THE MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2019 SEASON STATS
Western Colorado played tough for four quarters and held the Orediggers below their season averages for points and yards, but couldn't break through the Colorado School of Mines defense in a 28-0 loss in Golden.

The Mountaineers trailed 14-0 late in the second quarter and appeared they may go into the half that way with the undefeated Orediggers (6-0, 6-0), but Mines scored on a 9-play, 77-yard drive capped by a 23-yard quarterback scramble for a touchdown by John Matocha with 13 seconds left in the half to take a 21-0 lead on Western Colorado into the half. The Mountaineer defense held strong in the second half as WCU held Mines well under their season averages for points and yardage while yielding only seven points in the second half. The WCU offense moved the ball at times, but were 0-for-2 on red zone opportunities. WCU was outgained 387-213 in total offense with the Mountaineers throwing for 164 yards and rushing for 49 while the Orediggers threw for 263 yards and rushed for 124.

On the season, Connor Desch has thrown for 1,027 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions with the Mountaineers' top targets being James Bryant (20 receptions, 229 yards), Elijah Gillespie (17 receptions, 163 yards), Kai Emmsley (15 catches, 159 yards) and Zach Manchester (12 catches, 229 yards). On the ground, Ty Leyba continues to lead the team with 261 yards followed by Deyvon Butler (166 yards) and Josh Cummings (156 yards and a team-best five touchdowns).

Defensively, Lane Farris leads the Mountaineers with 41 tackles while Robert Garlock has 37 tackles and 2.5 sacks and Dominick Fletcher has 35 tackles. Josh Nelson leads WCU with three interceptions while Will Lydle has a team-best 3.5 sacks.

On special teams, Garrett Boyd is second in the RMAC in punting at 41.6 yards per kick while Chandler Davis is tied for the RMAC lead in field goals with eight.

DIXIE STATE HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2019 SEASON STATS
The Trailblazers are on a five-game winning streak since losing to then-ranked No. 9 CSU-Pueblo 36-7 at home. This includes wins over Fort Lewis (23-14), New Mexico Highlands (55-0), South Dakota Mines (28-16), Black Hills State (52-22) and last week against non-RMAC foe Simon Fraser (55-21).

Dixie State is second in the RMAC in scoring offense (35.3) and third in scoring defense (17.2) while also ranking in the top five in the conference in total offense (third - 439.0) and total defense (fourth - 331.0).

The Trailblazers have split time at quarterback this season between Kody Wilstead (988 yards passing, 11 TDs, 6 INTs) and Keaton Mott (747 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs) with Wilstead also leading Dixie State in rushing with 242 yards and another score. It's been running back by committee for the Trailblazers as three other players have 180-plus yards on the ground this season in Sei-J Lauago (230 yards, 3 TDs), Kannely-robl (188 yards, 2 TDs) and D'Arman Notoa (182 yards, 2 TDs). Much like on the ground, several players contribute through the air catching passes with six players in double figures in receptions. Jalen Powell eads the team with 21 catches, Kasey Allison lead the team with 249 receiving yards and Dejuan Dantzler has a team-best four touchdown receptions.

Defensively, Alex Lilliard (39 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Darrius Nash (36 tackles, two interceptions) lead the way for Dixie State while Dylan Hendrickson has a team-best 7.5 sacks and Aaron Simpson leads the team with four interceptions. The Trailblazers lead the RMAC with 27 sacks.

PRE/POST/IN-GAME ENTERTAINMENT

COME TAILGATE WITH 5B'S!
5B's will sponsor a barbeque at every home game! Look for the bright pink truck and music outside the wrestling room entrance of Paul Wright Gym starting at 10:30 a.m. They will be offering a sandwich and chips for $8 ($6 with your MAA card). 

MountainBEER Zone
We once again will be hosting a beer garden at the top of Mountaineer Bowl. Any fans 21-and-over can enjoy an adult beverage while cheering on the Mountaineers.

POSTGAME SOCIAL
Join us at The Dive in Gunnison for a quick bite before returning to Paul Wright Gym for the WCU volleyball game at 6 p.m.!
 

2019 WESTERN COLORADO NOTES

SERIES VS. DIXIE STATE
The Mountaineers and Trailblazers will be meeting for the fourth time Saturday with Dixie State winning all three matchups - though all three have been by eight points or less (28-20 in 2016, 15-12 in 2017, 17-10 in 2018). The only meeting that's been played in Gunnison was 2017.

