GUNNISON, Colo.  Homecoming weekend doubles up with the 77th Annual Colorado Classic Saturday evening as the 14th-ranked Mountaineers welcome Adams State University to Mojo Field in the Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex.

The game between the Mountaineers and Grizzlies also kicks off the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference slate for both teams. The game's theme is a BLACKOUT NIGHT, and 250 black t-shirts will be handed out to the student section by the Mountaineer cheerleaders.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• Western and No. 5 Colorado Mines are the only two unbeaten RMAC teams heading into the weekend. The Mountaineers lead the league in rush defense, allowing just 61 yards per game, while the offense is third in the conference on the ground with a 201 YPG average.
• The defense is also tied for the RMAC lead in interceptions with three, and have returned two of those picks for touchdowns, including linebacker Cooper Cameron's 96-yard pick-6 last week at West Texas A&M.
• Quarterback Drew Nash is third in the league in rushing touchdowns (4) as well as third in rushing with a 104 yards/game average.
• The Mountaineers opened the season with a pair of Texas teams, winning the home opener—and first home, night game in program history—against Midwestern State (38-33) followed by a 26-17 win at West Texas A&M. It is the second consecutive season in which Western has begun the season with two wins.
• Nash has electrified the offense with a long touchdown run in each game, going for a career-long 68 yards in the Midwestern State win, then galloping 62 yards at West Texas.

ADAMS STATE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | 2024 Stats

• The 0-2 Grizzlies have given up big numbers through their first two games, surrendering 46 in the season opener against visiting Western New Mexico, then allowing 67 in a loss at Texas Permian Basin. The ASU offense is averaging 25 points per game after those two defeats.
• Adams State ranks mid-pack within the RMAC offensively, ranking sixth in both rushing (135 YPG) and passing (226.5 YPG).
• Not surprisingly, the defense sits near the bottom of the league in yards allowed, ranking ninth in rush defense (275.5 YPG) and pass defense (311.5 YPG). Its 56.5 points allowed per game is last in the league statistics.
• Freshman running back Ahmare Merrida and sophomore quarterback Chase Nelson are the Grizzlies' rushing leaders, combining to average 83.0 YPG on the ground. In the air, Nelson is connecting on 52 percent of his throws, completing 32 of 61 attempts, tossing 4 touchdowns against 2 interceptions.

THE 77th COLORADO CLASSIC

• The rivalry between Adams State and Western Colorado is the second longest continual rivalry in the state of Colorado—the longest is between Western and Colorado Mines (dating back to 1925). Adams and Western have been playing each other every year since 1950.
• The winner of the Classic earns the right to possess the Colorado Classic trophy, which travels to the winning institution until the next game. The trophy currently resides with the Mountaineers, who downed the Grizzlies 45-24 in Alamosa, Colo., in last year's final regular season game.
• Western has won the last three Classics, raising its overall advantage over Adams State to 43-32.

STADIUM NOTES

• A new policy is in place for fans attending games in the Mountaineer Bowl, and with forecasts for Saturday predicting bad weather, the policy is very pertinent.
• There will be no umbrellas allowed in the stadium. They obstruct the sightlines of others and can potentially be used as a weapon.
• Bring your ponchos! The Mountaineer Fan Store in the University Center and the on-site store just inside the Bowl's ticket gate should have limited supplies of Western ponchos.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers continue RMAC play with their next game, traveling to Las Vegas, N.M., for a Sept. 28 afternoon game with host New Mexico Highlands University.