GUNNISON, Colo. – Western Colorado University hosted the 12^th-ranked Colorado School of Mines Orediggers on Saturday for the Mountaineers' Homecoming. The Orediggers' second-ranked offense in Division II proved too much for the Mountaineers as Western fell 44-16.
 
Western (0-6, 0-5 RMAC) kept the Orediggers' offense in-check for as long as they could. CSM (6-0, 6-0 RMAC) got on the scoreboard with 6:01 left in the first quarter, following a 12-yard touchdown pass.
 
However, this score setup the Mountaineers' first points of the game. On the Oredigger extra-point attempt, Jacob Banegas rushed through the line and blocked the kick. David Velazquez scooped the ball off the turf and ran it 90-yards into the end zone for Western.
 
Western ended the first quarter trailing CSM 6-2.
 
The Mountaineers scored their first touchdown of the game in the third quarter on a nine-yard pass from Dylan Jacob to Jordan Barton in the back corner of the end zone.  
 
Barton had both Mountaineer touchdowns on Saturday. His second came on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Easton Bruere in the fourth quarter. Barton led the team in receptions with four for 53 yards.
 
Bryce Harvey was Western's leader in receiving yards, recording 55 yards on two receptions.
 
Punter Garrett Boyd had a big day, recording 381 yards on nine attempts. Boyd also placed four within the Orediggers 20 yard line and kicked two over 50 yards.
 
Linebacker Lane Farris and Velazquez led all players in tackles with eight.
 
Western's leading rusher Isaac Fuqua did not play on Saturday due to injury. Quarterback Cameron Shumway was the team's leading rusher against CSM, recording 37 yards on the ground.
 
The Mountaineers will begin a two-game road trip, starting next Saturday at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah.