GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Colorado Mesa's comeback spoiled #3 Colorado School of Mines' bid for another unbeaten regular season in a 26-21 scoreline at Stocker Stadium.

The Mavericks (6-1, 5-1 RMAC) bounced back from 21-7 down to hand the Orediggers (7-1, 5-1 RMAC) their first loss of the season. The two teams are now in a three-way tie with Western Colorado atop the RMAC standings, with CMU visiting the Mountaineers next week. 

Tristan Smith caught two touchdowns and Michael Zeman rushed for 108 yards and a score while John Matocha threw for 134 yards and two touchdowns. CMU quarterback Karst Hunter had 288 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for 58 yards as Dwight Blakey led the way with 103 yards and a score in the air.

Both teams punted on their opening drives, but Mines got on the board first with a drive that saw them convert a pair of 4th downs, including 4th and 1 from the 16 that Zeman found the edge on to score. CMU answered on their next chance as Hunter capped the drive with a 24-yard dart to Elijah Lilly.

Mines controlled the ball over the next 10 minutes, scoring on a leaping Smith 10-yard grab, then driving 97 yards to score on a short Smith catch to the pylon. Mines received the ball at their own 1 late in the second half but the Mavs managed to stop Zeman on first down for a safety, and CMU scored off the ensuing possession with a 33-yard Dwight Blakey catch to steal the momentum back before the half down 21-16.

Mason Pierce's interception at the Oredigger 2 halted CMU on the opening drive of the third quarter, but after punting from their own end zone, Mines had to come up with a red zone defensive stop on back-to-back sacks to limit the hosts to a 38-yard Lucas Ruiz Diaz field goal. 

CMU's next possession resulted in the go-ahead score as the Mavericks went for it on 4th and 5, and Dagan Rienks rumbled in 39 yards on a catch-and-run up the right sideline to lead 26-21. The two sides traded punts, and after Mines turned it over on downs with 4:05 left in the game, Jalen Williams' hit on Avian Thomas popped the ball loose for Nolan Reeve to recover at the Mesa 37 with 3:12 to go.

That gave Mines plenty of time to find a winner, but it never came. After moving into the end zone and having 1st and goal from the 7, the Orediggers had several shots at the end zone but ended up facing 4th and 13; a Josh Johnston touchdown catch at the post was called back on a holding flag, and the Orediggers' final Hail Mary shot was intercepted by Damar'ren Mitchell to end the game.

NOTABLES
- Mason Karp led Mines receivers with nine catches for 67 yards. 
- Zeman compiled his seventh 100+ yard rushing game of the season. 
- Jaden Williams made a career- and game-high 10 tackles in addition to his forced fumble and two pass break-ups. Mack Minnehan and Nolan Reeve each had seven stops. 
- CMU's safety was the first allowed by Mines since the 2010 season against New Mexico Highlands.
- Penalties were a big factor in the first half as the Mavericks had six of their nine flags in the period; they ended up with nine for 90 yards while Mines had only two for 25. 
- The Orediggers were held to 4-of-14 on third-down conversions but were 3-of-5 on 4th down. 

NEXT UP
Mines will host Chadron State Oct. 30 at noon, live on KWGN-2.