GUNNISON, Colo. Eighth-ranked Western Colorado on Saturday night rolled to a 70-21 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory over visiting Adams State, winning the 79th Colorado Classic greatly aided by special teams play.
The Classic between the Mountaineers and Grizzlies is the second longest continuous football rivalry series in the state of Colorado. Western improved its series lead to 45-34 against ASU.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. Adams State, 70-21
Records: Western 5-0 (3-0 RMAC), Adams State 0-5 (0-3)
Location: Mojo Field in Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex, Gunnison, Colo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Despite DJ Allen Jr. returning a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown, the Mountaineers went into their first possession of the second quarter with only a 14-11 lead over the Grizzlies. But the landslide began with that possession, one that ended with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Cole Kerr to DJ Allen Jr.
- With Adams State punting with 4:51 to play in the half, Jevon Young got a hand on the punt with the deflection rolling out of bounds at the Grizzlies' 33-yard line. It took just two plays to find the end zone as Nolan McCullough tossed one deep to Caden Measner to reach the 12, and McCullough took the next snap around the left side and finished off the quick drive with a 7-yard touchdown scamper.
- The Mountaineer defense forced a three-and-out then took only three plays to drive 62 yards, Kerr passing to Measner for 34 yards, plowing through the middle for an 8-yard keeper, then connection with Antwuan Jackson on a 20-yard strike to push the advantage to 35-11 right before the halftime break.
- Western opened the third quarter with a 4-play, 75-yard drive that took less than two minutes, Isaiah Jones finishing it off with a 15-yard run around the right side, and soon after, Young would put special teams in the spotlight again.
- On a fourth and 21 from its own 12, Young blocked another punt, this one rolling into the end zone and recovered by Brant Jackson for a touchdown.
- On the offense's next series McCullough drove the team down the field for another score in two plays, the key play a 63-yard connection with Ramon Ruiz down the right sideline.
- ASU finally found the end zone again late in the third quarter, but Kerr led a drive that spanned the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter, with Lamonte James finishing off the final 49 yards on three carries.
- James added another highlight run in the fourth quarter, taking a handoff to the right and jetting downfield nearly untouched for a 73-yard touchdown gallop for Western's final points in the game.
MOJO TURF NOTES
- Young would add a third blocked punt in the game, collecting it midway through the fourth quarter.
- Along with Allen Jr.'s kick return for a touchdown, Mountaineer special teams factored into three scores on the night.
- A well-balanced offensive attack complimented the special teams play. The Mountaineer rushed for 264 yards and 5 touchdowns and threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns. The two quarterbacks for Western, Kerr and McCullough went a combined 14-of-17, with no interceptions to blemish their stellar, combined, night.
- The Western defense held the Grizzlies to 78 yards on the ground and 219 passing yards, with Ian Loomis leading all defensive players with 10 total tackles.
- Western's 70 points ties for the fifth-most points scored by the Mountaineers, shy of the record (83 points) set in a win over Oklahoma Panhandle State in the 2000 season.
THEY SAID IT
UP NEXT
The Mountaineers take to the road for their next game, an Oct. 3 RMAC game in Las Vegas, N.M., against host New Mexico Highlands (3-2, 1-2).
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