ALAMOSA, Colo.  The fifth-ranked Mountaineers take on host Adams State on Saturday, September 20, for the 78th Colorado Classic, the second longest continual football rivalry in the state of Colorado.

Western has a 43-34 edge in the record book for the rivalry, which began with a Western victory in 1934. The Grizzlies own the series' longest win streak (12), from 2002 to 2013, while the Mountaineers, winners of the past four games, had an 11-game winning streak from 1991 to 2001.

#5 WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2025 Stats

• The Mountaineers moved up to No. 5 in the D2Football.com rankings and to No. 7 in the AFCA Division II poll despite being idle last weekend, the upward movement caused by a pair of upsets in the top 10.
• Western brings Division II's No. 11 scoring offense into the Classic, as it's averaging 41.5 points per game. The Mountaineers are 31st nationally in total offense (426.5 yards per game) and 36th in rushing offense (186.5 YPG). It's ball-control attack allows the offense to maintain possession on average 37 minutes per game, fourth highest in DII.
• The defense has national rankings in the top 20 as well, including 12th nationally in team tackles for loss (17, and 8.5 per game). The rush defense is 14th, allowing just 68 YPG, and the defensive takeaways combined with the ball-control offense has Western 16th in DII in turnover margin (+1.50).
• All-American quarterback Drew Nash controls Western's attack. He ranks 10th nationally in points responsible for (54), and 30th in total offense (273.5 YPG).
• Western's average margin of victory over Adams State in it's current four-game win streak against the Grizzlies is just shy of 29 points.

ADAMS STATE COMING INTO THE GAME | 2025 Stats

• The Grizzlies enter Saturday's Classic with an 0-2 record this season, extending a losing streak to 19 games. Their most recent win came on Sept. 30, 2024 at New Mexico Highlands, by a score of 21-14.
• However, the season-opening loss came against a Western New Mexico squad that is averaging 39 points per game, and their second loss was to University of Texas Permian Basin, which is ranked No. 7 in the D2Football.com poll.
• So far this season, Adams State has been a run-oriented offense as it is averaging 181 YPG on the ground and just 77 YPG through the air.
• Sophomore Ahmare Merrida spearheads the ground attack, averaging 91.5 YPG, a figure that includes a 134-yard game in the loss to UT Permian Basin.
• True freshman quarterback Tyson Smith is taking the snaps for the Grizzlies, hitting on 45 percent of his throws, with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. He's also been sacked seven times over ASU's first two games.
• Junior linebacker Mafileo Tupou is the Grizzlies' leading tackler with 19 total tackles including 14 solo stops.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers welcome New Mexico Highlands to the Mountaineer Bowl on Sat., Sept. 27. The Cowboys are averaging over 51 points per game in their 2-0 start to the season, while averaging 434 yards per game on the ground.