GUNNISON, Colo. – For 22:06 minutes Western State Colorado University football kept Dixie State University scoreless on Saturday in Mountaineer Bowl. Unfortunately, the Mountaineers were unable to grab a win on Homecoming, falling to the Trailblazers 15-12.
 
It was a tight game as every possession was significant on Saturday. Both teams had opportunities and each team threatened to put the game out of reach of for their opponent.
 
Western (0-5, 0-5 RMAC) went ahead 9-0 after defensive lineman Brenden Hisao scooped a fumble in the backfield and ran it into the end zone from five-yard out at the 11:53 mark of the second quarter.
 
Kicker Max Smith had put Western ahead 3-0 with a 33-yard field goal in the first quarter. It would be the first of two field goals for Smith. Smith would convert a career-long 43 yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
 
Dixie State (2-3, 2-2 RMAC) would cut the Western lead to three points after scoring a touchdown on a one-yard run at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter. Western thwarted the two-point attempt by the Trailblazers after the snap was mismanaged.
 
Heading into halftime, the game was tied at nine points after a 23-yard field goal by Dixie State with 14 seconds remaining.
 
The Trailblazers took the lead, scoring the only touchdown of the second half with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter. Lika Palmer ran it into the end zone from 35 yards out, giving the Trailblazers a 15-9 lead.
 
Hisao provided the first score of the season for Western's defense. Taj Hoard and Lane Farris led the Mountaineer defense with 11 tackles each.
 
Rico Tipton was Western's leading rusher with 61 yards. Tipton had a few runs where he broke through the line and nearly broke a few runs for huge gains.
 
Quarterback Dylan Jacob threw for 102 yards. The true freshman has thrown for over 100 yards in each of the five games this season.
 
Dixie State's Sei-J Lauago led all players with 111 yards rushing. Quarterback Malik Watson threw for 131 yards.
 
Western will continue the home stand next Saturday against Fort Lewis College. The Mountaineers and Skyhawks will play in the annual Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame game at 1 p.m. in Mountaineer Bowl.