GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado football team entered the third quarter with a 14-7 lead and exited it with a 28-14 deficit and couldn't recover as the Mountaineers fell to Dixie State 28-20 on Saturday at Mountaineer Bowl.

The Trailblazers (6-1 overall, 5-1 RMAC) scored on a trio of consecutive drives - all 60-plus yard drives - to turn WCU's (3-4, 3-3) touchdown lead into a two touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Mountaineers took advantage of a short field after a turnover on downs by Dixie State late in the fourth as Dylan Jacob (who entered for injured starting quarterback Connor Desch) hit Kai Emmsley on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 remaining to cut the Trailblazer lead to 28-20.

But an unsuccessful onside kick by WCU ended the game as the Mountaineers dropped their second straight while Dixie State won its sixth straight.

The Mountaineers took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter as a seven-play, 51-yard drive was capped by a 4-yard Ty Leyba touchdown run. The Trailblazers tied it at the 9:35 mark in the second quarter before a 25-yard pass by Desch to Emmsley made it 14-7 with 5:23 remaining in the half.

WCU was outgained in the game 408-323 despite running 19 more plays (89-70) than the Trailblazers.

Desch finished 23-for-47 for 190 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Leyba led the team with 64 yards rushing and a touchdown while James Bryant had seven catches for 65 yarsds and Emmsley finished with four catches, 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Desmond Marfizo led WCUI with 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks while Lane Farris and Will Lydle each had six tackles with Lydle adding a sack.

This was the fourth meeting between these teams with WCU falling in all four by eight points or less.

The Mountaineers return to action next Saturday as they host Fort Lewis with a 1 p.m. kickoff.