GUNNISON, Colo. - Western Colorado University Football will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they face New Mexico Highlands University on the road this Saturday. Kickoff from Perkins Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Western (2-7, 2-6 RMAC) is coming off two wins, most recently a 28-6 victory over Black Hills State University. 

The Mountaineers boast the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's third best defense, holding opponents to just 420.8 yards per game.

One of the leaders on the defensive side of the ball for Western is lineman Mark Zavala. With 14.0 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks, Zavala ranks third among RMAC players in those categories.

Offensively, Isaac Fuqua is averaging 111.0 yards per game on the ground for Western, which ranks fourth best in the conference.

NMHU (3-6, 3-5 RMAC) enter the weekend having lost to Chadron State College 38-43 last Saturday. The Cowboys have lost their last six-of-seven games.

Dione Alston leads the NMHU offense, averaging 113.44 yards per game. 

Defensively, Malik Brown has recorded 85 tackles, which is sixth best in the conference.

Those unable to attend Saturday's game on the road can follow all the action live over the internet (live stats, live video) and on social media (@WCUMountaineer, @MountaineerFB).

GAME NOTES

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday will be the 54th game between Western Colorado University and New Mexico Highlands University. The Mountaineers hold a 34-19 advantage in the series record.
 
Western has won the previous three games against the Cowboys, including the last game played in Las Vegas, New Mexico during the 2016 season.
 
At NMHU, Western has a 15-12 record.
 
The Mountaineers are 1-4 on the road this season, while NMHU is 2-1 at home.
 
AGAINST THE ENCHANTED STATE
Western has played 120 games against seven schools from the state of New Mexico. The Mountaineers are 66-54 in those games all-time.
 
THE BAINS REIGN
With a win in week eight against Fort Lewis, Western Head Coach Jas Bains is moved past Paul Wright (1935-47) for the sixth most wins by a Mountaineer football coach.
 
A win in week nine against Black Hills State University has coach Bains at 22 wins at Western, which ties Jeff Zenisek (2001-05) for the fifth most wins by a coach in program history.
 
Bains, in his eighth season, has coached the third most games for the Mountaineers at 85.
 
Carl "Duke" Iverson (1988-2000) holds the second most games coached at Western with 127.
 
VERY TRENDY
The Mountaineer offense has recorded over 300 yards of total offense in six of the last eight weeks.
 
Mountaineer quarterbacks have been distributing the ball well, connecting with six or more receivers in all nine games this season. Western quarterbacks have connected and with seven receivers or more in seven games.
 
In four of Western's games played, the defense has held opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter.
 
Western has recorded four or more sacks in four of the last eight games.
 
The Mountaineers have won back-to-back games for the first time since the 2016 season.
 
Western's deense has had a player record two interceptions in both of the previous two games.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
Following Western's 40-20 win in week eight, the winner of the last nine games played between Western and Fort Lewis has been the away team.
 
This streak dates back to 2010 when the Mountaineers won 27-24 in Durango.
 
In the last 16 games played in Durango, the Mountaineers have won 14. FLC is 6-1 in the last seven games played in Gunnison.
 
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Since 2015, Western is 2-7 against ranked opponents. This season the Mountaineers are 0-2.
 
CMU entered week three ranked 19th in the AFCA Poll. The Mountaineers fell to the Mavericks in a close 20-24 battle.
 
Against then 12th-ranked Colorado School of Mine in week six, Western fell 16-44.
 
Last season, the Mountaineers were 0-3 against ranked opponents. This season, Western is 0-1.
 
IN THE BEEHIVE STATE
Western has now played 77 games against teams from Utah. The Mountaineers have 31-46 record against teams from the Beehive State and a 14-32 record on Utah soil.
 
Prior to the 2016 game at Dixie, 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 was in 1979 against Southern Utah. The Mountaineers won 56-14.
 
HOMECOMING
Week six against Mines was Western's 2018 Homecoming Game.
 
Following a 16-44 loss to the Orediggers, the Mountaineers have won 36.4 percent (4-of-11) of Homecoming games since 2008.
 
Also since 2008, Western has a 4-6 record against RMAC opponents on homecoming.
 
The last Mountaineer homecoming victory came against CSM in 2016. Western won the game, 45-31 against the then ranked No. 23 Orediggers.
 
IN THE CORNHUSKER STATE
Following week five's loss to Chadron State College, Western's record is 20-33-1 against teams from Nebraska.
 
