KEARNEY, Neb. — Jake Spitzlberger threw four touchdown passes of over 60 yards to lead Nebraska-Kearney (5-1, 4-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a 44-12 victory over CSU-Pueblo (3-3, 2-2) on Saturday.
Spitzlberger, a former Bear Creek High School standout, hooked up with Brendan Liess from 69 yards early in the second quarter after the Thunderwolves (3-3, 2-2) had taken a 6-3 lead on two field goals by Kyle Major. After a Lopers field goal, Spitzlberger found Tyrone Hilton Jr. for a 74-yard scoring play with 4:02 left in the first half to give UNK a 20-6 lead.
Spitzlberger connected with Kyle Kaiser twice in the second half, from 61 and 69 yards. Spitzlberger finished with 293 yards passing on only six completions. Jamaal Johnson gained 83 yards on 15 carries for CSU-Pueblo, and Jesse Lewis caught three passes for 88 yards and a score.
Colorado Mines 23, Mesa State 17
GRAND JUNCTION — David Pesek threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns as the Orediggers (4-2, 4-0 RMAC) held off the Mavericks (3-3, 3-1) after building a 10-point halftime lead.
Mesa State got the ball on its own 20-yard line with 1:32 left and advanced 25 yards before giving the ball up on downs on an incomplete pass on fourth-and-15. Dominic Bravo caught three passes for 102 yards and a TD for Mines.
Western State 31, Fort Lewis 27
GUNNISON — The Mountaineers (3-3, 3-1 RMAC) converted two first downs on their game-winning drive that ended with a 1-yard pass from Tyler Daniels to Miles Gorham with 12 seconds left. The Skyhawks (1-5, 0-4) had taken a 27-24 lead with 9:16 left on quarterback Tim Jenkins’ 2-yard run, his second rushing and fourth overall TD of the day. Daniels also had four touchdowns, all through the air for the Mountaineers.
The win gave Western State a three-game win streak, its first since 2004.
Adams State 69, W. New Mexico 42
ALAMOSA — Trevor Eggleston threw six touchdown passes, and Ryland Snow and Joel Lay had one rushing score each as the Grizzlies (2-4, 2-2 RMAC) ran and threw for a 41-14 halftime lead before playing the Mustangs (1-4, 0-4) even in the second half.
In the first half, Eggleston threw three scoring passes to Ryan Hedberg — from 39, 62 and 20 yards — and an 18-yarder to Stephen Baca. Snow got his rushing TD from 34 yards out, and David Van Voris kicked a 30-yard field goal as the second quarter expired.
Hedberg finished with seven catches for 150 yards.
Chadron State 51, N.M. Highlands 7
CHADRON, Neb. — The Eagles (3-3, 2-2 RMAC) led 30-0 at halftime on two short scoring runs by Nate Peterson and Mark Haag, three field goals from Travis Atter and Aaron Cooksley’s 8-yard return of a blocked punt.
Denver Post staff & wire reports
