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Adams State University

The Official Site of the Adams State University Grizzlies
18FB_Chad-Hovasse_WCU
55
Winner Adams State ASFB 2-2 , 2-2
52
Western Colorado WSFB 0-4 , 0-3
Winner
Adams State ASFB
2-2 , 2-2
55
Final
52
Western Colorado WSFB
0-4 , 0-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
ASFB Adams State 21 6 14 8 6 55
WSFB Western Colorado 7 21 0 21 3 52

Game Recap: Football | | Sports Information Director

FB | Grizzlies Secure OT Win in High Scoring Colorado Classic Showdown

GUNNISON, Colo. – The Adams State University Football team is coming back home with two guaranteed things in hand, a win over Western Colorado University and the Colorado Classic Trophy. With the win, the Grizzlies improve to 2-2 on the year.

It took overtime but the Grizzlies secured their second win of the season as they downed the Mountaineers, 55-52, on the road in the 72nd Annual Colorado Classic. The game was a tale of two tapes and both teams put on a show for the ages for fans in the Mountaineer Bowl.

The Grizzlies got out to a quick start leading 21-7 after the first quarter, but Western battled back to lead 49-41 late in the fourth. Entering the fourth quarter, Adams State held a 41-28 lead before the Mountaineers scored two touchdowns to lead 49-41. After a touchdown and two point conversion by Tyree Harris tied the game 49-all, Western's Chandler Davis missed a 35 yard field goal attempt that went wide left to breathe new life into the Adams State team.

The game started off fast for the Grizzlies. They won the coin toss but deferred to the second half. It paid off as defensive back Bryce Barnes picked off quarterback Dylan Jacob in Mountaineer territory to set up the offense with solid field position at the opposing 39 yard line.

Nick Rooney found three different receivers in Chad Hovasse, Miles Fishback, and Marquese Surrell in the first quarter. His first touchdown, a six yard pass to Hovasse gave Adams State a 7-0 lead but Western responded with a three yard run by Isaac Fuqua to tie the game 7-all on their next offensive possession. Rooney and the offense were not phased scoring two more times on a 16 yard pass to Fishback and a 13 yard pass to Surrell, respectively. The defense started strong holding Western to the one score.

The second quarter belonged to the Mountaineers as they scored 21 unanswered points and held the Grizzlies to just two field goals. Fuqua was responsible for two of Western's three touchdowns with runs of 1 yard and 16 yards, respectively. The third touchdown came on trick play as Jacob caught a pass from Elijah Gillespi from 12 yards out. Erick Ruiz hit field goals from 32 and 29 yards out to give the Grizzlies six points. Going into halftime, Western led Adams State 28-27.

Coming out of the break, Adams State got the ball and scored on the drive to retake the lead, 34-28. The offense went 70 yards in nine plays and burned 2:23 off the clock. Harris closed out the drive with a yard dive to give the Grizzlies a six point lead after the extra point.

Defense picked up on both sides for much of third after the Grizzlies score. The next touchdown did not come until the 1:40 mark of the quarter and it was again from Adams State. Rooney threw his fourth touchdown of the day on a 37 yard strike to Mat Brown. The two touchdowns gave Adams State a commanding 41-28 lead entering the fourth but the game was far from over.

Western scored three touchdowns in the fourth all with under 6:00 to play on the clock to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Jacob found Jordan Barton on an eight yard pass to cut the Adams State lead to 41-35. On the ensuing kickoff a fumble by the Grizzlies was recovered by Western to put the ball at the Adams State 12 yard line. Fuqua scored on the very first play from 12 yards out and after the extra point it gave the Mountaineers a 42-41 lead.

The Mountaineers final score of the fourth came at the 3:37 mark. After a Rooney interception at the Grizzlies 24 yard line, Fuqua once again needed just one play to push the Mountaineers lead to 49-41. Rooney and the offense held composure on the next drive going 75 yards in seven plays to tie the game. Harris notched his second touchdown of the game with a one yard run and Surrell scored the two-point conversion to tie the game at 49-all.

Western got the ball with 1:33 to play in regulation and made it down to the Adams State 18 yard line with one second to play. Davis ultimately missed the gamewinner from 35 yards out as the kick sailed wide left to set up overtime.

Western got the ball to start overtime but the Grizzlies defense was resilient and forced a three-and-out. Davis came back onto the field for the Mountaineers and nailed a 37 yard attempt to give them the lead back, 52-49. Enter Rooney, Hovasse and a Grizzlies offense determined to get the win.

Rooney found Hovasse on a quick hit and a quick lateral right after the catch to Harris set up an eight yard catch and run. Harris then took the handoff to pick up eight more yards to set up first and goal at the Western nine. Rooney kept it himself on the next play to pick up five yards and set up the gamewinner.

After a Grizzlies timeout, the offense was at third and goal with four yards separating them from a win. Without hesitation, Rooney took the snap and immediately put up a floater to left for Hovasse that ended the game. Hovasse pulled in the catch and the Grizzlies walked away with a thrilling 55-52 overtime win.

Head Coach Josh Blankenship brings home the win for the Colorado Classic in his first year leading the Grizzlies and knew his team was in a battle. "It was constant adjustments through out the game. The defense started to play well and Western is a lot better than their record shows," Blankenship said. "Series by series we kept having to make adjustments, but I was really pleased with our guys' effort and we found a way to get the win."

For the game, Rooney was 39-of-58 passing for 439 yards and a season high five touchdowns. Hovasse pulled in 13 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Surrell added nine catches for 88 yards and one touchdown. Nine different players pulled in at least one catch from Rooney. On the ground, Harris posted 60 yards in 21 carries and had two scores.

Defensively, Garrett Jackson was all over the field leading the Grizzlies in tackles once again with 14 total. Isaia Rosten added nine while Sipa Leafa posted eight. Barnes had the lone pick for Adams State while making three tackles. Garrett Pemelton added a sack for a loss of nine yards. Corey Wright ha a forced fumble to go along with four tackles.

The win keeps the Colorado Classic Trophy in Alamosa for the second year in a row and for the seniors it is a win that coach Blankenship and is staff are proud they got. "I am so happy for the seniors because of all the work they put in and believing in what we are trying to accomplish," Blankenship said. "It is exciting to see them develop not only as players but as men and for them to get this win on the road is awesome."

The Grizzlies will return home next weekend as they host Fort Lewis College in the annual Musket Game on Saturday,Sept. 29. It will also be Hall of Fame weekend for Adams State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Rex Stadium.
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