ALAMOSA, Colo. – In what was a game for the ages in the 73^rd edition of the Colorado Classic, The Adams State Grizzlies defeated the Western Colorado Mountaineers Saturday afternoon at Rex Stadium, 38-31.
 
The first quarter started off with a Grizzlies defensive stop, which got the ball to their offense early, they were able to put together an impressive 14-play, 64-yard drive that was capped off by a 2-yard Duson Sproles touchdown scamper. As was the theme from last week as well, the Grizzlies were in control early, and led 7-0 midway through the first.
 
The Grizzly defense gave no ground in the first half, and this could have been partially due in part to the game that defensive end Alani Pututau turned in. He was completely unblockable throughout the game, and forced the Mountaineers into numerous second and third and longs, as he finished with 5 sacks and 6 tackles for loss.
 
Pututau and company would give the ball back to their offense, when defensive back Corey Sinceno picked off Mountaineer Quarterback Connor Desch late in the first quarter.
 
As impressive as Pututau was on defense, receiver Tariq Bitson was equally impressive. On second and long following the interception, he hauled in a tipped pass from quarterback John Buksa and took it all the way, 60 yards to the end zone for the first of what would be four touchdown receptions for him on the day. He would also tally an astonishing 257 yards receiving. After the touchdown, the Grizzlies led it, 14-0.
 
The two offenses would exchange punts for seven straight drives, until Western got on the fringe of field goal range midway through the second quarter. They trotted kicker Chandler Davis out on fourth down for what was a 53-yard attempt, and the line drive kick fell wide right and short. The score remained 14-0.
 
With 5:50 remaining in the half, the Grizzlies quickly turned to Bitson again on a short field, as John Buksa found him wide open down the field for a 34-yard touchdown. The score with 4:53 remaining in the half now read 21-0.
 
With a newfound sense of urgency and don three possessions, The Mountaineers drove all the way down the field following the Bitson touchdown, as quarterback Connor Desch found running room and was able to take it 33 yards for a score on his own. The touchdown was a quick burst of momentum for the Mountaineers, who had been dominated otherwise in the first half.
 
With the Grizzlies getting the ball back after the drive, they wanted to steal momentum back before half. They elected to go for it on fourth down from their own 48-yard line, but a Jamarcus Federick rush came up about a foot short, and the Mountaineers defense took over with good field position and time on the clock.
With the Mountaineers threatening, the Adams state defense once again, rose to the occasion, as defensive back Donovan Robinson picked off Connor Desch in the red zone. The threat was neutralized, and the Grizzlies took a 21-7 lead into halftime.
 
With the Grizzlies set to receive the second half kickoff, they would waste no time putting more points on the board. Right out of the gate, Buksa found Bitson yet again, on a trick play that the Mountaineers never saw coming and ran free, 54 yards to the end zone for his third touchdown reception of the day. The Grizzlies now seemed to have a commanding 28-7 lead, but the pace of the game was only beginning to pick up.
 
After the teams exchanged punts the next two drives, Western got the ball with good field position, after what was just a 15-yard punt for the Grizzlies. Initially, it seemed as though the Mountaineers were moving backwards on the drive, but on third and 18 from the 50, Desch found his big target Zach Manchester for a 50-yard touchdown that no one saw coming. The score midway through the third read 28-14, Grizzlies.
 
After Adams State elected to again, go for it on fourth and short, the Mountaineer defense would again, stop Jamarcus Federick, and give the ball right back to their offense. The Mountaineers went straight down the field following the turnover, and running back Josh Cummings went in for a 1-yard score. The score was now a little bit too close for comfort, 21-28 Grizzlies.
 
Buksa and company, attempting to put the game out of reach, stayed aggressive on offense. This seemingly came back to bite them, or so it seemed, as Buksa's pass was intercepted and taken into Grizzly territory. They now relied on their defense to try and put the game away.
 
The Grizzly defense was able to come right back on the field, backed up into their own territory, and hold strong against the Mountaineer offense that had found their rhythm in the second half. They forced a short field goal attempt, and gave the ball back to their offense still maintaining a 28-24 lead.
 
The teams exchanged punts until the Grizzly offense put together a much-needed drive that got them points, with a 48-yard Erick Ruiz field goal to put the score back to a 7-point game. The Mountaineers would get the ball back looking to ties or take the lead, but were still down 31-24.
 
In what was the Mountaineers longest and most sustained drive of the afternoon when they needed it badly, they went straight down the field in 11 plays as Josh Cummings ran it in from three yards out, and following the extra point, the score was tied at 31. However, the Grizzlies still had time on the clock, and still had Tariq Bitson.
 
With John Buksa and the offense now in the 2-minute drill, they wasted no time, as they knew that this game was theirs for the taking. They got into Mountaineer territory quickly, as a pass interference call gave them an automatic first down on third and long with under a minute to play. It was after this that Buksa found his favorite target Bitson one more time from 34 yards out, which capped off his 12-reception, 257-yard, 4-touchdown day for the Grizzlies. The score was now 38-31.
 
After Western fumbled the kickoff in a desperation attempt to salvage their hope, the Grizzlies fell on it, and took a knee to keep the Colorado Classic Trophy in Alamosa where it belongs.
 
For Adams State, they play rivalry games in back to back weekends, as they prepare to take on Fort Lewis next week in Durango in the annual "Musket Game" which Adams State has also retained in the past couple of seasons.