Colorado Mesa hands Colorado Mines first RMAC loss in three years with stunning fourth-quarter rally

The Colorado School of Mines football team’s three-year RMAC win streak ended in the same place the last one did — inside Stocker Stadium on the Western Slope.

Colorado Mesa quarterback Liu Aumavae threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, and the Mavericks rallied from 13 points down to upset fourth-ranked Mines, 14-13, and claim the Nyikos Cup on Saturday.

A two-point conversion put the Mavericks (3-2, 2-1 RMAC) over the top, with Sam Horneck getting it done on a reverse option pass that handed Mines (4-1, 2-1 RMAC) its first RMAC loss in three years.

The Orediggers’ last conference defeat also came at Colorado Mesa — a 26-21 loss on Oct. 23, 2021, that ended a 14-game conference win streak. Mines won 23 straight RMAC games after that en route to two NCAA Division II championship game trips. But after playing with fire in back-to-back narrow road wins to start the season, the Orediggers were unable to stave off the Mavericks on Saturday.

Mines quarterback Evan Foster hooked up with Max McLeod for a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter to open the scoring. McLeod finished with seven catches for 92 yards, breaking Brody Oliver’s program record of 4,010 career receiving yards in the process.

A punt block set up the Orediggers at the Mavs’ 9-yard line in the second quarter. Three plays later, Landon Walker dove into the end zone for a 13-0 lead after Mines missed the point-after attempt.

The Orediggers didn’t score again, however, as Foster was sacked five times and finished 14-of-30 passing for 159 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Aumavae found Trevin Edwards for a 6-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, but the PAT was blocked by Jaden Healy to keep the Orediggers’ lead at 13-6.

After Mines punted on its next possession, CMU chewed up 5 minutes, 41 seconds of clock with an 11-play, 98-yard march that ended with Aumavae connecting with Quezon Villa for a 9-yard score. After the trick play two-point conversion gave CMU a 14-13 lead, Mines had two possessions to drive for the winning score but came up empty both times. A strip sack recovered by the Mavericks ended the game.

RMAC football

Saturday’s scores

CSU Pueblo 67, New Mexico Highlands 28

Chadron State 52, Adams State 3

Black Hills State 22, South Dakota Mines 20

Fort Lewis at Western Colorado, n.

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Originally Published: October 5, 2024 at 7:26 p.m.