This recap is presented by MAA Corporate Partner Mario's Pizza & Pasta

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GUNNISON, Colo. – The Western State Colorado University football team started the 2016 season on Saturday. It was the first opening day matchup against Colorado Mesa University in school history. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, they will have to wait until next season to earn an opening day victory over CMU.
 
CMU (1-0, 1-0 RMAC) took control of the game in the second quarter and went on to defeat Western (0-1, 0-1 RMAC) 34-14.
 
Although the Mavericks led for the much of the game, Western did have chances to take control of the game.
 
After CMU broke the scoring open with a 53-yard pass, Western answered with Austin Ekeler (Sr., Eaton, Colorado) running the ball three yards for a score to tie the game at 7-7.
 
Western was unable to take the lead as CMU scored the following 17 points. The next Mountaineer score would come at the 5:59 mark of the third quarter to make the score 24-14 in favor of the Mavericks. This time it was quarterback Cameron Shumway (RSo., Blanding, Utah) running the ball three yards for the Western score.
 
The Maverick defense held firm and kept Western from scoring for the rest of the game.
 
On offense, Ekeler led the game in rushing with 110 yards on 19 carries. Mountaineer quarterback Brett Arrivey (Sr., Woodinville, Washington) recorded 168 yards passing finding Rodray Perkins (So., Mesquite, Texas) six times for 43 yards. Markeith McDonald also caught four passes for 44 yards.
 
Defensively, linebacker Jordan Woodyard (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colorado) led the game in tackles with 12, including 1.5 tackles for a loss. Woodyard also had two quarterback hurries.
 
Besides turning the ball over on downs, no turnovers were recorded by either team on Saturday.
 
The Mountaineers will continue the season next Saturday against Adams State University in the Colorado Classic. Saturday's game starts at 2 p.m. and Western will honor the 2016 Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame inductees at halftime.