GUNNISON, Colo. --- Whether it's redemption from an overtime loss last season, to stay undefeated in RMAC play or to get off to its best conference start in 22 years, the Western Colorado football team has plenty to play for when the Mountaineers travel to take on Adams State in the 73rd edition of the Colorado Classic 2 p.m. Saturday at Rex Stadium in Alamosa.

WCU fell to Adams State 55-52 at home in overtime last season in the second-longest continual rivalry in Colorado - with each team having played each other every year since 1950 with the winner of the Colorado Classic earning the right to possess the Colorado Classic Trophy, which travels with the winning institution.

THE MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2019 SEASON STATS
Western Colorado is coming off one if its biggest wins in recent history as the Mountaineers used a last-second field goal from Chandler Davis to defeat Colorado Mesa 30-28 on the road - the program's first win in Grand Junction since 2001 and first win against the Mavs since 2013. The victory moved WCU to 2-0 in RMAC play for the first time since 2003 as the Mountaineers are looking for their first 3-0 start to conference play since 1997.

In last week's victory over CMU, the teams were tied 7-7 at the half and the score was 14-7 Colorado Mesa heading into the final minute of the third before a wild next six minutes saw five combined touchdowns - three by the Mountaineers to cut the Mavs' lead to 28-27 with 10:05 remaining in the game.

The Mountaineers started their game-winning drive on its own 32 with 3:51 remaining in the contest. A pair of pass interference calls on the Mavericks along with a key 12-yard, first-down run by Connor Desch eventually set up Davis in the middle of the field with three seconds remaining. After four combined timeouts, Davis converted the 29-yard field goal and the Mountaineer sideline rushed onto the field to celebrate the program's first win in Grand Junction in 18 years.

Desch finished the game 23-for-41 for 257 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Four Mountaineers caught at least four passes - Kai Emmsley (five catches, 47 yards), Elijah Gillespie (five catches, 43 yards), Zach Manchester (four catches, 66 yards and a touchdown) and James Bryant (four catches, 51 yards). Defensively, Darrious Gaines had a big game for WCU with nine tackles (five solo) to go along with a sack, forced fumble and three quarterback hurries while Josh Nelson also had nine tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Carson Mandrell had one of the big plays for WCU during that wild six minutes, intercepting a pass and returning it 13 yards for a touchdown.

On the season Desch has thrown for four touchdowns and four interceptions (only one in the last two games) to go along with 446 yards. WCU has four players with eight or more catches on the season in Emmsley (11 catches, 120 yards), Gillespie (11 catches, 110 yards), Bryant (9 catches, 90 yards) and Manchester (8 yards, 119 yards). On the ground, Ty Leyba leads the team with 176 yards rushing while Deyvon Butler has 84 yards and Josh Cummings has 55 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, Robert Garlock and Lane Farris lead the team with 19 tackles apiece with Garlock owning at team-best 13 solo tackles. Defensive tackle Will Lydle has been a force on the inside as he has 14 tackles (fourth on the team) to go along with team highs in tackles for loss (3) and sacks (2). As a team, the Mountaineers have forced seven turnovers in three contests - an average of 2.3 per game.

ADAMS STATE HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2019 SEASON STATS
The Grizzlies are coming off back-to-back wins against New Mexico Highlands (41-27 - Sept. 14) and Black Hills State (45-31 - last Saturday) after dropping their season opener 41-10 to No. 14 Colorado School of Mines. The two teams ASU has defeated own a combined 0-6 record while the one loss came to the undefeated Orediggers.

The Grizzlies blitzed BHSU last week early on the road, scoring 28 first-quarter points before taking a 31-7 lead into the half. ASU rushed for 300 of its 480 yards of offense. The Grizzlies had two 100-yard rushers in Jamarcus Federick (155 yards, 2 TDs) and Duson Sproles (138 yards). John Buksa went 9-for-21 for 131 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while Tariq Bitson had three catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns. On the other side of the ball ASU held BHSU to 282 yards of offense on 73 plays (3.9 yards per play).

On the season, Buksa is 46-for-97 for 744 yards (second in the RMAC) with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Bitson leads the RMAC in receiving yards (467) and is tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns (5) to go along with 18 receptions as he's responsible for more than half of ASU's receiving yards. Sproles (168 yards) and Federick (159 yards) lead the Grizzlies on the ground with no other player with more than 16 yards rushing. 

On defense Elijah Tuli and Brandin Obrecht lead ASU with 18 tackles while Alu Taito leads the tam with two sacks and four tackles for a loss.

2019 WESTERN COLORADO NOTES

SERIES HISTORY VS. ADAMS STATE
This will be the 73rd meeting between Western Colorado and Adams State with the Mountaineers holding a 40-32 advantage in the series. WCU has dropped the previous two matchups to the Grizzlies, including a 51-14 loss the last time the teams played in Alamosa. The Mountaineers are looking for their first win against Adams State in Alamosa since 2000.

COLORADO CLASSIC
The history between Western Colorado and Adams State 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 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.

DAVIS NAMED RMAC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
It was the biggest kick in recent memory for the Western Colorado football program as Chandler Davis drilled a 29-yard field goal as time expired to beat Colorado Mesa 30-28 on Saturday in Grand Junction. For his effort, Davis was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.

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. Davis also added a trio of extra points for the Mountaineers.

BEST START IN CONFERENCE PLAY SINCE 2003
With wins over South Dakota Mines and Colorado Mesa to begin RMAC play, WCU is off to its best start in conference since starting 2-0 in 2003. The Mountaineers on Saturday will be looking for their first 3-0 start in the RMAC since 1997. WCU hasn't started better than 3-0 in RMAC play since winning their first six RMAC games in 1995 on their way to a 6-0-1 conference record and winning the RMAC title (which was during a run from 1991-98 where the Mountaineers won six RMAC championships).

GARLOCK NAMED RMAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Sept. 16)
Western Colorado linebacker Robert Garlock was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday 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.