game high five tackles for a loss, while recording 1.5 sacks.

After returning a kickoff for a touchdown last week, Western's special teams scored another touchdown, this time on a punt return. Senior Gerald Coleman (Sr., Richmond, Texas) returned the NMHU punt 78 yards for the score. It was the first Western punt return scored for a touchdown since 2009. Coleman recorded 102 yards on five punt returns. It's the most punt return yards for a Mountaineer since EJ Kreis recorded 83 against NMHU in 2013.

Western will continue the season next Saturday when they travel to Silver City, New Mexico. The Mountaineers will face Western New Mexico University at 12 p.m. in Ben Altamirano Memorial Stadium.