It was the David Tann show this past weekend. And it did not seem like it was going to stop any time soon.
The CMU football team was looking to rebound during homecoming week against the Adams State Grizzlies (1-5).
It did not take long to return to their winning ways with new quarterback Eystin Salum who took over the starting job for quarterback Sean Rubalcaba. Along with running back David Tann the Mavericks accumulated over 500 yards on the ground.
“It was a fun day,” Salum said about his first start of his career. “Offense was executing well. The line did a fantastic job blocking on every play. David Tann, obviously, I heard he set a record.”
On the first drive, the Mavericks were able to drive down 70 yards to the Grizzlies four-yard line where Tann was able to get into the end zone for one of his many touchdowns on the night. The Mavericks took a quick 7-0 lead.
The following drive from the Grizzlies was filled with the opposite mentality of the Mavericks as quarterback Jorge Hernandez finished the drive going 6-7 for 68 yards and a touchdown. He capped the drive off with an eight-yard touchdown pass to his receiver Phil Romero.
Salum and Tann struck once again and this time it did not take much time. Salum found Tann out of the backfield and Tann did the rest. Tann took it to the house from 72 yards out.
After a quick three and out for the Grizzlies the Mavericks were able to add to their lead. Once again it was Tann who found the end zone. This time it came at the end of an 84-yard drive. The one-yard touchdown was set up by Salum’s 74-yard run. That made it 21-7 CMU.
The Grizzlies were able to respond as running back Corey Brown was able to cap off a 9 play, 77-yard drive cutting the Mavericks lead to 21-14. The Mavericks didn’t wait to respond however. Taking their own 9-play drive and going 73 yards in just under two minutes. Tann found his way into the end zone for the fourth time in the first quarter.
After one quarter the game was on pace for a final score of 112-56. The final score didn’t get that high, but it didn’t slow down during the second quarter.
Both teams were able to find their way into the end zone twice more during the second quarter. The Grizzlies struck first as Hernandez completed a pass on a crucial fourth and seven to continue the drive. He eventually found Romero for the second time on the night.
With the quarterback change came a pace of play change as well.
“If you go back in the last couple of games, when we’ve played faster we’ve played better and we’ve had a different sense of urgency,” head coach Russ Martin said.
Another drive of less than two minutes resulted in another seven points as Salum set up yet another Tann touchdown after a 20-yard run. On the next play Tann was able to punch the ball in for his fifth touchdown of the night giving the Mavericks a 35-21 lead.
The Grizzlies were forced to punt once again after their drive stalled after eight plays. After receiving the punt, the Mavericks were able to put together a 11 play, 89-yard drive that lasted just under three minutes. This one, just like the others ended with a Tann touchdown.
The Mavericks went into halftime up 42-28 as the Grizzlies were able to add a touchdown late in the quarter to bring it within two touchdowns. The Mavericks had a chance to add their seventh touchdown of the half, but Tann was unable to get into the end zone from the one-yard line.
Adams State punted on their first drive and gave the Mavericks the ball back at their 25-yard line. They were able to put together a four-minute drive that went 75-yards in 12 plays that resulted in Tann’s seventh touchdown of the night.
His sixth rushing touchdown tied the record for most rushing touchdowns in league history with three others: Thelbert Withers of New Mexico Highlands (1992), Russ Hodgson of Colorado Mesa (1982) and Roy Overstreet of Adams State (1975).
“I wasn’t thinking about it. Everybody on the sideline was talking to me about it. The game was still close and they were still scoring so I was worried about that,” Tann said of his record setting day.
“They played lights out. We started moving the ball a little faster and that helps us get in a rhythm,” Tann said regarding his offensive line.
The Mavericks went on to beat the Grizzlies 63-42 after a receiving touchdown from Salum to Josh Brown and a rushing touchdown from Jonathon Beverly were added before the game was finally over.
Salum finished the night with over 500 yards of total offense as he threw for 307 yards and rushed for 277 more. Tann added his own of 162 rushing yards.
The Mavericks improved to 6-2 (6-2 RMAC) will head to Las Vegas, N.M. for a matchup against the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys 0-8 (0-8 RMAC).
