The lucky number of the day for the Mavericks: seven. The Mavericks scored seven touchdowns to seven different players while totaling seven interceptions in the matchup Saturday afternoon.
After two straight games on the road, the Colorado Mesa Mavericks football team returned home to Stocker Stadium to take on the Yellow Jackets of Black Hills State. Both teams came into the weekend searching for their first RMAC victory of the young season. The Mavs had last weekend’s game vs Chadron State for the taking but couldn’t hang on as they went on to lose 30-24.
The Mavericks started the game with an enormous amount of energy and fire coming off the devastating loss last weekend, and the defense came up big after Michael Brady intercepted BHSU quarterback Ward Anderson. The interception set up the Mavericks with prime field position, and it didn’t take long to find the endzone for quarterback Kyle Duran, He found Ricky Trinidad wide open in the seam to get six points on the board for the fired up Mavericks.
The rest of the first half was a struggle for both teams, and after Duran went down with an injury, Senior quarterback Jason Haferman entered the game to lead the Mavericks on offense. After a few stalled drives, Haferman lead the Mavs to five straight touchdowns, starting at the end of the third quarter. Haferman would go on to throw for 162 yards and three touchdowns, each to a different receiver.
“We have more weapons than we have ever had, and when we play with confidence, those play makers emerge,” Haferman said. “Our offense is structured to have many options, and when you execute, everyone will get the ball.”
The victory came on Parent’s Weekend, and Haferman had his own support group there to witness his big day.
“I’m very glad I could do it in front of a very supportive family…” Haferman said. “It was awesome to share the win with all the players and coaches that believed and supported me.”
Each scoring drive for the Mavericks was set up with excellent field position, thanks to a turnover-hungry defense. The Mavs D, which entered the game already ranked at the top of the RMAC in interceptions, tallied an RMAC record seven more picks in Saturday’s contest.
“We really work on being in the right place at the right time in practice,” junior cornerback Jordan Price said. “We always try to get our hands on the ball so we can create opportunities for our offense, and it worked out perfectly today.”
The defense played a huge role in helping the offense with field position, and the offense returned the favor by scoring seven touchdowns, each one going to a different Maverick player.
The defense’s most impressive stat is that they have yet to yield a rushing touchdown in any of the four games they have played this season, and a goal line stand early in the game vs BHSU kept the streak alive. Jake Edmiston led the charge, totaling 13 tackles along with two interceptions. The Maverick defense kept the Yellow Jackets out of the endzone while only allowing 53 yards rushing.
“We are a run first team and know how to read the lineman and attack the football” Price continued. “We also are taking a lot more pride in getting to the ball with urgency and getting the runner down.”
The Mavericks (2-2, 1-1) will be on the road again this weekend as they travel to Las Vegas, N.M., to take on the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands (2-2, 1-1).

ksparkhu@mavs.coloradomesa.edu