The fifth-ranked Mountaineers will take on Adams State on Sept. 20 for the 78th Colorado Classic, the second longest continual football rivalry in the state.
Western Colorado University holds a 43-34 edge in the history of the rivalry, which began with a Mountaineer victory in 1934. The Grizzlies claimed the series’ longest win streak, stringing 12 consecutive wins together from 2002 to 2013. But the Mountaineers, champions of the past four games, boasted an 11-game winning streak from 1991 to 2001.
The Mountaineers moved up to No. 5 in the D2Football.com rankings and to No. 7 in the AFCA Division II poll despite a bye last weekend. Western brings the No. 11 scoring offense into the matchup — an attack that’s averaging 41.5 points per game.
The Crimson and Slate defense is also ranked in the top 20, including 12th in team tackles for loss. All-American quarterback Drew Nash operates Western’s offensive threat. He ranks 10th nationally in points responsible for and 30th in total offense.
The Grizzlies enter Saturday’s rivalry with an 0-2 record this season. Their most recent win came on Sept. 30, 2024 at New Mexico Highlands by a score of 21-14. However, the season-opening loss came against a Western New Mexico squad that is averaging 39 points per game and their second loss was to University of Texas Permian Basin, which is ranked No. 7 in the D2Football.com poll.
So far this season, Adams State has unveiled a run-oriented offense, and averages 181 YPG on the ground and just 77 YPG through the air. Sophomore Ahmare Merrida spearheads the ground attack, averaging 91.5 YPG, a figure that includes a 134-yard game in the loss to UT Permian Basin.
True freshman quarterback Tyson Smith is taking the snaps for the Grizzlies, hitting on 45 percent of his throws, with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. He’s also been sacked seven times over ASU’s first two games. Junior linebacker Mafileo Tupou is the Grizzlies’ leading tackler with 19 total tackles including 14 solo stops.
The Mountaineers will return home to face New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 27.
(Gregg Petcoff is the assistant athletics director for communications at Western Colorado University and can be reached at gpetcoff@western.edu.)
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