GUNNISON, Colo. - The Mountaineers of Western State Colorado University will take to the road for their fourth football contest of the season on Saturday. Western will travel to Golden, Colorado to face the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers at 12 p.m. from Marv Kay Stadium at Campbell Field.

The two schools will meet for the 93rd time to renew the longest continual rivalry in the state of Colorado.

Western (0-3, 0-3 RMAC) is still searching for their first win of the season. The Mountaineers are coming off a loss to Chadron State College last weekend in Gunnison.

The young Mountaineers are led by true freshman quarterback Dylan Jacob. Jacob ranks ninth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in total offense, averaging 203.7 yards per game.

CSM (1-2, 1-2 RMAC) is coming off a heartbreaking 38-36 loss to Colorado Mesa University last weekend. The Mavericks kicked a field goal to defeat the Orediggers as time expired.

The Orediggers' running back Cameron Mayberry leads the conference in rushing yards with 410 yards through three games. Mayberry averages 136.7 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry.

Fans can join other Mountaineer faithful prior to the game at 10 a.m. for a tailgate hosted by Western Alumni. Look for the red alumni tent, and wear your crimson and slate colors. Fan can also RSVP for the tailgate by clicking here.

Those unable to attend Saturday's game in Golden, can follow all the action live over the internet (live stats, live video) and on social media (@WSCUMountaineer, @MountaineerFB). The game will also be broadcasted in the Gunnison Valley over the air waves on 98.3 FM The Edge.

GAME NOTES

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game will be the 93rd meeting between Western and the Colorado School of Mines. The Mountaineers hold a commanding 52-37-2 lead on the series. The matchup between Colorado Mines and Western is the longest continual rivalry in the state of Colorado.
 
Western has won the last two matchups, including the last game in Golden, 45-42 on Nov. 7, 2015. Both wins came against the Orediggers while they were ranked in the top-25 in Division II.
 
In Golden, Western has a 22-21-2 record at CSM. The Mountaineers' win in 2015 broke an eight-game win streak by the Orediggers over Western, and a six game win streak in Golden against the Mountaineers.
 
CSM is 1-0 in home games this season, defeating New Mexico Highlands University 70-0 on Sept. 9.
 
LAST WEEK
WESTERN - The Mountaineers lost to Chadron State College 49-7 in Western's home opening game of the 2017 season. True freshman Dylan Jacob led the Mountaineers in passing with 101 yards. Justice Macneal-Young led the team in rushing with 32 yards. The Mountaineer defense forced two fumbles and blocked a punt.
 
CSM - The Orediggers lost to Colorado Mesa University 38-36. The Mavericks kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. CSM's Cameron Mayberry ran for 151 yards on a program-record 39 carries. Quarter back Ben Bottlinger threw for a career-high 370 yards and four touchdowns.
 
4TH QUARTER FIREWORKS
The Mountaineers have been winning the fourth quarter, this season and last. In two games (Colorado Mesa and Adams State) this year, Western has shutout their opponents, outscoring them 20-0 in the final quarter.
 
This year, Western is outscoring their opponents 20-7 in the final 15 minutes of play.
 
Since last season, Western has outscored opponents 95-40 in the fourth.
 
Last season, Western outscored opponents 75-33 in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers held six teams scoreless in the final 15 minutes last season (Colorado Mines, Fort Lewis, Black Hills State, New Mexico Highlands, CSU-Pueblo, and S.D. Mines).
 
THE BAINS REIGN
Western Head Coach Jas Bains is one win away from tying Paul Wright (1935-47) for the sixth most wins by a Mountaineer football coach at 20.
 
Bains is also three more games away from tying Wright for the fourth most games coached in Western program history at 72. By the end of the season, Bains should have the third most games coached with 77, moving past Wright at 72 and Pete Pederson (1953-60) at 74.

HOME OPENERS
Western is 44-46-2 in home openers. The last time Western won their home opening game of the season came on Sept. 19, 1998. The Mountaineers defeated Mesa State
College, now Colorado Mesa University, 42-6.
 
The Mountaineers lost to Chadron State College 49-7 during this season's home opener. Western has hosted Chadron three other times in their home opening game of the season. The series is now 1-2-1.
 
COLORADO CLASSIC
The rivalry between Adams State University and Western State Colorado University is the second longest continual rivalry in the state of Colorado.
 
These two programs have been playing each other every year since 1950. The winner of the Colorado Classic earns the right to possess the Colorado Classic Trophy, which travels to the winning institution. The trophy currently now resides at Adams State after they took this year's matchup 51-14.
 
The longest continual rivalry in Colorado is between Western State and Colorado School of Mines. The two schools have played 92 games, dating back to 1925.
 
SEASON OPENERS
Western is 32-60 in season openers. Since 1995, the Mountaineers are 1-22 in season openers. This season, Western lost to CMU 49-23 in the season opener. The last opening day win came in 2014 against Wayland Baptist, 38-21, on the road.
 
Of their 32 season opening wins, Western has finished those seasons with a winning record 19 times (59.4%) and won the conference title 12 times (37.5%).
 
RMAC OPENERS
The Mountaineers have struggled winning the conference opener recently. Over the past 13 seasons, Western has a 1-12 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.
 
Western lost the 2017 RMAC opener to Colorado Mesa 49-23.
 
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
After defeating then ranked No. 23 Colorado School of Mines 45-31 in week four last season, and losing to No. 23 Colorado Mesa 49-23 this season, Western has won the past 2-of-3 games against ranked opponents. The Mountaineers defeated No. 21 Mines in week 10 of 2015.
 
NEW FACES WITH THE BALL
After four seasons with the same starting quarterback and running back, the Mountaineer offense will begin a new era. Quarterback Brett Arrivey and running back Austin Ekeler were a staple of the Western offense, each planting their names in the record book over the past four seasons. This season, there are eight quarterbacks on the roster vying for the starting spot and nine running backs.
 
LAST SEASON
Last season, the Mountaineers' seven overall wins and seven wins in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is the most for the program since the 1998 season. Western finished the season in fourth place. However, the Mountaineers were just one win away from earning a share of the conference title.

NEW PERSONNEL
Four new coaches were added to the Western staff before the 2017 season. On the offensive side, Robby Case (offensive coordinator), and Matt Kemp (tight ends) are both first-time Mountaineers. On the defensive side, the Mountaineers bring in a new defensive backs coach with Shane Zimmerman and a new linebackers coach in Jordan Mulloy.
 
RECORD WATCH
These Mountaineers have reached the peak or are climbing the
Western all-time lists.
 
CAREER KICK RETURN YARDS
1. Jimmy Evans      1997-00   1,393
2. Mark Jones          2011-14   1,020
3. Rodray Perkins   2015-          940