The stage was set for the battle for the Nyikos Cup. Colorado Mesa would have the biggest test of the season in form of the Colorado School of Mines.
It was an offensive shootout in Grand Junction between two stellar offenses and Saturday’s game far exceeded the hype for one of the biggest games of the year for Colorado Mesa University.
From the start it appeared to be all CMU as they went on an offensive tangent after Mines got the early lead with a field goal. After a dud start on the first drive, Eystin Salum orchestrated a beautiful drive the Mavericks are used to constructing. Salum would cap off the drive with an elusive nine yard touchdown run to give CMU the early 7-3 lead.
Salum’s touchdown run would be his fourth rushing touchdown of the year and Mesa would take the lead heading into the second half.
Salum would finish the game 15-23 for 286 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Colorado Mines was quick to respond with the first passing touchdown of the game with a 35 yard strike from quarterback Ben Bottlinger to Riley Hoff.
The story of the day, however, was not found through the air but on the ground. A special running back by the name of David Tann had his breakout game of the season.
Tann would rush for four touchdown and 197 yards off of 15 carries. Two of those scores would be back to back scores in the second quarter to retain the lead for the Mavericks and give them a comfortable cushion heading into the locker room with a 21-10 lead at the half.
It appeared the Mavericks would run away with it in the second half, but the Orediggers had different plans.
Cameron Mayberry for Colorado Mines rushed for a short score to cut the lead down to four the the two dynamic teams would go back in forth switching field position for the rest of the third.
The beginning of the fourth quarter appeared to be in favor of Colorado Mines as the Orediggers struck hard and fast with a versatile drive and a easy seven yard touchdown pass from Bottlinger to give Mines the 24-21 lead.
The spark for Mines was short lived because David Tann would become a human highlight reel in the fourth quarter. Tann would explode out of the backfield for two 60 yard plus touchdown runs. One for 69 yards and the other for 62 yards. Mavericks would regain the lead with Tann’s runs.
Mines would respond in their own fashion with another touchdown pass from Bottlinger to Oliver. However the Orediggers would fail the two point conversion so the Mavericks would maintain the lead 35-30.
The clock winded down into the final minutes with Mines in possession of the ball inside the CMU ten yard line.
Bottlinger would take advantage of a loss Mavericks coverage and throw a laser pass to Oliver and take the 36-35 lead with 23 seconds left on the clock.
CMU would have one last chance and Peter Anderson would answer the call with a 68 yard reception to bring the ball within the Mines 15 yard line.
Ryan Sheehan would do his part and pull off the game winning field goal to give the Mavericks the 38-36 victory as time expired.
CMU would improve to 3-0 on the season and win the Nyikos cup once again.
The Mavericks put up 596 yards of total offense; a season best.
The Mavericks will take on Fort Lewis on Sept.23 from Stocker Stadium.
