ALAMOSA, Colo. - Western State Colorado University football was unable to hold onto the lead Saturday night in the Colorado Classic and fell to Adams State University 52-51 in double overtime. 

After cruising to a 42-13 halftime lead, Western (0-4, 0-2 RMAC) looked like they were going to walk away with a victory in the Colorado Classic. However, ASU (1-3, 1-1 RMAC) scored 29 unanswered second half points to force overtime. After both teams made a field goal in the first overtime, Adams State scored a touchdown and made the extra point to go ahead seven points, 52-45. Quarterback Brett Arrivey (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) and Kyle Adkins (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) connected for a three-yard touchdown to put Western down one point, 52-51. The Mountaineers decided to go for two and end the game. Arrivey dropped back to pass for the two-point conversion but was pressured up the middle and his pass fell to the ground, incomplete.

A true tale of two halves, Western controlled nearly every facet of the game in the first half. The Mountaineer offense was led by Arrivey and running back Austin Ekeler (Jr., Eaton, Colorado). Arrivey threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. Ekeler ran for 187 yards, finding the end zone twice on the ground. Arrivey would record 333 passing yards on the day and four touchdowns. Ekeler finished the game with 242 yards rushing and three touchdowns, which moves him into fourth all-time in career rushing yards (3,279) and into a tie for fifth most career touchdowns with Chaumont Bouknight (2001-04) who also scored 26 touchdowns.

Western's 42 first-half points are the most points scored in a half by the Mountaineers since scoring 40 at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Oct. 20, 2007.

In the second half, Adams began moving the ball and took control of the contest after scoring a 20-yard touchdown pass with 8:39 left to play in the third quarter. Forcing Western to continue punting, ASU slowly began their comeback.

After forcing the Mountaineers to punt, ASU took the ball over on their own 16-yard line with 2:53 remaining, down 42-35. The Grizzlies drove down the field and punched it into the end zone with 30 seconds left to play, tying the game at 42 points.

Leading the Mountaineer defense in tackles for the third straight game was linebacker Jacob Bernhard (Sr., Fort Lupton, Colorado). Bernhard recorded 14 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one sack. The Mountaineers have had a defensive player record 14 or more tackles in every game this season.

Cornerback Isaiah Jackson (Jr., Oxnard, California) recorded the only takeaway for the Mountaineers. Jackson intercepted ASU's Johnny Feauto in the first quarter.

Safety Gerald Coleman blocked an ASU 40-yd field goal attempt on the Grizzlies' first possession of the game, keeping the score tied, 0-0.

After a tough defeat, the Mountaineers will look to rebound next week in the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame game against Chadron State University at 1 p.m. in Mountaineer Bowl.