MEDIA INFORMATION Date Sat., Oct. 14 | 6 p.m. MT Location Legend Solar Stadium (5,500) | St. George, UT TV CEC-TV (TDS Cable Channel 22) Radio ESPN 97.7 FM  WATCH/LISTEN WATCH (Dixie State Live Video) LISTEN (Online Radio Stream)   Live Stats Dixie State Live Stats Ticket Info Purchase Tickets Game Notes Dixie State (PDF) , Colorado Mesa (PDF) Twitter @DixieAthletics #RMACfb #BlazeForward DIXIE STATE - CMU SERIES Series Colorado Mesa leads 6-2 At DSU CMU leads 2-1 At CMU CMU leads 4-1 First Meeting 8/24/06; CMU 42, DSU 14 @ DSU Last Meeting 10/15/16; DSU 38, CMU 31 @ CMU DIXIE STATE TRAILBLAZERS Record 3-3, 3-2 RMAC Ranking NR Last Game Oct. 7, 2017 (won vs. Chadron State, 38-24) Head Coach Shay McClure (Southern Oregon, 1995) Career: 9-8 (2nd Season) DSU Record: Same COLORADO MESA MAVERICKS Record 5-1, 5-1 RMAC Ranking No. 20 (AFCA) Last Game Oct. 7, 2017 (won vs. Black Hills State, 49-37) Head Coach Russ Martin (Chadron State) Career: 51-51 (10th Season) CMU Record: 38-24 (6th Season)

The Dixie State football team welcomes No. 20 Colorado Mesa to Legend Solar Stadium on Saturday, with the opening kickoff set for 6 p.m. The Trailblazers (3-3, 3-2 RMAC), who close a two-game homestand on Saturday, are set to host their second nationally-ranked opponent of the season.  

Live coverage is scheduled on television (CEC-TV – TDS Cable Channel 22), radio (ESPN 97.7 FM), and online at the DSU Stretch Internet Portal (portal.stretchinternet.com/dixiestate), with Keric Seegmiller providing play-by-play and Andy Thompson offering analysis and color commentary.

ALL-TIME VS. COLORADO MESA: Saturday's game marks the ninth meeting (NCAA Division II era) between Dixie State and Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks rolled to a 42-14 victory in the inaugural matchup on Aug. 24, 2006, in Grand Junction. DSU recorded its first victory of the series one month later, capturing a 21-6 win in St. George on Oct. 7, 2006. Colorado Mesa countered with five consecutive wins before Dixie State shocked the No. 23 Mavericks with a 38-31 victory in Grand Junction last season. CMU holds a 6-2 series lead, including a 2-1 mark in St. George.

LAST MEETING: Oct. 15, 2016. Dixie State overcame a 17-0 first-quarter deficit, rallying for a 38-31 win over the No. 23 Mavericks for its first-ever win at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction. After spotting CMU the 17-0 lead, DSU rattled off 35 unanswered points, then added a late field goal to seal the victory. The Trailblazers racked up 465 yards of total offense in the win, including 332 yards on the ground.

KNOW YOUR FOE: Colorado Mesa enters the game with a 5-1 overall and RMAC record, and is nationally-ranked at No. 20 in the AFCA Division II Top-25. The Mavericks entered the season ranked at No. 23 and climbed as high as No. 8 before dropping a 30-24 decision at CSU-Pueblo on September 30. The loss to the Thunderwolves marks the lone CMU defeat of the season.

The Mavericks enter the game ranked third in total offense in the RMAC, averaging 463.8 yards (242.5 pass/221.3 rush) per game. Dual-threat quarterback Eystin Salum captains the offense and has completed 88-of-154 passes for 1,433 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 504 yards and another nine touchdowns. Running back David Tann ranks sixth in the RMAC with 578 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 93 carries. Three CMU receivers have caught at least 15 passes on the season, including Josh Brown (20 receptions/318 yards), Virnel Moon (17 receptions/372 yards/5 TD), and Peter Anderson (15 receptions/317 yards/2 TD).

Defensively, the Mavericks allow 451.2 yards (333.8 pass/117.3 rush) per game. CMU boasts the second-ranked rush defense in the RMAC, holding its opponents under 120 yards rushing per game. Defensive end Blake Nelson leads the defensive charge with a team-best 46 tackles (9.5 for loss) and five sacks to go with an interception. Two other CMU defenders have logged 40 or more tackles, including safety Darian Turner (41 tackles) and linebacker Tom Saager (40 tackles).

The Mavericks also boast solid special teams units. Kicker Ryan Sheehan has converted 5-of-8 field goals (season-long 51 yards) and is perfect at 29-of-29 on point-after attempts. Punter Austin Pitchford has accumulated 1,303 yards of total punting, averaging 40.7 yards per punt on 32 attempts.

ALL-TIME VS. AFCA RANKED OPPONENTS: Saturday's game marks the 13th meeting between Dixie State and an opponent ranked in the AFCA Top-25.  The Trailblazers are 1-11 all-time in matchups against ranked opponents, securing its first win over a ranked opponent in a 38-31 victory over No. 23 Colorado Mesa last season. DSU dropped a 58-40 decision to No. 20 Central Washington on September 23.

MAKING HISTORY: Senior linebacker Noe Perez (Santa Ana, Calif./Los Amigo HS) tied the DSU single-game record with three sacks at Western State on September 30. Perez matched the effort first recorded by Nick Rocco at Central Washington in 2010.

LEADING THE LEAGUE: Through six games Dixie State leads the RMAC in pass defense (147.7 yards per game), pass defense efficiency (90-181-7, 49.7 completion percentage, 92.2 efficiency rating), and kickoff coverage (61.4 yards per game).  The Trailblazers rank second in total defense (340.2 yards per game), interceptions (7), and opponent third down conversion (28-78, 31.8 %).

LAST TIME OUT: Dixie State battled to a 38-24 victory over Chadron State on Saturday. The Trailblazers racked up 516 yards of total offense in the win, marking the first time DSU has eclipsed the 500-yard mark since Oct. 31, 2015, at South Dakota Mines.

TACKLE CANCER/THINK PINK DAY: Saturday's game will serve as the Dixie State Football Tackle Cancer/Think Pink day. The first 2,000 fans to arrive at Legend Solar Stadium will receive a free pink T-Shirt, courtesy of America First Credit Union.

NEXT UP: Dixie State makes it first trip to Golden, Colorado, next Saturday for an afternoon matchup with Colorado Mines. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon at Marv Kay Stadium.