GUNNISON, Colo --- The Western Colorado football team is looking to build momentum heading into RMAC play as the Mountaineers hit the road to take on NCAA Division-I FCS Idaho State 6:35 Thursday at Holt Arena. 

THE MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO 2019 | 2018 SEASON STATS
Western Colorado is coming off a 2-9 campaign in 2018, though that included four losses by seven points or less as the Mountaineers look to turn the tide in close contests in 2019.

The Mountaineers were led by their 3-4 defense last season that ranked third in the RMAC in total defense (412.9 yards per game) and fourth in scoring defense (31.8 ppg). Western also returns their three top tacklers from 2018.

All-RMAC Honorable Mention linebacker Lane Farris returns to pace the Western defense as the junior led the team and was seventh in the RMAC in tackles at 8.4 per game (92 tackles). Also returning at linebacker for the Mountaineers is senior Desmond Marfizo at 7.6 tackles per game (15th in the RMAC) while sophomore Robert Garlock is back on the outside after a freshman campaign that saw him record 76 tackles (6.9 per game - 22nd in the RMAC). All four of Western's linebacking crew returns as senior Quincy Campbell (39 tackles) also is back.

On the defensive line, Sady Sumbunu, Will Lydle,  Alex Weber and TreVaughn Rhodes come back for the Mountaineers while Vincent Lovett (transfer) and Clayton Martin (freshman) will debut for Western.

In the secondary, Jordan Karels and Mitchell Jones will get the start at cornerback while Cristian Olmos and Nigel Vaughns figure to see action. At safety, Tim Mullin and Josh Nelson will get the start while Dominick Fletcher and Adam Herrera will be in the mix as well.

Offensively for the Mountaineers,  junior Dylan Jacobs returns at quarterback after going 144-for-271 for 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Sophomore Connor Desch will back up Jacobs.

In Western's spread offense, Ty Leyba will start at running back after rushing for 112 yards as a sophomore. Freshman Deyvon Butler will also be in the mix in the backfield. The Mountaineers' leading receiver from 2018 Zach Manchester (34 catches, 364 yards, 2 TDs) returns while Elijah Gillespie (28 receptions, 266 yards, team-leading 5 TDs) also is back. Chase Starman also will start at receiver while Bruce Jones, Joe Roth-Bogrett and Damian Macias figure to see time at receiver as well. At tight end, freshman Nathan Meyer and sophomore Spencer Smith will both see time.

A young Mountaineer offensive line returns with a year of experience under its belt as Western will start a junior (Andrew Berrier - right guard), three sophomores (Grant Smith - left tackle, Kaleb Gaster - left guard, Joey Orrino - right tackle) and a freshman (Tyler Sexton - center). Brock Boyd, Gavin Dement, Jim Pallotto and Remington McKnight all also figure to be in the mix.

Western will return its kicker in senior Chandler Davis after he went 8-for-14 in field goals with a season-long 45 yards while going 24-for-29 on extra points. Senior punter Garrett Boyd also returns after averaging 41.2 yards per punt including 10 punts of 50-plus yards and 23 landing inside the 20.

IDAHO STATE HEADING INTO 2019 | 2018 SEASON STATS
The Bengals are coming off a 6-5 campaign and a 5-3 mark in the Big Sky after being selected 12th in the preseason.

Gone is 3,000-plus yard passer Tanner Gueller, but receivers Mitch Guellar (62 receptions, 1,259 receiving yards, 9 TDs) and Michael Dean (49 receptions, 863 yards, 10 TDs) return for whoever is at quarterback for Idaho State - either Gunnar Amos or Matt Struck. Also returning is running back Ty Flanagan after being second on the team in rushing yards (803) and rushing touchdowns (8). The Bengals also have four offensive linemen returning that started games for them a year ago.

Defensively, Idaho State allowed 33 points per game - 87th in the FCS. Linebacker Kody Graves (83 tackles, two interceptions) returns for the Bengals as does safety Adkin Aguirre (77 tackles, three interceptions).

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 29th game in the series between Western and Idaho State with the Bengals holding a 20-7-1 advantage on the Mountaineers. This includes last season where Western fell on the road to the Bengals 45-10 in each teams' 2018 season opener in Pocatello.

The first game between the two schools was in 1931 when ISU defeated Western, 7-6, in Pocatello, Idaho. The last Mountaineer victory against ISU was in 1962, a 17-16 win in Mountaineer Bowl. The Mountaineers are 2-15 on the road against ISU. The last Western win on the road against the Bengals came in 1951, with Western winning by a score of 40-25.

SEASON OPENERS
Western is 32-61 all-time in season openers. 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 have a 9-22-1 record. Western has played the College of Idaho and Southern Idaho twice, splitting both games against both teams, to go along with the 28 games against Idaho State. In the state of Idaho, the Mountaineers have a 3-16 record.