“Bend but don’t break.”
That was the motto for the Colorado Mesa University football team Saturday against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Chadron State. The Mavericks were shown the most fight they have seen all season, despite the scoreboard, but still managed to come away with another hard fought win.
CMU, much like in week one, started fast and started hot with a defensive score in the shape of a pick-six from George Manning early in the first quarter.
David Tann would add fuel to the fire with the first offensive touchdown of the game with a 15-yard run with 5:47 left in the quarter to give the Mavericks a 14-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
CMU would cap off their first half with a drive orchestrated by the offense and quarterback Eystin Salum capped it off as he trotted into the endzone with 24 seconds left in the half. The Mavericks would enter the locker room with a 21-0 lead.
Chadron State would score twice in the second half but costly mistakes kept them from progressing any further. CMU would add another field goal in the third and would hold on to seal the eventual 24-10 victory.
The run game would be the decisive offensive factor for the Mavericks on Saturday. CMU ran for a combined 192 yards and two touchdowns; the only CMU offensive touchdowns of the game.
Tann would achieve his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season as he finished with 28 carries for 198 yards and a touchdown.
The defense was the saving grace despite the 515 yards of total offense the Mavericks gave up against the Eagles. Despite all the yards, CMU only surrendered 10 points in the shape of a touchdown and a late-game field goal.
“I’m very pleased that we came away with the win,” Head coach Russ Martin said. “Our defense did a very good job at hanging in there and making plays when they had to make plays.”
The special teams unit created some chaos as well throughout the game. The Eagles missed two costly field goals and CMU managed to muff two punts in the game.
Salum had a rather quiet game compared to last week’s seven touchdown performance. He went 18-32 for 195 yards and an interception. The Eagles’ defense was very aggressive throughout the game sacking Salum four times.
The offense did what they had to do and the defense held their ground. Both are very promising factors heading into the tougher part of the schedule.
“Those things are going to be huge factors as we continue to head into the season,” Martin said.
CMU will play Colorado School of Mines next week on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. at Stocker Stadium. Colorado Mines blew out New Mexico Highlands 70-0 on Saturday after being routed by CSU-Pueblo the week before.
Last season the Maverick escaped with a thrilling 41-40 double overtime victory over Colorado Mines.
