ALAMOSA, Colo. - The Adams State Grizzlies Football team closes out the road portion of their schedule this weekend as they head Grand Junction, Colo. At 4-5, the Grizzlies will look to get back to .500 this week before returning home.

OPPONENT: Colorado Mesa Mavericks (5-4, 4-4 RMAC)

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 - 7 p.m.

WHERE: Grand Junction, Colo. - Stocker Stadium

KICKOFF
The Adams University Football is on the road for the final time for the 2018 season this weekend. The Grizzlies will head to Grand Junction, Colo. to take on the Colorado Mesa Mavericks. The Grizzlies enter the weekend with a 4-5 overall record and a 4-4 RMAC record. The Mavericks are 5-4 overall and are also 4-4 in the RMAC. The Grizzlies will look to end their current three-game skid and a four-game skid against the Mavericks.

SERIES HISTORY
Adams State and Colorado Mesa have squared off 43 times entering this weekend. Mesa holds the lead at 27-16, with a 15-3 mark in Grand Junction. Currently, he Grizzlies have dropped four of the last five matchups against Mavericks. The Grizzlies last win came in 2013 when they defeated the Mavericks 19-17 on the road.

HIGH SCORING ATTACK
Entering this weekend, Adams State is still ranked in the top-10 nationally in a number of offense categories. The Grizzlies are seventh in Division II in passing offense (320.9 YPG) and sixth in total first downs (230). They are just outside the top-10 in total offense at 17th (469.0 YPG) and 19th in scoring offense (37.8 PPG).

Quarterback Nick Rooney has been one of the top performers in both the RMAC and in all Division II. He currently is second in the RMAC in pass-ing touchdowns (30), third in yards (2,755), third in average/game (306.1), second in total offense (2,992 yards) and second in total offense/game (332.4 yards). In Division II, his 30 touchdowns are second, while his 2,755 passing yards are fifth most. His 332.4 total yards per game is third most and his 306.1 passing yards per game is seventh.

Wide receivers Chad Hovasse, Marquese Surrell, and Miles Fishback all continue to play a major role in the success of Rooney and the pass offense. Hovasse is second in the RMAC in receiving touchdowns with 18, which is also second most in Division II. His 1,198 receiving yards lead the RMAC and second in Division II. He is the leader in the RMAC in receiving yards a game (133.1), while ranking second in Division II. He leads all of Division II in receptions per game at 10.4. His 94 receptions this season is now the single-season record in Adams State history.

Surrell has been a two-way threat on offense and on special teams. He is tied for ninth in the RMAC in touchdowns (5), fifth in average/game (96.5 yards), and second in receptions/game (8.5). On special teams, Surrell is second in the league with 24 returns, while his average of 23.6 yards/return is fourth. In all-purpose yards, he is fourth with 1,339 total yards and third in average per game (167.4). His all-purpose average is 11th in all of Division II. His 8.5 receptions per game is tied for fourth in Division II.

Fishback is second on the team and fifth in the RMAC with seven touchdowns including the gamewinner in the 48-42 overtime win over Fort Lewis College. He's pulled in 19 catches this season for 296 yards. He also has one passing touchdown on the year. Another go to weapon for the Grizzlies is running back Tyree Harris. 

He is the team's top rusher averaging 100.6 yards per game. He's racked up 925 yards on the ground and has 10 touchdowns on the year. Harris has also pulled down 25 receptions for 301 yards. His total rush yards are fourth in the RMAC, while his average is fifth. He is tied for fourth in touch-downs. In all-purpose yards, Harris is eighth in the RMAC in average with 134.0 yards per game. His 10 rushing touchdowns is tied for 26th in Divi-sion II, while his 905 rush yards are 20th alone.

DEFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS
Through eight weeks of play, defensive back Garrett Jackson continues to lead the way for the Grizzlies defense. Right behind him is fellow defen-sive back Sipa Leafa who has provided a spark in his freshman campaign. Jackson currently leads Adams State with 102 tackles, with 57 of them being on a solo effort. He leads the RMAC in total tackles and solo tackles. His 11.3 total tackles per game is eighth in Division II, while his 6.3 solo tackles per game is 10th.

Leafa is second totaling 74 tackles, with 44 being solo. His total tackles are tied for ninth in the conference and his 42 solo tackles are tied for fourth. He leads the team in interceptions with two, which is tied for 10th-most in the RMAC. His 76 combined yards on interception returns is sixth-highest in the conference.

Isaia Rosten (66), Adam Lucero (33), Deon Mayers (33), Garrett Pemelton (33), Braeden Meyer (27), Donovan Robinson (27), Bryce Barnes (25), Zach Lewallen (24), Elijah Tuli (22), Leon Te'o (22), and Vaega Lolohea (21) all have 20 or more tackles. Nick Bundy (19), Sergio Mendoza (17), Thomas Reed III (15), Leonard Sagapolute (14), and Angelo Ramirez (10) all have at least 10 tackles. Jackson, Meyer, Rosten, Reed III, Barnes, Tuli, and Erick Ruiz all have a forced fumble on the year. Rosten leads the way with two. Robinson, Mayers, Rosten, and Barnes also have an interception on the year as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS OUTLOOK
Special teams wise, the Grizzlies have just one touchdown return this year thanks in part to Keyon Thomas. He had an 82 yard kickoff return to the house against the Cowboys in week three. A key weapon is Surrell, who is second in the league with 24 returns, while his average of 23.6 yards/return is fourth. In all-purpose yards, he is fourth with 1,339 total yards and third in average per game (167.4). His all-purpose average is 11th in all of Division II. His 8.5 receptions per game is tied for fourth in Division II.

Ruiz has been a key factor in kickoff and has been a workhorse for the Grizzlies on special teams. He is tied seventh in the RMAC in made field goals with five. He is 5-for-6 in field goals which is second in the RMAC in percentage (83.3). His 52 points are sixth among kickers in the RMAC.

UP NEXT
The Grizzlies will return home for the season finale next weekend. They will host the Dixie State Trailblazers for Senior Day. 17 seniors will be recognized prior to kickoff. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Rex Stadium.