GUNNISON, Colo. – Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title implications are on the line Saturday when Western State Colorado University hosts CSU-Pueblo. The Senior Day game will get underway at 1 p.m. in Mountaineer Bowl.
 
Western (6-2, 6-2 RMAC) is tied for the conference lead and coming off a 58-0 trouncing of New Mexico Highlands University. With two conference games remaining, Western can clinch at least a share of the RMAC title with wins over CSU-Pueblo and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
 
Right behind Western is CSU-Pueblo (5-3, 5-2 RMAC). The Thunderwolves are only a half-game behind the Mountaineers and Mavericks. With only two losses, a win for CSU-Pueblo over Western would keep their hopes for an RMAC title alive.
 
The Thunderwolves have won the past three games, including a 49-14 win over Black Hills State University last weekend.
 
CSU-Pueblo boasts one of the best run stopping defenses in Division II. Saturday will be a big test for the Thunderwolves going up against the NCAA leader across all divisions in rushing yards; Western's Austin Ekeler.
 
Saturday will be the final game in Mountaineer Bowl for 27 seniors. Each will be honored before the game, with ceremonies starting at 12:40 p.m.
 
Fans unable to make Saturday's game will be able to follow all the action live over the internet (live stats, live video) and social media (@WSCUMountaineer, @MountaineerFB).
 
GAME NOTES
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game marks the 26th meeting between CSU-Pueblo and Western. The Thunderwolves have won all eight meetings since CSU-Pueblo reinstated football in 2008.
 
The Thunderwolves hold a 14-9 advantage in the all-time series. Prior to reinstatement, Western won 9-of-15 meetings.
 
In Gunnison, Western has a 5-6 record against the Thunderwolves. The last win for the Mountaineers over CSU-Pueblo in Gunnison came in 1984. It was also the last win for Western in the series.
 
CHASING A CHAMPIONSHIP
Through week eight, Western is tied for first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with Colorado Mesa University, also with a 6-2 conference record.
 
Two other teams, CSU-Pueblo and Colorado Mines are tied for second place with just two losses. These two schools have a record of 5-2.
 
Saturday's contest is pivotal for both schools as each need a win to continue to keep hopes alive for at least a share of the conference championship.
 
Western can clinch a share of the conference title with wins over CSU-Pueblo and S.D. Mines in the final RMAC games of the season.
 
The last time Western won an RMAC title was in 1998.
 
CSU-Pueblo would clinch a share of the conference title with wins over Western, Dixie State and Chadron State.
 
CLINCHING A WINNING RECORD
Western guaranteed a winning season for the first time in 14 years with a 58-0 win over NMHU on week eight. The last winning season was in 2002 when the Mountaineers finished with a 6-5 record.
 
The win over the Cowboys, also clinched a winning RMAC record for the first time in 15 years. The Mountaineers went 5-3 in conference play during the 2001 season.
 
HARLON HILL CALLING
After being a candidate last season for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Heisman Trophy of Division II, Austin Ekeler is not only putting up top numbers in DII, but across all NCAA divisions.
 
Ekeler is the NCAA leader in rushing yards (1,400), is third in rushing yards per game (175.0) and is third in all-purpose yards with 1,641.
 
The senior running back is also the NCAA active career leader across all divisions in rushing yards (5,762) and second in rushing yards per game (151.6).
 
EARNING WINS
Defeating then ranked No. 23 Colorado School of Mines in week four, 45-31, gave the Mountaineers three straight wins. The last time Western earned three consecutive wins was in 2009. A win over NMHU once again gave Western three straight wins.
 
The win against CSM also propelled Western to a 3-1 record. The last time Western started a season with three wins in four games was in 1997. That year the Mountaineers won an RMAC title and started the season 5-1.
 
Since 1997, Western has won three straight in five other seasons (1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2009).
 
The last time Western began the season with a record of 6-2 through the first eight games was in 1997. The 1997 Mountaineers finished the season with a 9-3 record, winning the RMAC title with a 7-1 record. 1997 was also the last time Western made the playoffs.
 
