GUNNISON, Colo. - On Saturday, Western State Colorado University football will be looking to spoil Fort Lewis College's homecoming game. This Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) matchup will start at high noon in Durango, Colorado.

Western (3-2, 3-2 RMAC) enters Saturday in a tie with Colorado School of Mines for fourth place in the RMAC. After winning three straight games, the Mountaineers are coming off a 28-20 loss to Dixie State University last week.

FLC (1-4, 1-4 RMAC) are in a tie for ninth place in the conference standings. Despite the Skyhawks' record, FLC has played some of the better conference opponents very close. Last week the Skyhawks fell to CSM 45-35. FLC's only win of the season came against Adams State University in week three. The Skyhawks defeated the Grizzlies 21-16 in Alamosa, Colorado.

Fans unable to make Saturday's homecoming 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 will be the 55th meeting between Fort Lewis College and Western. The Mountaineers hold a 40-14 series advantage, but lost the last meeting 24-39 in 2015.
 
In Durango, the Mountaineers have a record of 22-7. The last Western win against FLC and consequently the last win in Durango came in 2014. Western defeated the Skyhawks 27-26.
 
Since 2008, the average margin of victory between the two programs has been seven points.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past six games played between Western and Fort Lewis, the away team has been the victor.
 
This streak dates back to 2010 when the Mountaineers won 27-24 in Durango.
 
In the last 14 games played in Durango, the Mountaineers have won 12. FLC is 6-2 in the last eight games played in Gunnison.
 
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 (995) and rushing yards per game (199). He is second in all-purpose yards with 1,132 and all-purpose yards per game with 226.4, trailing Division III's Trevor Heitland of Coe College.
 
The senior running back is also the NCAA active career leader across all divisions in rushing yards (5,357) and second in rushing yards per game (153.1).
 
STARTING AND ENDING WITH A BANG
Through the first four weeks of the season, Western has outscored opponents 59-17 in the first quarter. The only team to score in the first quarter of play this season was 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 four games, Western has outscored opponents 52-10 in the first quarter.
 
To finish the game, Western has outscored opponents 44-26 in the fourth quarter. Against Mines two weeks ago, the Mountaineers outscored the Orediggers 24-0 in the final 15 minutes.
 
TACKLES FOR TWINS
Twin brothers Cade and Carter Wasser are currently leading the Mountaineer defense in tackles. Linebacker Carter leads the team with 42 tackles, while defensive back Cade is second with 39. Carter also leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.
 
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.
 
The win 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 3-2 through the first five games was in 1995. The Mountaineers won four of their last five games, tying Fort Hays State in their final game to win an RMAC title. Western also defeated FLC in week six in Durango, 26-8.
 
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.
 
Colorado Mesa University, now ranked 17/23, was unranked when the Mountaineers played the Mavericks in week one of the 2016 season.
 
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.
 
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.