SILVER CITY, New Mexico –
Austin Ekeler broke a 59-year old school record as he rushed for 344 yards, leading Western State Colorado University to a 45-28 victory over Western New Mexico University. The Mountaineers extend their winning streak to three for the first time since 2009. They look to win a fourth-straight, something that hasn't been done since the 1998 RMAC Championship team, when they take on Fort Lewis College next Saturday in Gunnison. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
On top of rewriting the school individual game rushing record, Ekeler also tied the record for touchdowns in a game with five, and finished in the top-ten records in game attempts and longest run. Ekeler scored five touchdowns from distances of 83 yards (sixth longest in school history and a new career-record), 65, 23, eight and four yards. His five ties Bill Schmalz's 1957 record against Adams State. Ekeler's 33 attempts is tied for ninth all-time, 11 shy of his career-record set last season.
Ekeler was close to rewriting the RMAC records as well, just one touchdown away from the RMAC record in rushing touchdowns and 37 yards off the rushing total record set in 1928.
The team rushed for 429 yards, good for second in the school records. A huge part of that was punter
Dakota Swinehart, who took a fake punt to the house for a 69 yard touchdown in the third quarter.
The record setting didn't stop on the offensive side though.
Jacob Bernhard put himself into the record books by recording 20 total tackles, including eight solo, three for loss and a sack. His 20 tackles ties
Jaden Terry for fifth all-time. Bernhard also had a pair of quarterback hurries, which if had been turned into tackles would have given him the school record of 22.
The Mountaineer defense was stout, holding the No.1-ranked passing offense in the nation to 366 yards and three touchdowns while picking them off twice. Western State's
Isaiah Jackson and
Cade Wasser each picked off Western N.M's Mitch Glassman, one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
Also for the Mountaineers,
Jordan Woodyard recorded a season-best 13 tackles.
Another record that was broken sadly was the consecutive games with a passing touchdown. Quarterback
Brett Arrivey threw for 178 yards on 28 attempts, completing 18 of his passes. This was the first game in 13 dating back to last season that Arrivey didn't connect in the end zone.
