The Nyikos cup will be on the line in what will be another exciting chapter in the rivalry between Colorado Mesa University and the Colorado School of Mines.
After last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Chadron State Eagles, and news of the passing of teammate Brett Ojiyi, this will be a redemption week for the Mavericks but it will come in the toughest test possible in the RMAC.
Colorado School of Mines is the only remaining team left in the conference and have taken over the spot as the fourteenth best team in the country that CMU held the week before. This week will be a testament to how the Mavericks can rebind after a tough week, and if anyone can do it, it is this team.
“They are a very good football team so it has to be a very great game for us,” Head Coach Russ Martin said. “I think our guys know and understand we have the capability of beating them.”
Things that need to change is the yards allowed on defense. Last week against the Eagles, the Mavericks’ defense gave up 645 yards of total offense. So far this season, the defense allows 450.75 yards per game.
This makes it all the more difficult for the Maverick offense to maintain a lead. This has been a reoccurring problem through the first month of football. CMU has the trend of getting ahead early but slowing down in the second half which has allowed for whoever they played against to shorten, or eventually, steal the lead.
“We have got to be very good as far as our tackling,” Marin said. “We have to stay very assignment sound.”
Offensively, CMU needs to keep doing what they have continued to do…score points. The offense is averaging 32 points and 214.3 yards on the ground per game. Eystin Salum, along with is explosive backfield led by Lake Makakona, need to keep the offense on the field and grind away at the solid Oredigger defense.
Wide receiver Peter Anderson is coming off of the game of his career as the 155-pound speed demon broke the school record for most receiving yards in a single game last week with 11 catches for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Him, along with Marcus Hines, are responsible for the quick and rapid scores CMU will need Saturday.
Everything from field position, to tackling and offensive efficiency, will play a difference in this game. The Mavericks have to play a close to perfect game in order to knock off the Orediggers.
“Both teams have shown that they are capable of scoring fast,” Martin said. “If they make us a one-dimensional team that plays into their hands…we gotta be able to control the football, we gotta be able to get first downs and we gotta be able to score points.”
Looking back at the game last year, the Mavericks were able to come away with the 38-36 victory after a last-second field goal to win the game. The field goal followed a 68-yard catch from Salum to Anderson to give CMU the chance to win.
It was the perfect big play to end a game that was highlighted by big plays and fast scores. This weekend will be no different.
The Mavericks are facing one of the best scoring offenses in all of NCAA Division II football as well as a quarterback who has only thrown two INT’s all season.
The game will take place in Golden, Colo. and will kick off at noon.
