The Mavericks lost their first game of the season 19-13 in double overtime to Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSUP).
This game saw each team punt the ball seven and nine times, respectively, in a tough defensive matchup. Colorado Mesa University (CMU) did intercept two passes and forced a fumble as they evened the possessions out for each team.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Karst Hunter threw for 224 yards along with one touchdown. He finished with a 67% completion percentage.
Graduate student wide receiver Elijah Lilly and redshirt senior Lionell McConnell were Hunter’s top targets on the day.
Lilly led the team in targets with 14 and he converted those into 8 receptions and 68 yards. McConnell caught seven of his 10 targets in the game and scored the Maverick’s lone touchdown in the game. He also recorded 58 receiving yards against the Thunderwolves.
The first quarter was a low-scoring affair as CSUP got on the board first on their opening possession. The Thunderwolves’ drive lasted 11-plays and went for 73-yards which ended in a field goal to put them up by three.
CMU’s next possession resulted in a three-and-out and a punt.
The Maverick’s put points on the board in their next two consecutive possessions. Both drives were 11-plays. Their first scoring drive went for 11-plays and 61-yards which ended in a field goal that tied the game.
CMU took over on their own one-yard line on their next possession. Redshirt sophomore running back Jesse Rodriquez got the Mavericks going with a 20-yard rush on the first play of the drive.
Hunter followed it up with a 24-yard connection to Lilly to quickly move the Mavericks up to their own 34-yard line. Lilly and Hunter connected on a 12-yard pass two plays later to move the drive to CMU’s 41-yard line.
The Maverick’s scored on a quick three-yard screen pass to McConnell to take a 10-3 lead.
Neither team was able to find the endzone in the third quarter, and CMU cut two of CSUP’s possessions with turnovers within the opening three plays of each drive.
The Thunderwolves got to work quickly in the fourth quarter as they put together a nine-play, 76-yard drive that ended in a touchdown. CSUP wide receiver Nick Williams found Nigel Mitchell in the back of the end zone on a 14-yard trick-play touchdown with 7:49 left in the fourth quarter.
Both defenses stood tall for the rest of the quarter, but the Thunderwolves made the biggest stop of the game as CMU took over with 39 seconds left. Redshirt senior defensive back Deeandra Ervin intercepted Steven Croell’s pass and returned it to their own 41-yard line.
A holding penalty and a sack pushed the Maverick’s out of hail-mary territory, so they took a knee to send the game to overtime.
CMU got the ball first in overtime but didn’t gain a yard on their opening possession. Redshirt junior kicker Lucas Ruiz Diaz was able to give the Maverick’s a three-point lead.
The Thunderwolves answered with a field goal of their own as Dean Faithfull put it through the uprights from 35-yards out. They got the first possession in double overtime, and Croell found Williams for a 17-yard touchdown to go up 19-13.
The Thunderwolves were looking for the two-point conversion though, but they couldn’t convert. Croell went through the air again, but this time the Maverick’s defense shut it down to give their offense a chance.
The Mavericks took over and Hunter picked up a first down on the opening play of the drive. CMU gained five more yards to set up third down with five yards needed for a first down. Hunter was incomplete on third down to set up a decisive fourth down.
Hunter looked for Lilly on fourth down, but Tanner Draper disrupted the pass to end the game.
Redshirt senior defensive back Damar’ren Mitchell led the Mavericks in tackles with 11 total tackles. He also recorded one tackle for loss in the game.
Ervin was the second-leading tackler in the game with 10 total tackles, and he recorded an interception for CMU. He finished with two tackles for losses against the Thunderwolves as well.
The Maverick’s next game is Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. against Adams State University in Grand Junction, Colo. at Stocker Stadium.
