Mesa State football team improved to 6-0 overall in a 38-13 non-conference win at Dixie State College Saturday night. The Mavericks beat the Rebels in the first game of the season by the score of 41-14 on August 25 at Stocker Stadium.

Dixie State took the opening kickoff down the field and looked poised to score when MSC's Dominic Applehans forced a Rebel fumble at the MSC 2-yard line. Teammate Brandon Waymire picked up the loose ball and ran it 98 yards for a touchdown. Waymire had a career day scoring on the fumble recovery and picking off two Rebel passes in the game.

Wide receiver Drew Bohannan had a record setting day, breaking the MSC record for career reception yards. Bohannan and Phil Vigil gave the Mavs a 14-0 lead when they connected on a 60-yard touchdown pass. Bohannan has 2,377 career reception yards.

Sophomore running back Bobby Coy returned to action after two weeks off, recovering from a knee injury sustained in the Western New Mexico game. Coy rushed for 151 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown.

Vigil finished the day 14-of-24 for 259 yards, 2 touchdowns and four interceptions. Vigil connected with Justin Murray on a 16-yard touchdown with 2:16 remaining in the first half for a 21-6 lead.

Dixie scored their first touchdown on a 5-yard run by Adam Wells but the Rebels extra point attempt was blocked. DSC pulled to within 21-13 on a 17-yard touchdown pass as time expired to end the first half.

MSC opened the second half with a 71-yard drive and a Coy 4-yard touchdown run for a 28-13 lead. Jared Keating kicked a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter with 7:16 remaining in regulation.

The Mavs defense held the Rebels on a fourth down and three at the MSC 33 with under five minutes remaining in the game. MSC drove the ball 67 yards in 5 plays scoring the final touchdown of the game on a 6-yard Vigil rush.

Defensively the Mavericks held the Rebels to 79 rushing yards and 215 yards in the air. Aside from Waymire's two interceptions, Josh Padilla picked off two Rebel passes for a total of 14 return yards. Frank Berlanga also had one interception in the game. Berlanga and Padilla lead the team with 3 interceptions each. Ryan Kadavy posted a team high 7 tackles, all solo, had 3 tackles for loss yardage (17) and one quarterback sack for a loss of 11 yards.

The defense forced 7 Rebel turnovers in the game (5 interceptions, 2 fumbles). Alberto Rodriguez recovered a fumble and returned it 19 yards early in the fourth quarter.

MSC will return to RMAC action next week at Western State College.

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