GUNNISON, Colo. – The weather was perfect, fresh paint lined the field, and Western State Colorado University football was poised for an upset. The Mountaineers went for the upset of 19^th-ranked Colorado Mesa University on Saturday in Western's home opener.
 
With 1:51 left to play, Western quarterback Dylan Jacob was flushed out of the pocket. It was fourth and 13 yards, and the Mountaineers needed a first down to keep upset hopes alive, trailing 24-14. Jacob went to his left towards the CMU sideline, planted and threw a deep shot down field.
 
Jacob found wide receiver Rodray Perkins in the end zone, 47-yards down the field. The touchdown put the Mountaineers down just four points. After a penalty turned the extra point into a 32-yard attempt, which Western was unable to convert, an onside kick was needed.
 
CMU (3-0, 2-0 RMAC) recovered the onside kick and ran for a first down, ending Western's opportunity to knock-off a nationally ranked opponent. The Mavericks escaped Mountaineer Bowl with a 24-20 win.
 
CMU opened the game with 17 unanswered until Western running back Isaac Fuqua took a handoff with just under six minutes left in the first half.
 
Fuqua broke through the line and went 95-yards for his first touchdown rush of the season. It was the longest run by a Mountaineer since Austin Ekeler broke an 88-yard run against the Colorado School of Mines in Mountaineer Bowl during the 2016 season.
 
Fuqua ran for a career-high 196 yards. It's the second consecutive game Fuqua has ran for over 100 yards.
 
The touchdown put Western (0-3, 0-2 RMAC) down 17-7 against their Western Slope rivals. However, the Mountaineers weren't finished scoring in the first half.
 
After a muffed punt by the Mavericks, Western recovered and took over with 38 seconds remaining on CMU's 40-yard line. Again, it was Fuqua who moved the ball down the field, going 25-yards before heading safely out of bounds.
 
A Western timeout with seven seconds remaining in the first half setup one final play for the Mountaineers. Jacob made the most of the opportunity, finding receiver Christian Lancellotti for a 15-yard touchdown, Lancellotti's second of the season.
 
Jacob ended the day with 185 yards passing with two touchdowns. The sophomore quarterback completed 16 passes to seven different receivers.
 
Lancellotti led all Western receivers with six catches, while Perkins led the team with 61 receiving yards.
 
Mountaineer defensive lineman Mark Zavala continued his tremendous season, recording seven tackles, including one sack and three tackles for a loss while forcing one fumble.
 
For the second time in the first three games, Western's defense held their opponent scoreless in the fourth quarter.