CANYON, Texas. Western Colorado will finally be back on the field, Saturday (Sep. 3) when they take on West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas at 6 p.m. (Mountain Time).
 
MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND

• Coming off their best season since 1998 – 10-2 overall & RMAC Champions - Western Colorado will need to start the season off on a strong note if they hope to get back to the NCAA DII football playoffs.
• The Mountaineers return their starting quarterback (Connor Desch), starting running back (Josh Cummings), starting offensive linemen (Clayton Martin, Mathyus Su'a) and three key wide receivers - Malik White, Damian Macias, Cole Riters.
• On the defensive side there are uncertainties in the front seven, after Western Colorado graduated a lot of the players who received playing time. However, they do return defensive freshman of the year Anthony Johnston (Defensive line) and bring back Carson Mandrell (Linebacker), both saw significant playing time last season. On the back end, the secondary has the most experience returning the entire group who started last season.
• Special teams wise, Alec Fonseca will return coming off a season where he went 9-of-14 on field goals attempted, which earned him RMAC First Team Special Teams.

BUFFS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND

• Last season, West Texas finished 7-4 overall, 5-2 in conference play – one of those loses came against a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent, Colorado School of Mines. The Buffs loss to the Orediggers 13-21.
• West Texas had a solid season last year, which resulted in 16 Buffs earning Lone Star All-Conference honors.
• Quarterback Nick Gerber will be back for his senior year, coming off a season where he had 2,029 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Also returning for his senior season in the backfield, Jarrod Compton, led the team in rushing running for 604 yards and four touchdowns. Similar to Gerber and Compton, senior Noah Bogardus will be back at wide receiver after catching 38 passes for 689 yards and four touchdowns.
• Defensively, West Texas is led by JT Cavender who received two individual awards, Linebacker of the Year and Defensive Freshman of the Year distinction. He recorded a team high 108 tackles, 72 of those being solo. On the back end the Buffs lost their two INT leaders. But, do you return Ty Dillon who had two INT's last season.

ON THE FIELD NEXT
The Mountaineers will head back to Texas for their next matchup on Saturday, Sep. 10 when they take on Texas Permian Basin at 5 p.m.