It was the backups who shined in Alamosa.
The Mavericks took their 4-5 record down to Adams State University (ASU) and dealt with the Grizzlies in dominating fashion. The Colorado Mesa University football team got back to .500 with the 35-13 win.
Rope Ruel got the start for the first time in two months for CMU and the senior quarterback definitely showed up on Saturday.
On the first drive of the game, Peter Anderson got the Mavericks to the ASU 11-yard line after a 52-yard jet sweep rush on the first offensive snap. Two plays later, Ruel tumbled into the endzone for his second touchdown run of the season. It would be the Mavericks quickest lead to start a game since their last victory where Justin White took it to the house on the opening kickoff against Black Hills State.
Ruel was actually the second best rusher on the day for CMU. He rushed the ball for 55 yards and the touchdown off 12 carries. Jesse Rodriquez, the redshirt freshman running back from Bennett, CO, led the team with 129 yards off of 20 carries. The rushing performance by Rodriquez was his season’s best.
After CMU’s touchdown, the Grizzlies would get on the board for the first time when ASU running back Otumus Payemanu dashed 61 yards to even the score up at 7-7. Payemanu’s run would be the longest offensive play by either team all game, however, the partial triumph on behalf of the Grizzlies was short lived.
Nick Ciccio had two interceptions against ASU’s Markell White. His first came near the start of the 2nd quarter and the turnover was followed by a Jesse Rodriquez 19-yard run into the endzone.
The Mavericks would go into halftime with the 14-7 lead. Last week, it was 21-7 advantage that the CMU was in control of before giving up 35 points in the second half.
History did not repeat itself for a second week in a row.
Redshirt-junior quarterback Aaron Howard came into the game in the second half and led the offense who went on to score 21 more points in the latter half.
Midway through the third quarter, Howard found Peter Anderson via a eight-yard touchdown reception. Anderson, along with his interception, caught four passes for 43 yards.
Five minutes later, CMU capitalized on another ASU turnover and turned it into a touchdown drive. Dylan Tait forced the fumble that was recovered by the Mavericks and running back Trey Windham found the endzone two plays later.
Windham would go on to score another rushing touchdown and the two scores on Saturday were his first of the entire season.
The Grizzlies would score one final time to cut the game back within 22 points but it was too little too late. The Mavericks would seal the victory and secure their final road win of the year. CMU will look to avoid a losing season for the first time since 2013 when they play their final game of the season against New Mexico Highlands whose record currently sits at 2-7 after defeating Western Colorado University 24-22 on Saturday.
