GUNNISON, Colo.  On its Hall of Fame weekend, eighth-ranked Western Colorado football will play host Saturday afternoon to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe South Dakota Mines for a Mountaineer Red Out at Mojo Field at Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex.

Inclement weather is in the forecast for Saturday, so as a reminder, no umbrellas will be allowed into the stadium. The bookstore in the University Center and just inside the Mountaineer Bowl gate have available for purchase Western Colorado rain ponchos.

No. 8 WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• Western brings a 6-0 overall record and 4-0 conference mark into Saturday's game against the Hardrockers. The Mountaineers are 4-3 against the Rockers all-time, winning three of the last four including a 43-20 road victory last season.
• The offense ranks near the top of the RMAC statistical standings in nearly every category. Western is second in the league in scoring at 39 points per game; second in total yards per game (464); second in rushing yards per game (216); and third in passing (248 YPG).
• Braeden Hogan and Royce Pao rank within the top 10 of the league's rushers, with Hogan's 67 YPG fifth and Pao's 58 YPG eighth. Hogan has rushed for four touchdowns and Pao for five.
• Quarterback Drew Nash — the most recent RMAC Offensive Player of the Week after passing for three touchdowns and a career-high 346 yards in Western's win at Black Hills State (Oct. 12) —is fifth in the league in passing at 190 YPG, and he has thrown for 7 touchdowns.
• The Mountaineer defense leads the RMAC in most categories, including scoring defense (13.8 points per game allowed); total yards allowed (246/game); and rushing yards allowed (54/game).
• Teams have been forced to take to the air against stout defensive front, with not much greater success. The Mountaineers are allowing only 192 passing yards per game, fourth best in the league.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• The Hardrockers are 3-4 overall and 2-3 in RMAC action. They are coming off consecutive defeats, dropping games to Black Hills State and to NO. 12 Colorado School of Mines.
• In addition to Black Hills State as a common opponent, the Rockers have also defeated Fort Lewis College (49-33) and N.M. Highlands (40-19).
• Quarterback Jake Martinelli leads a strong passing attack for SDM, throwing for 243 YPG and accumulating 17 touchdowns through the air. The Rockers' passing offense is fourth in the RMAC, helping lead the team to an average of 29 PPG.
• The rushing attack has been a compliment to the offense, keeping defenses honest by averaging 127 YPG, led by Orlando Westbrook-Sanchez III's 50 YPG.
• The South Dakota Mines defense is seventh in scoring (31 PPG) and yards allowed (439/game). Its rush defense has been stout, at just 115 YPG, but their pass defense ranks near the bottom of the RMAC at 324 yards allowed per game.

UP NEXT

• Western heads to Golden, Colo., next, squaring off with Colorado School of Mines in what has become an annual top-ranked matchup.
• Mines enters the current weekend ranked No. 12 in the American Football Coaches Association's poll, and are schedule to play host Adams State on Saturday afternoon.