At 6-2 heading into week nine, the Mountaineers have matched the most program wins since 2002. The six RMAC wins is the most since 1998, the last time Western won the RMAC title.
 
STARTING AND ENDING WITH A BANG
Through the first eight weeks of the season, Western has outscored opponents 73-17 in the first quarter. Only two teams have scored on the Mountaineers in the first quarter of play this season (Colorado Mesa and Colorado School of Mines). The Mavericks and Mountaineers were tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter, while score was 14-10 against Mines.
 
In the last seven games, Western has outscored opponents 66-10 in the first quarter.
 
To finish the game, Western has outscored opponents 68-26 in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers have held four teams scoreless in the final 15 minutes this season (CSM, Fort Lewis, Black Hills State, and New Mexico Highlands).
 
TACKLES FOR TWINS
Twin brothers Cade and Carter Wasser are currently leading the Mountaineer defense in tackles. Linebacker Carter leads the team with 57 tackles, while defensive back Cade is second with 54. Carter also leads the team with 9.0 tackles for loss and is tied for second with 3.0 sacks.
 
SHUTDOWN AND SHUTOUT
With a 27-0 victory over Black Hills State University in week seven, Western earned the first shutout win in 15 years. The last shutout victory came in 2001 when the Mountaineers defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State in Goodwell, Okla.
 
Prior to the win over BHSU, the last Western shutout victory in Gunnison also came against Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2000. The Mountaineers won that game 83-0.
 
With a 58-0 win over New Mexico Highlands in week eight, it was the first time since the 1976 season the Mountaineers have posted consecutive shutout victories.
 
STOPPING THE RUN
Western's defense has been good against the run all season long, holding opponents to less than 125 yards in four of eight games played this season.
 
Twice they have held opponents to less than 100 yards rushing (Adams State - 71, Colorado Mines - 93).
 
RMAC RECORD SETTER
Western running back is climbing the RMAC's all-time records list. With 5,762 career rushing yards Ekeler is 194 yards from moving into second place all-time behind Danny Woodhead (7,962). Former CSU-Pueblo running back Cameron McDondle is currently in second place with 5,956 yards.
 
Ekeler's 55 career rushing touchdowns is currently the third most in RMAC history, needing two more to move into second. McDondle is also second with 56 touchdowns behind Woodhead's 101 career rushing touchdowns.
 
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Western dominated New Mexico Highlands in week eight, winning 58-0. The Mountaineers' offense put up 703 yards of total offense which is third best all-time in school history.
 
With 459 of those yards coming on the ground, it marked the second most single game rushing yards in Western history.
 
ENDING THE STREAK
On week three, Western defeated Chadron State 24-15 on the road. It was the first time since 1997 the Mountaineers defeated the Eagles and the first time since 1995 Western won in Chadron.
 
The Mountaineers also won an RMAC title in 1995.

RMAC ALL-ACADEMIC
The RMAC announced the annual RMAC Football Academic awards on Oct. 17. For the second time in his career, Western running back Austin Ekeler was named an RMAC Football Academic Player of the Year. A total of 12 Mountaineers were named to RMAC All-Academic teams.
 
Ekeler was named the 2016 RMAC Football Academic Offensive Player of the Year and was a First Team Offensive All-Academic selection. Teammate Austin Yurko was the only other Mountaineer to make a first team. The defensive lineman was named to the First Team Defensive All-Academic team.
 
Honor roll selections: Quincy Campbell, Vince Grasso, Brett Arrivey, Steve D'Epagnier, Billy Marr, Cody Powers, Reeve Sanders, Eddie Schroder, Alex Weber, and David Wilson.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
After Western defeated Fort Lewis on Oct. 8, the away team has been the victor over the past seven games played between the two programs
 
This streak dates back to 2010 when the Mountaineers won 27-24 in Durango.
 