AGAINST THE BEEHIVE STATE
This will be game No. 78 against a team from Utah for the Mountaineers with WCU holding a 31-46 record. Prior to Dixie State joining the RMAC in 2016, the Mountaineers' previous game against a team from Utah was in 2005 - a 61-0 loss at Weber State.

BAINS MOVES TO FIFTH ON WESTERN WINS LIST
WCU head coach Jas Bainsmoved to fifth on the Mountaineers' all-time wins list with 23 after beating Chadron State on Oct. 5 in Gunnison - passing Jeff Zenisek (2001-05). No. 4 on the list is O. Kay Dalton (1961-65) with 33 victories. Bill Noxon (1971-84) holds the No. 1 spot on the Mountaineer wins list with 87.

THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS RIVALRY IN COLORADO COLLEGE FOOTBALL
There isn't a longer continuous college football rivalry in Colorado than the Mountaineers and Colorado School of Mines as the teams have played each other every year since 1946. This year was the 95th meeting between these teams with CSM winning 28-0 to narrow WCU's lead in the series to 52-41-2.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Mountaineers in a loss to No. 11 Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 12 continued a skid against ranked opponents that now sits at seven games. WCU's last win against a ranked opponent was a 45-31 win over No. 23 Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 24, 2016.

DAVIS NAMED RMAC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK ... AGAIN (Oct.  7)
For the second time this season, WCU kicker Chandler Davis was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 7 after going 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points in the Mountaineers' one-point win over Chadron State.

The first time Davis earned the honor was when he booted arguably one of the biggest kicks in recent memory for the Western Colorado football program as he drilled a 29-yard field goal as time expired to beat Colorado Mesa 30-28 in Grand Junction. Davis connected on that field goal after waiting out four timeouts to help the Mountaineers beat Colorado Mesa for the first time since 2013 and for the first time in Grand Junction since 2001 along with propelling WCU to its first 2-0 start in RMAC play since 2003.

A PAIR OF WINS THAT WERE A LONG TIME COMING
Five games into the season the Mountaineers have already knocked off a pair of teams in places they haven't won in a long time. WCU defeated Colorado Mesa this season in Grand Junction for the first time since 2001 and the Mountaineers defeated Chadron State at home in the Mountaineer Bowl for the first time since 1997.

AGAINST THE CORNHUSKER STATE
The Mountaineers after their 33-32 win over Chadron State this season are 21-33-1 against teams from Nebraska, including 12-15-1 at home against teams from the Cornhusker state.

COLORADO CLASSIC
The history between Western Colorado and Adams State - i.e. the Colorado Classic - dates back to 1934 (a 14-0 Mountaineers win in Gunnison) and the Mountaineers and Grizzlies have played every year since 1950 - making it the second-longest continual rivalry in Colorado. The teams play for the Colorado Classic Trophy, which travels with the winning institution.

The Mountaineers now hold a 40-33 advantage after falling just short against Adams State this season 38-31 in a game that went down to the final two minutes.

The longest continual rivalry in Colorado is between Western Colorado and Colorado School of Mines as the two teams have played each year since 1946 and have played each other 93 times overall - the first meeting coming in 1925.

BEST START IN CONFERENCE PLAY SINCE 2003
With wins over South Dakota Mines and Colorado Mesa to begin RMAC play, WCU won their first two conference contests for the first time since 2003. 

GARLOCK NAMED RMAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Sept. 16)
Western Colorado linebacker Robert Garlock was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16 after the sophomore from Reno, Nevada, had a team-high seven tackles in the contest - including five solo tackles - in helping the Mountaineer defense not allow an offensive score (the Hardrockers' only score came on returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown) during a 27-7 win over South Dakota Mines. The Western Colorado defense allowed just 177 yards in helping the Mountaineers win their first RMAC opener since 2006.

AGAINST TEAMS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA
The Mountaineers are now 5-7 against teams from South Dakota - including going 3-3 at home against teams from the Mount Rushmore state.

SEASON OPENERS
Western Colorado is now 32-62 all-time in season openers after falling to Idaho State this season. The last season-opening win for the Mountaineers came in 2014 against Wayland Baptist, 38-21, on the road. Of their 32 season opening wins, the Mountaineers have 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
Against all teams from Idaho, the Mountaineers now have a 9-23-1 record after falling in their season opener at Idaho State this season. Western has played the College of Idaho and Southern Idaho twice, splitting both games against both teams, to go along with the 29 games against Idaho State. In the state of Idaho, the Mountaineers have a 3-17 record.