GUNNISON, Colo. – Following a two-game home stand, the Western Colorado University football team is back on the road this weekend. The Mountaineers travel across the eastern border into Nebraska to face Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe, Chadron State College. Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MDT) on Elliot Field.
 
Western (0-4, 0-3 RMAC) is coming off a tough 55-52 overtime loss to Adams State University in the 72^nd Colorado Classic. Despite a career day for running back Isaac Fuqua against ASU, the Mountaineers will be searching for their first win of the season against the Eagles of Chadron State.
 
Fuqua ran for a career-high 224 yards on 39 carries. The senior captain also ran into the ASU end zone five times, tying a Western single-game record for rushing touchdowns.
 
Fuqua is second in the RMAC and fourth nationally for total rushing yards with 533. Against conference opponents, Fuqua is averaging 174.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks best in the RMAC.
 
Defensively, linebacker Lane Farris leads the team and ranks third in the conference in tackles with 31.
 
CSC (3-1, 3-1 RMAC) is coming off a 38-34 win over then ranked-14^th Colorado Mesa University on the road. The Eagles scored 24 second-half points to come from behind and defeat the Mavericks.
 
The Eagles boast the 32^nd best offense in Division II, averaging 441.8 yards per game. The CSC offense relies on quarterback Dalton Holst and running back Kevin Coy Jr.
 
Holst is averaging 237.75 passing yards per game, while throwing seven touchdowns to just one interception so far this season.
 
Coy Jr. has recorded 307 yards rushing from the line of scrimmage, scoring five touchdowns for the Eagles.
 
On defense, CSC is led by Tyler Lewis. Lewis leads the team in tackles with 37.

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). 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 mark the 35th meeting between Western Colorado University and Chadron State College. The Chadron Eagles lead the all-time series, 22-11-1.
 
In Chadron, Nebraska, the Mountaineers are 5-12. Western won the last meeting at Chadron in 2016, 24-15.
 
CSC defeated Western 49-7 last year in Gunnison.
 
IN THE CORNHUSKER STATE
Against teams from Nebraska, Western's record is 20-32-1.
 
The Mountaineers have played 26 games within the Nebraska state lines and have a record of 9-17 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.
 
VERY TRENDY
Following 196 yards rushing against Colorado Mesa University in week three, and a career-high 224 yards against Adams State in week four, Western running back Isaac Fuqua has tallied 100 yards or more on the ground in three straight games.
 
Fuqua has been a large reason the Mountaineer offense has recorded over 300 yards of total offense in three consecutive weeks.
 
Mountaineer quarterbacks have been distributing the ball well, connecting with six or more receivers in all four games this season.
 
In two of Western's three games played, the defense has held opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter.
 
Western's defense has also recorded one or more sacks in every game this season. The Mountaineer defenders have also forced at least one turnover in three of the first four games, including the last two.
 
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
CMU entered week three ranked 19th in the AFCA Poll. The Mountaineers fell to the Mavericks in a close 20-24 battle.
 
Since 2015, Western is 2-6 against ranked opponents.
 
Last season, the Mountaineers were 0-3 against ranked opponents. This season, Western is 0-1.
 
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.
 
THE BAINS REIGN
Western Head Coach Jas Bains is tied with Paul Wright (1935-47) for the sixth most wins by a Mountaineer football coach at 20.
 
Bains is two wins away from tying Jeff Zenisek (2001-05) for the fifth most wins by a coach in program history at 22.
 
Bains, in his eighth season, has coached the third most games for the Mountaineers at 81.
 
Carl "Duke" Iverson (1988-2000) holds the second most games coached at Western with 127.
 
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.
 
AGAINST TEAMS FROM IDAHO
After the season opening game against Idaho State, the Mountaineers have a 9-22-1 record against all teams from Idaho.
 
Western has played the College of Idaho and Southern Idaho twice, splitting both games.
 
Against Idaho State, the Bengals hold a 20-7-1 edge. In the state of Idaho, the Mountaineers have a 3-16 record.
 
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.
 
SEASON OPENERS
Western is 32-61 all-time in season openers. Since 1995, the Mountaineers are 1-23 in season openers. This year, Western lost to Idaho State University 45-10 in the season opener.
 
The last opening day win for the Mountaineers 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 percent) and won the conference title 12 times (37.5 percent).
RECORD WATCH
These Mountaineers have reached the peak or are climbing the
Western all-time lists.
 
CAREER KICK RETURN YARDS
1. Rodray Perkins             2015-     1,542
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