In the last 15 games played in Durango, the Mountaineers have won 13. FLC is 6-2 in the last eight games played in Gunnison. In Durango, the Mountaineers have a record of 23-7.
 
RMAC OPENERS
The Mountaineers have struggled winning the conference opener recently. Over the past 11 seasons, Western has a 1-11 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.
 
After falling in week one against CMU 34-14, Western is 0-1 against the Mavericks in RMAC openers.
 
IN THE BEEHIVE STATE
Western's struggles in the state of Utah continued in week five. Despite it being the first game against Dixie State University in program history, Western had played 74 games against teams from Utah. The Mountaineers now have a 31-44 record against teams from the Beehive State and a 14-31 record on Utah soil.
 
Prior to week five, the last time Western played a team in Utah was during the 2005 season. The Mountaineers fell at Weber State 61-0. The last Western win in Utah came in 1979 against Southern Utah. The Mountaineers won 56-14.
 
HOMECOMING
With a 45-31 win over Colorado School of Mines on week four during Western's Homecoming, the Mountaineers have won 44.4 percent (4-of-9) of homecoming games since 2008. In last season's homecoming game, the Mountaineers lost to No. 12 Angelo State University 48-20. Since 2008, Western has a 4-4 record against RMAC opponents on homecoming.
 
The last Mountaineer homecoming victory before this season came against Adams State University (39-37) in 2014.
 
HALL OF FAME GAME
Sept. 10 was Western's Hall of Fame Game. The Friday night before, Western Athletics inducted former women's diver Mary Ann Anderson (Zeylmaker), football player James Hawkins, track and field athlete Jerry Hollingshead, distance runner Dennis Leck, and Ed Ali as the Lifetime Athletic Achievement Award Recipient into the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame. The class of 2016 is the 22nd class to enter the MSHOF.
 
After defeating Adams State 56-25 in the 70th Colorado Classic, Western is 3-4 in Hall of Fame games since 2010. The Mountaineers have won the three of the past four, defeating New Mexico Highlands University in 2013 by a score of 33-27, Black Hills State University in 2014 by a score of 34-13, and losing 31-24 to Chadron State College last season.
 
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
After defeating then ranked No. 23 Colorado School of Mines 45-31 in week four, Western has won the past two games against ranked opponents. The Mountaineers defeated No. 21 Mines in week 10 last season.
 
BHSU was receiving votes in the week seven AFCA Poll a week after defeating then ranked No. 13 Colorado Mesa. Western defeated BHSU 27-0.
 
The Mountaineers were receiving votes after the win over CSM.
 
SEASON OPENERS
Western is 32-59 in season openers. Since 1995, the Mountaineers are 1-21 in season openers. Last season, Western lost a close fought battle to Division I opponent the University of Northern Colorado 34-42 on the road in the season opener. The last opening day win came in 2014 against Wayland Baptist, 38-21, on the road. The last season opening win in Gunnison came against Northern Colorado in 1994, when the Mountaineers won 31-26 and went on to win the RMAC title.
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
After upsetting No. 23 Colorado School of Mines in week four, the Mountaineer offense and defense were rewarded with a pair of player of the week honors.
 
On offense, Austin Ekeler rushed for 316 yards and recorded five touchdowns in Western State's 45-31 upset of Mines. He rushed for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a career long run of 88-yards while scoring touchdowns on both of his receptions in the game. Already the school all-time leader in rushing yards, he became the leader in rushing attempts and career scoring on Saturday.
 
On defense, Carter Wasser tied a game-high 10 tackles, all of which were solo. He also had two sacks and three tackles for loss in the win. He is currently tied for third in the conference for sacks (3), as well as in tackles for loss (5).
 
It was the second week in-a-row Ekeler has been named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week. Ekeler was also named the NFFCC Player of the Week in week three.
 
Ekeler ran for the second most yards in his career on week three. The senior accounted for 283 yards on the ground, which also ranks as the seventh most single game rushing yards in school history.