GUNNISON, Colo. --- The No. 20 ranked Western Colorado football program remains undefeated at home after defeating No. 22 ranked Colorado Mesa University 23-9 on Saturday in Mountaineer Bowl.
 
The victory moves Western Colorado to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the RMAC and will keep them in the top 25.
 
The Mountaineers put up 168 yards on the ground, as Josh Cummings had a net gain of 128 rushing yards over 33 carries and one touchdown. Deyvon Butler was Western Colorado's second best rusher as he recorded six carries for 30 yards, with a long of 21 yards.
 
Quarterback Connor Desch led the offense with 105 passing yards, completing 12 of 19 passes for a 63 percent completion rate and had two passing touchdowns. Those two touchdowns were completed to James Bryant (a 25-yard touchdown) and Dominic Chance (a 5-yard touchdown). Desch completed passes to seven different receivers in the game and had no interceptions.
 
Bryant led the receivers with four receptions for 48 yards. Elijah Garcia Gillespie had two receptions for 26 yards as teammate Damian Macias also had two receptions for 12 yards.
 
The offensive line of Clayton Martin, Tanner Tomlinson, Mathyus Su'a, Stevie Byron and Joey Orrino did a great job protecting the quarterback as the Mavericks only got one sack on the quarterback.
 
Overall, the Mountaineers racked up 273 yards of offense with 21 points. As the defense held Colorado Mesa to 307 yards and nine points, along with scoring two points on a safety from a Will Lydle and Lane Farris sack.
 
The Mountaineer defense held one of the top teams in division two to only nine points, led by defensive back Dominick Fletcher who recorded seven tackles on the day and recovered one fumble. Mountaineer Lane Farris forced that fumble, along with recording four tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, along with getting half a sack.
 
Trevor Riters also had four tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Both Joey Dill and Wyatt Buhr each recorded five tackles on the day. Western Colorado's Robert Garlock and Tim Mullin both recorded on tackle for a loss, as Will Lydle and Carson Mandrell each has half of a tackle for a loss.  
 
The Mountaineers will play their next two games at home, as they host Lincoln University on Saturday, Nov. 6 and host CSU Pueblo on Saturday, Nov. 13.