GOLDEN — David Pesek threw three second-half touchdown passes Saturday to thaw out Colorado Mines’ frigid offense as the Orediggers defeated Western State 24-7. The victory keeps Mines (5-2) unbeaten at 5-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Mines led 3-0 at halftime on Dalton Lane’s 24-yard field goal in the first quarter. Pesek connected with Adam Saur for a 5-yard TD midway through the third quarter, then to Keegan Moyer from the 15 with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.
About five minutes later, the Mountaineers (3-4, 3-2) got their only score on Shaun Suttorp’s 55-yard punt return. Pesek connected with Saur again, from the 4-yard line, with 49 seconds left.
Adams State 27, Fort Lewis 17
DURANGO — The Grizzlies (3-4, 3-2) scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to claim a come- from-behind victory over the Skyhawks (1-6, 0-5).
Fort Lewis had a 17-9 lead late in the third quarter on Tim Jenkins’ 49-yard scoring strike to Sam Apraku, a Nate Soucie field goal and Apraku’s 8-yard run. ASC closed to 17-12 on David Van Voris’ fourth field goal, then took the lead when Trevor Eggleston hooked up with Stephen Baca from 9 yards. Will Naas sealed the win with a 40-yard interception return.
Nebraska-Kearney 53, New Mexico Highlands 3
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Rustin Dring’s 10-yard run six seconds into the second quarter started the Lopers’ (6-1, 5-0) scoring binge against the overmatched Cowboys (0-7, 0-5).
Nebraska-Kearney scored twice in the last 2:09 of the first half to take a 24-3 lead on two Jake Spitzlberger passes, 15 yards to Brendan Liess and 10 yards to Eli Hammond.
Chadron State 42, Western New Mexico 7
SILVER CITY, N.M. — Maurice Threatts led the Eagles’ rushing attack with 80 yards on 14 carries and two first-half scores. Chadron (4-3, 3-2) outgained the Mustangs (1-5, 0-5) 233-78 on the ground.
Mesa State 21, CSU-Pueblo 13
PUEBLO — James Hamm scored on runs of 25 and 17 yards in the first half to lead the Mavericks’ (4-3, 4-1) ground game, which piled up 196 yards rushing on the Thunderwolves (3-4, 2-3).
The T-Wolves closed to within 14-10 in the second quarter on a 4-yard scamper by Johnny Wood, but Mesa’s defense held CSU-P to only a field goal in the second half, while Mesa got a third-quarter TD on Michael Mankoff’s 5-yard pass to Seth Damron.
