The Colorado Mesa University football team fell to the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers 31-24 at Stocker Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, marking the first time in three years the Nyikos Cup will return to the Front Range. The Homecoming defeat snapped a two-game winning streak for the Mavericks in the rivalry series, dropping their season record to 3-4. Head coach Miles Kochevar expressed disappointment after the game, stating that the team felt they "let the fans down today" and that the loss was "tough to swallow."
The Mavericks faced challenges offensively from the start of the game. Starting quarterback Cole Hansen completed only one of his first six passes for 38 yards. The run game provided a brief spark on the opening drive, a 14-play, 56-yard effort that culminated in a 36-yard field goal from kicker Kale Purvis. However, beyond that initial push, CMU managed just nine plays and 74 all-purpose yards before the two-minute timeout in the first half, by which point they were already trailing by two scores. Colorado Mines quickly capitalized on turnovers and offensive efficiency. Redshirt sophomore kicker Preston Kyle delivered a significant play for the Orediggers just before halftime, successfully kicking an impressive 60-yard field goal to give Mines a 17-10 advantage. A school spokesperson noted that this was the longest made field goal by a Colorado Mines kicker since 1973. Coach Kochevar acknowledged the opposing kicker's talent, calling him "talented."
CMU mounted a rally late in the first half and into the second. Hansen operated a two-minute drill smoothly on Mesa’s final drive of the first half, completing three passes and scrambling for a pair of first downs, leading to a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Trek Keyworth. This score brought the Mavericks within four points of the Orediggers. However, the second half began with another setback for CMU, as Hansen fumbled on a quarterback run during the first drive, allowing the Orediggers to convert the turnover into seven points and extend their lead to 14 points with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. The Mavericks found rhythm on their second drive of the second half, executing their most successful drive of the afternoon. They marched 75 yards on six plays, scoring their second touchdown on a 19-yard reception by senior wideout Noah Greer, his first touchdown of the season. Greer recounted the play, noting the team knew they needed to score when driving the field down a couple touchdowns. He added that he "just looked back and the ball was there," and that the team aims to get into the end zone on every play.
In the fourth quarter, Keyworth added his second touchdown reception of the afternoon, a 10-yard pass from Hansen, which again pulled the Mavericks within seven points. Despite these efforts, CMU's defense could not secure a critical stop when needed most, and the Orediggers effectively managed the clock to clinch the seven-point victory. Mines’ senior quarterback Joseph Capra had a dominant performance, completing 25 of 32 pass attempts for 278 yards and throwing for four touchdowns. The Mavericks’ defense struggled to find an answer for Capra and the Orediggers’ offense throughout the game, forcing only one three-and-out. In comparison, CMU had four drives end in three plays or less.
Coach Kochevar highlighted third-down efficiency as a crucial factor in the game. Colorado Mines converted 8 of 15 third downs, while the Mavericks converted 5 of 12. Kochevar emphasized that improved third-down performance is necessary for "winning football" and to "wear down our opponents." For the Mavericks, quarterback Cole Hansen finished the game completing 16 of 30 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Bronco Hartson led the team in rushing with 37 yards on eight attempts. Trek Keyworth was the leading pass catcher, hauling in five receptions for 77 yards and his two touchdowns. The loss marked the end of CMU's second-longest winning streak in the Nyikos Cup series since its inception in 2010. Colorado School of Mines now holds a 10-6 lead in the rivalry. The Mavericks, now 3-4 on the season, will aim to regroup next Saturday, Oct. 24, as they travel to Alamosa for a noon kickoff against Adams State at Rex Stadium.
