GUNNISON, Colo.  Seventeenth ranked Chadron State made a late run to take its first lead since after the 133 pound match, but in the final bout of the night Riley Butt came through for host Western Colorado as his decision at 285 pounds lifted the Mountaineers to a 20-18 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference wrestling victory Thursday night at Paul Wright Gym.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. Chadron State, 20-18
Records: Western 9-4 overall (3-1 RMAC), CSC 5-3 (3-2)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western led 17-7 with three matches to go, but the Eagles rallied to take their first lead of the dual after a fall at 184 pounds and a tech fall at 197.
• That put Butt on the mat against Eli Reese as the deciding bout of the evening.
• Butt scored a first period takedown before ending the period with a 3-1 lead, then surrendered only an escape in the second to advance into the final period leading by a narrow 3-2 margin.
• He began the period on the bottom and earned another point with an escape, but the 4-2 score meant the next takedown might win the match and the dual.
• The two combatants went at it for the next minute, both looking for that one final move. With both scrambling and locked up down on the mat, Butt finally maneuvered around and over a prone Reese and with 8 seconds left the referee's arm went up signaling a takedown for Butt, securing his win and the Mountaineers' upset victory.
• The Mountaineers got off to a strong start in the dual as ninth-ranked Devin Gomez earned a 9-4 decision at 125 over fourth-ranked Quade Smith.
• Though the Eagles scored a major at 133 to move ahead 4-3, Western earned wins at the next three weights to take and then build upon a lead.
• Tino Gonzales trailed 4-2 after the first period of his match at 141, but he roared back to earn a 15-4 major decision over 14th-ranked Caleb Chaves. Then Eyan Chavez earned a hard fought 4-2 decision at 149, with 11th-ranked Vincent Cabral making it three in a row with a 5-4 decision at 157, in which he scored all of his points in the third period.
• Chadron State halted the run with a decision at 165 but Hunter Richardson rolled to a 10-2 win at 174 to push Western to a 17-7 advantage before the Eagles put together their rally at 184 and 197.

THEY SAID IT


UP NEXT
Western will try to knock off another ranked team on Friday night as the Mountaineers travel to No. 16 Adams State to take on the Grizzlies at 6 p.m.