GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Going against the top defense in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Western New Mexico University football team will play at Colorado Mesa University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Mavericks, currently allowing just 10.2 points per game, are 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the RMAC and are currently receiving votes in the latest AFCA Coaches' Poll. If the poll extended past the top-25 they would currently be ranked No. 26. Colorado Mesa has won four straight against Adams State, Chadron State, Black Hills State and this past weekend against New Mexico Highlands. The only team they have lost to is Midwestern State, 16-13 in overtime. Midwestern State is ranked 11^th in the latest AFCA Poll.

Colorado Mesa has rushed for 13 touchdowns led by five from DJ Hubbard, who has rushed for 485 yards on 90 attempts and Jonathon Beverly with four scores on 89 attempts and 580 yards. Quarterback Sean Rubalcaba has added three touchdowns on 56 carries and 149 yards and David Tann has a touchdown. Rubalcaba, the transfer from Northern Colorado, has also thrown for 908 yards and nine touchdowns, completing 59-of-105. His to targets have been Virnel Moon who has brought down 15 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Derek Vander Velde and Marcus Hines have two touchdowns catches each.

On defense the Mavericks are led by Tom Saager's 60 tackles, of which 36 are solo. He also has a sack and interception. Blake Nelson has 50 tackles along with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, which leads the team. Dustin Rivas and Salim Cleghorne have each picked off three passes to lead the squad. The team has 15 sacks and 12 interceptions this season.

WNMU, currently 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the RMAC, are looking to snap a three-game losing streak with their last win coming on Sep. 19 at home against New Mexico Highlands (38-37). The Mustangs still have the top passing attack in the RMAC at 372.3 and are second in the nation.

Do everything back Marques Rodgers (Gardena, CA/Serra) is all over the top of the charts in several categories. The reigning RMAC Freshman Offensive Player of the Year has already rushed for 699 yards on 111 carries and six touchdowns. He has also caught 43 passes for 408 yards and three scores. He is second in the RMAC in all-purpose yards and fifth in the nation averaging 204.3 per game. He is fourth in the RMAC in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards and rushing yards per game. Nationally in all those categories he is 42^nd, 14^th and 22^nd, respectively. In terms of scoring he is fourth in the RMAC and 33^rd nationally in scoring at 9.0 per game. If that wasn't enough, he is also amongst the best in punt returns averaging 13.2 per return which is second in the RMAC and 21^st nationally.

In the passing game, Mitch Glasmann (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) is on the brink of collecting his second RMAC career passing record. Having already set the touchdowns mark at Colorado State University-Pueblo, he is just 44 yards away from shattering the RMAC career passing record. He has completed 167-of-283 passes for 2,141 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. He ranks high in several categories including first in the RMAC and third in the nation in completions per game (27.83), fourth in the RMAC and 51^st nationally in passing effiecency (136.7), second in passing touchdowns, 10^th nationally, second in passing yards, third nationally and third in passing yards per completion (12.82), 63^rd nationally. He is also second in the RMAC in both points responsible for at 102, 22^nd nationally and second in points responsible for per game at 17.3 and 24^th nationally. Lastly he is second in the RMAC and ninth nationally in total offense per game at 348.3.

With all of the numbers that Glasmann has been piling up, the receivers have also been cashing in. Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) has caught 50 passes for 838 yards and three touchdowns. His numbers put him fourth in the RMAC and 43^rd nationally in all-purpose yards (139.67), first in the RMAC in receiving yards, receiving yards per game (139.7) and receptions per game (8.3). He ranks second nationally in the first two and fifth in receptions per game. After Rodgers, Larry Young II (San Diego, CA/Morse HS) has 33 catches for 466 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. Young II is second in receiving touchdowns, 12^th nationally, third in receiving yards, 47^th nationally, third in receiving yards per game (77.7), 52^nd nationally and fifth in receptions per game (5.5), which is good for 55^th nationally. Ayers is now within range of Donald Byrd's receiving yards from last season in which he went for 1,200. Ronnell Pompey's 1,241 receiving yards in 2013 in the tops on the team in the past several years.

Others that have also caught touchdown passes include Michael Ball (Rowland Heights, CA/Rowland) (1), Cole Coffeen (Springerville, AZ/Round Valley) (1) and Evan Beebe (Chula Vista, CA/Mater Dei Catholic) (3). Ball also has one pass attempt this season that went for a 75-yard TD pass to Ayers.
When it comes to defense, Darius Guillory (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) remains the front runner with 45 stops and 21 solo. He also has a fumble recovery. Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) has added 38 tackles, with 18 solo, 2.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble and recovery. Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) leads in tackles for loss with eight, Aaron Leauma (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills), Wilson and Johnny Delcoure (Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook) each lead in sacks with two each, while Juwan Sumpter (Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook HS) and Wilson have both interceptions this season. Wilson is fifth in the RMAC and 71^st nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.3). Sumpter leads the team in passes broken up with nine and passes defended with 10. He ranks first in the RMAC and 20^th nationally in passes defended per game (1.7). In addition to Guillory and Barry recovering fumbles, Sumpter, Wilson, Avery Crump (Los Angeles, CA/Verbum Dei) and Curtis Palacio (Los Angeles, CA/Dorsey ) all have recovered a fumble this season.

WNMU as a team ranks in the top-50 nationally in: blocked kicks allowed (1) 37^th, blocked punts (1), 31^st, tied for first in blocked punts allowed (0), first downs (140), 29^th, fumbles recovered (6), 38^th, net punting (34.93), 46^th, punt return yards per game (14.50), 25^th, team passing efficiency (137.69), 50^th and total offense per game (489.8), 18^th.

Colorado Mesa has won the last three games in the series with WNMU's last win coming in 2001 tallying a 33-21 victory. The Mavericks won a wild game last year, rallying to claim the 45-35 victory in Silver City.
Live video, audio and stats will be available for the game.