GUNNISON, Colo. - On Senior Day in Gunnison, Western State Colorado University left it all on the field. The Mountaineers continually fought through adversity but fell to No. 21 Colorado Mesa University by a field goal, 31-28.

Western (4-7, 4-5 RMAC) found themselves down 15 points with 13:31 remaining in the game against CMU (9-2, 8-1 RMAC). The Mountaineers rallied and tied the game at 28 points with 8:47 left to play. However, on the following drive, the Mavericks took the ball 71 yards down the field in 7:17 seconds. CMU kicked a 38-yard field goal and took the lead 31-28 with 1:24 left on the clock. The Mountaineers were unable to move the ball on the final drive and fell to the 21st ranked Mavericks.

The Mountaineers began the game with a 6-0 lead after two Ryan Winke (Jr., Aurora, Colorado) field goals in the first quarter. The Mavericks broke through in the second quarter, scoring the first touchdown of the game at the 11:03 mark. However, Western responded with a touchdown of their own. Isaac Fuqua (So., Houston, Texas) took the ball 31-yards for the score at the 2:17 mark of the second quarter. Fuqua led all players with 139 yards on the ground, a career high for the sophomore.

Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, CMU would get a touchdown with 33 seconds left in the first half to take a 14-13 lead into the break. Out of halftime, the Mavericks scored twice to make the score 28-13.

Western forced two early Maverick turnovers. Jacob Bernhard (Sr., Fort Lupton, Colorado) recorded his first career interception, setting up Winke's second field goal and Gerald Coleman (Sr., Richmond, Texas) made an interception on CMU's following possession.

Bernhard recorded 11 tackles in the game and a half tackle for a loss. Bernhard's 149 tackles in 2015 is the fourth most season tackles in school history. Jordan Woodyard (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colorado) led the team in tackles with 12, recording one tackle for a loss.

Quarterback Brett Arrivey (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) threw for 274 yards and one touchdown. Arrivey ends the season with 2,909 passing yards, the second most passing yards in a season in school history.

Receiver Kyle Adkins (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) led the Mountaineers in receiving yards with 83 yards on four catches. Adkins' 56 season receptions is the 10th most in school history. 

The Mountaineer offense ended the season with the third most yards in school history at 5,315, finished with the fifth most rushing yards at 2,324 and third in passing yards at 2,973.

There were a total of 18 penalties called on Saturday, resulting in 164 yards.

Running back Austin Ekeler (Jr., Eaton, Colorado) was forced out of the game early in the second quarter due to an injury.