The Mountaineers have played 27 games within the Nebraska state lines and have a record of 9-18 in those games.
 
COLORADO CLASSIC
The rivalry between Adams State University and Western 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 resides at Adams after the Grizzlies won this season's game, 55-52 in overtime.
 
Western holds the all-time series record, 40-32
 
The longest continual rivalry in Colorado is between Western and Colorado School of Mines. The two schools have played 92 games, dating back to 1925. The Mountaineers and Orediggers have played each other every season for the last 76 years, dating back to 1946.
 
HALL OF FAME
Week three's game against CMU was Western's Hall of Fame Game. On Friday night before the game, Western Athletics will induct former runner Sheila Winegardner (Barrett), the 1966-68 men's swim teams, former football player and coach Casey Coons, and former football player T.W. Stites into the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame. The class of 2018 is the 24th to enter the MSHOF.
 
After falling to CMU 20-24, Western is 3-6 in Hall of Fame games since 2010. The last Mountaineer win during Hall of Fame came against Adams State University in 2016.
 
RMAC OPENERS
The Mountaineers have struggled winning the conference opener recently. Over the past 14 seasons, Western has a 1-13 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 this year's RMAC opener to South Dakota Mines on the road in week two, 21-38.
 
AGAINST TEAMS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA
Following week two's game against South Dakota Mines, Western has a 4-7 record against teams from South Dakota.
 
The Mountaineers have played six games in the Mount Rushmore state. Western has a record of 2-4. All but one of those games has been played in the last five years - 1973 at the South Dakota State University, losing 28-53.
 
The last win for Western in South Dakota was a 42-7 win at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in the final game of the 2016 season.
 
RMAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a career-best game against Idaho State in week one, Western punter Garrett Boyd was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week for week one of the season.
 
Boyd recorded a career-high 495 punting yard in Western's first game of the season. The junior from Mesa, Arizona averaged 45 yards per punt on 11 attempts against the Bengals, kicking three over 50 yards. It was the sixth time in his career Boyd has netted over 300 yards punting.
 
Boyd led all of Division II in punt yards after the first week of play.
 
ALONE ATOP THE MOUNTAIN
Western kick returner Rodray Perkins entered the season needing 99 yards to become the school's all-time leader in kick return yards. Perkins surpassed Jimmy Evans' previous record of 1,393 in week one against Idaho State, recording 160 yards on eight attempts.
 
Perkins has 1,523 career kick return yards and has now gained 100 or more kickoff return yards in six games during his career.
RECORD WATCH
These Mountaineers have reached the peak or are climbing the
Western all-time lists.
 
CAREER KICK RETURN YARDS
1. Rodray Perkins   2015-          1,565
2. Jimmy Evans      1997-00   1,393
 
GAME PUNT YARDS
1. Ryan Corn vs. Chadron State
                10/13/01                 502
2. Garrett Boyd at Idaho State
                        8/31/18                             495
 
GAME KICKOFF RETURNS
1. Alex Gallegos vs. Chadron State
                09/01/90                 8
- Rodray Perkins at Idaho State
                        8/31/18                             8
 
Longest Run
1. Tyrone Whipple vs. Fort Lewis
                1985        97
-  Bill Rhodes
                NA           97
3. Isaac Fuqua vs. Colorado Mesa
                        9/15/18     95
 
GAME RUSHING ATTEMPTS
4. Austin Ekeler vs. Colorado Mesa
                11/15/14                 41
5. Isaac Fuqua vs. Adams State
                        9/22/18                             39
 
GAME RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
1. Bill Schmalz vs. Adams State
                1957                        5
- Austin Ekeler at Western New Mexico
                10/24/15                         5
- Isaac Fuqua vs. Adams State
                        9/22/18                             5
GAME TOUCHDOWN PASSES
1.   Jason Davis vs. Western Montana                   09/18/93 6
2.   Cameron Merrill vs. Western N.M.                  09/27/08 5             
7.     Dylan Jacob at Fort Lewis
          10/20/18                     4
 
GAME TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
1.   Kyle Adkins at S.D. Mines
      11/12/16             4
2.   Joe Wuebben vs. UNK    
      1997                    3          
3.     Elijah Gillespie at Fort Lewis
          10/20/18                     2
 
GAME INTERCEPTIONS
1.   Kirk Johnston vs. E. New Mexico
      1992                    3                
2.     Josh Nelson at Fort Lewis
          10/20/18                     2
          David Velazquez vs. BHSU
          10/27/18                     2