Mountaineers rally behind passing game

No. 8 Western Colorado University rallied back to a 35-24 win over South Dakota Mines at home on Oct. 19.

After a 3-and-out on his first possession of the third quarter, quarterback Drew Nash finished off his next drive with a 75-yard drive, and touchdown pass to Josiah Ayon. The Western defense held firm on the Hardrockers' ensuing possession, and cut the lead to 10 points.

Nash pushed the offense down the field once again on the next drive, which culminated in an 11-yard touchdown to Ayon. The score moved Western to a 24-21 lead. Nash's legs provided a key play in the drive, as he scrambled for a first down on third and 21.

A 3-and-out for the Mines offense put the ball back in Western's hot hands. The Mountaineers pushed down the field again, extending the drive with a 17-yard catch by Elias Zarate on third and 7. Nash and Ayon capitalized with a 24-yard touchdown pass.

The Hardrockers found themselves trailing for the first time in the game, 28-24. The team responded with a steady drive that stalled at the Western 25. Connor Taylor lined up for a 42-yard field goal attempt to draw Mines to within a point. But Ricky Freymond blocked his second field goal of the season to maintain the Mountaineers' 4-point advantage.

Sage Yazzie's 8-yard reception on a third and 8 kept Western's next drive rolling. For the fourth time in the second half, Nash and Ayon finished a drive with a touchdown pass, this one a 20-yard lofted toss into the back of the end zone.

The Western defense finished off the win by intercepting a fourth-down pass, as Ethan Sanchez-Maxwell stepped in front of a Mines receiver to put the nail in the coffin.

Ayon finished the afternoon with four touchdowns from six catches and a total of 59 receiving yards. His efforts over the final 21 minutes of the game earned the junior wide receiver the RMAC’s offensive player of the week award.

Freymond and Cameron Cooper led the Mountaineer defense with 10 and nine total tackles. Freymond, in addition to his blocked field goal, also earned three sacks and five tackles for loss during the game. Those numbers earned the redshirt junior defensive lineman the RMAC’s defensive player of the week honor.

Western will travel to take on No. 10 Colorado School of Mines on Nov. 2 at 12 p.m. in Golden.

(​Gregg Petcoff is the assistant athletics director for communications at Western Colorado University and can be reached at gpetcoff@western.edu.)