Through one week, the Mavericks defense looks like they can be a force in Division 2.
The Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Football Team contributed to a 10-7 win over Chadron State College (CSC). The Maverick’s defense held the Eagles scoreless until the final 25 seconds of the game.
In their second game of the season, the Mavericks held Black Hills State University (BHSU) scoreless for the final 57 minutes of the game. They allowed an early score, but they immediately tightened up and shut down the Yellow Jackets offense to help win for the first time in Spearfish, S.D. since 2014.
CMU has held both the Eagles and the Yellow Jackets to 54 rushing yards with 36 or more rushing attempts.
Three Mavericks finished with 10 or more total tackles in the game along with seven players registered half a sack or more against CSC.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Logan Bayus and senior linebacker Bryant Bowen both finished with a team-leading two sacks. Bayus and Bowen were in the backfield a lot during the Eagles game and they have the talent to continue their play.
The duo combined for 2.5 tackles for loss and they were among the nine Mavericks who registered a tackle for loss.
“[The defensive line’s] biggest strength is that we just keep going. We have a motor, we have dudes that will just keep going and there is no stopping us. You can try but we are just going to keep going and come after you,” Bayus said.
Junior defensive lineman Pierre Hayes registered a team-leading four tackles for loss against the Yellow Jackets. On the season, he has 4.5 tackles for loss accounting for 27 yards. Hayes also has 10 total tackles on the season, as he is one of the eight Mavericks who has double-digit tackles.
The defensive line and the linebacker groups for the Mavericks played at a high level against the Eagles and they can do it all season.
Redshirt junior Greyson Matalus, senior Remington Green and Bowen lead the CMU linebacker unit. The trio combined for 33 total tackles and three tackles for loss.
Redshirt junior linebacker Justin Allmond finished third on the team in total tackles with 10 and two pass breakups. Allmond transferred from Long Beach Community College where he was a defensive back before becoming a linebacker for the Mavericks.
“We still have a lot of things that we haven’t done yet in the defense, because one reason or another, us starting late, some injury stuff that we’ve dealt with, so we haven’t put in what we want to get to,” CMU Football Head Coach, Tremaine Jackson, said.
The Maverick’s as a whole has dealt with injuries but the fact that they still have things to put in on the defense should scare teams. They have allowed 14 points through two games and they don’t look like they are stopping anytime soon.
CMU’s defense has completely shut down their opponent’s rushing game, and it is only a matter of time before they shut their passing game down too.
CMU’s defense isn’t just good upfront. They have tremendous defensive backs who are great in coverage and great open-field tacklers. Redshirt seniors Devante Loggins, Damar’ren Mitchell and Deeandra Ervin lead the defensive backs unit for the Mavericks.
Devante Loggins nearly comes up with an interception in the endzone against the Eagles | Mike Ritter for The Criterion
The three combined for 14 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups.
The defensive backs unit has depth as well. Redshirt senior D’Angelo Lindsay had four tackles against the Eagles.
Junior Jordan Ellis hadn’t played a game since 2017, and he made the game-winning interception to beat CSC in overtime.
Sophomore defensive back Kegan Hufford got into the mix as well against the Yellow Jackets. He finished with five total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss against BHSU as he saw his first playing time of the year.
The defensive backs for the Mavericks have now compiled all three interceptions for this defense. Mitchell has two interceptions on the season, and he had a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown against BHSU.
This team has a ton of depth on the roster from the top-down.
They have all the pieces they need to be a great defense, and they have executed well on all levels. In each game, they have allowed only one touchdown and they have shut down two offenses who put up three or more touchdowns against them last year.
CMU will be back in Grand Junction as they play South Dakota Mines on Oct. 24 at noon.
