GUNNISON, Colo. - Western State Colorado University Football opens the 2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season this Saturday on the road at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The Mountaineers face the Hardrockers at 1 p.m. in O'Harra Stadium.

Western (0-1, 0-0 RMAC) opened the season last weekend at Division I Idaho State University. The Mountaineers fell to the Bengals 45-10.

The season opener was highlighted by special teams play as punter Garrett Boyd and returner Rodray Perkins both had career nights. Boyd recorded 495 yards punting and currently leads Division II in punt yards. Perkins became the school's all-time leader in kickoff return yards, recording 160 against ISU to give the senior 1,455 yards for his career.

Kai Emmsley scored the lone touchdown for Western in the season opener. Emmsley scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cameron Shumway.

Desmond Marfizo led Western in tackles, recording a career-high 13 against the Bengals.

SDSMT (0-1, 0-1 RMAC) started their conference season in week one. The Hardrockers fell in a tightly contested battle against Colorado Mesa University, 33-36.

SDSMT led for much of the season opener against CMU, with a 17-7 lead at halftime and a 30-21 leading heading into the fourth. However, the Hardrockers were unable to hold on down the stretch.

Offensively, senior quarterback Jake Sullivan led the Hardrockers with 268 yards passing and 58 yards rushing, scoring one touchdown through the air and two on the ground.

On the defensive side, freshman linebacker Will Carroll led the team in tackles with 15 and forced one fumble.

Saturday's game is the start of 10-straight RMAC games for Western.

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 (@WSCUMountaineer, @MountaineerFB).

GAME NOTES

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will mark just the third meeting between Western and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The two teams have split the series with SDSMT winning last year's meeting, 35-16 in the final regular season game of 2017.

The Mountaineers won the only meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota, 42-7, in 2016.

JUST THE BEGINNING

Saturday will be the home opener for the Hardrockers after falling to Colorado Mesa University 33-36 on the road in week one.

While SDSMT had their conference opening game last week, Saturday will be the Mountaineers' Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener.

RMAC OPENERS
The Mountaineers have struggled winning the conference opener recently. Over the past 13 seasons, Western has a 1-12 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 the 2017 RMAC opener to Colorado Mesa 49-23.

AGAINST TEAMS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA
Against teams from South Dakota, the Mountaineers have a 4-6 record.

The Mountaineers have played five games in the Mount Rushmore state. Western has a record of 2-3. All but one of those games has been played in the last five years - 1973 at the University of South Dakota, 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.

THE BAINS REIGN
Entering the 2018 season, 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, entering his eighth season, has coached the third most games for the Mountaineers at 78.

Carl "Duke" Iverson (1988-2000) holds the second most games coached at Western with 127.

RMAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a career-best game against Idaho State, 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.

Heading into week two, Boyd leads all of NCAA Division II in total Punting yards.

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 surpased Jimmy Evans' previous record of 1,393 in week one against Idaho State, recording 160 yards on eight attempts.

Perkins has 1,455 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).

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.

LOST AND RETURNED

Offensive Starters Returning (7)

OL Andrew Berrier (10 GS), OL Oreva Koka (7 GS), OL Stephan Land (4 GS), QB Dylan Jacob (111-207-10, 1,046 yds, 5 TD), RB Ty Leyba ( 79 att, 266 yds), WR Rodray Perkins (45 rec, 396 yds, 1 TD), WR Zach Manchester (20 rec, 150 yds, 1 TD)

Offensive Starters Lost (4)

OL Andy Armstrong (10 GS), OL Tim Dolan (10 GS), WR Anthony Fletcher (6 rec, 101 yds), TE Steve D'Epagnier (10 rec, 71 yds, 1 TD)

Defensive Starters Returning (9)

DL Will Lydle (25 TT, 1.0 TFL), DE Jonah Mitchell (44 TT, 11.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 FF), DE Mark Zavala (37 TT, 10.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 2 FF), LB Desmond Marfizo (65 TT, 6.0 TFL), LB Lane Farris (81 TT, 11.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks), LB Joey Dill (39 TT, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks), DB Kyree Goodman (30 TT, 1.0 TFL, 6 PBr), DB David Velazquez (42 TT, 0.5 TFL, 1 FF), DB Mason Bode (24 TT, 1 INT, 8 PBr)

Defensive Starters Lost (2)

DL Victor Alvarez (46 TT, 4.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks), DB Will Halligan (35 TT, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 1 INT)

Specialists Returning (3)

P Garrett Boyd (70 att, 2,798 yds, 39.97 avg, 5 50+, 13 I20), PR/KR Rodray Perkins (16 PRatt, 143 PRyds, 8.94 PRavg, 20 KRatt, 419 KRyds, 20.95 KRavg), LS Kacin Nowlin (10 GP)

Specialists Lost (1)

K Max Smith (17 FGA, 8 FGM, 10 XP)

RECORD WATCH

These Mountaineers have reached the peak or are climbing the Western all-time lists.

 

CAREER KICK RETURN YARDS

1. Rodray Perkins   2015-      1,455

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