GOLDEN - Led by a senior defensive corps that kept Chadron State scoreless for the first time since 2002, the Colorado School of Mines football team closed out its 2013 campaign on Saturday afternoon with a 23-0 beat down at Campbell Field in Golden.
Mines (8-3, 7-2 RMAC) held Chadron State (8-3, 7-2 RMAC) to just 262 yards of offense after the Eagles entered Saturday's contest averaging 506.3 yards per game.
The biggest impact came on the Eagle's rushing attack, boasting Harlon Hill candidate Glen Clinton, who spearheaded the CSC 245.4 rushing average with 142.4 yards per game. The Oredigger defensive unit held CSC to 153 yards on the ground, including 94 by Clinton on 21 attempts.
Mines picked off CSC quarterback Jonn McLain twice and forced another fumble, including a 33-yard pick-six by junior Kole Kadavy to start the second quarter which gave Mines a 10-0 lead.
Senior Ryan Wood thwarted a hail mary attempt at halftime with an interception in the end zone and sophomore Billy Sprague pulled off a sack-fumble in early stages of the fourth quarter that was returned by Dallas Fields.
Despite going 0-for-2 on fourth down attempts inside the CSC two yard line, Mines was able to put up 23 points and 369 yards of offense on 78 plays.
The Orediggers showed great discipline in the matchup after committing just one penalty for five yards. Conversely, the Eagles were flagged 10 times for a total of 109 yards.
Junior Matt Brown led the offense with 313 yards of total offense after finishing 22-of-34 for 233 yards through the air. He also added 80 rushing yards on 22 carries, including a six-yard touchdown run with 9:24 remaining in the second quarter to put Mines up 17-0.
Senior Dan Palmer finished with 29 yards on 13 carries and will end his storied career with 2,407 yards – good for second in program history. He also finished his career with 236 career points to also finish second in program history for the category.
Senior Tyler Denson went over 100 tackles for the second-straight season with 10 on Saturday for 103 on the season.
Junior defensive back Ian McFadden led the squad with 11 tackles (six solo) and 0.5 tackle for loss and a pass break up. Sprague notched 10 stops, 1.0 sack, 1.5 tackle for loss and a forced fumble to close his season second on the team with 81 tackles.
Senior Chad McGraw recorded seven stops, 1.5 tackle for loss, two pass break ups and a quarterback hurry, while Kadavy notched five stops, 0.5 tackle for loss, two pass break ups and the 33-yard pick six.
Senior defensive linemen Jake Utley and Alex Laudenslager added five stops apiece, with Laudenslager adding a team-high 2.0 tackles for loss. Wood added five stops, a pass break up and an interception as well.
Sophomore Jimmy Ellis, the leading receiver in the RMAC entering Saturday, added 12 catches for 103 yards while classmate Cole Spurgeon notched 85 yards on four catches.
Senior Jordan Ward added 46 receiving yards on five catches in his final collegiate game..
Sophomore Avery Llewellyn made all three of his field goal attempts (24, 27, 33) and punted once for 56 yards. The two-time RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week also notched two touchbacks on six kickoffs.
Saturday's contest marked the end of 21 Silver & Blue careers, as the Orediggers bid farewell to seniors Denson, D. Palmer, McGraw, Laudenslager, Utley, Ward, Wood, Ryan Bott, Ben Dellenbach, Trevor Florendo, Fletcher Hunt, Paul McVay, Cory Miller, Mike Miller, Max Moran, Zack Newnam, Tyler Palmer, Austin Pile, Joe Purfield, Alex Satre and Ryan Weimer.
Scoring Summary
Qtr Time Scoring Play Score
1st 06:15 CSM - Avery Llewellyn 24 yd field goal 0 Mines, 3-0
2nd 14:50 CSM - Kole Kadavy 33 yd interception return (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 10-0
09:24 CSM - Matt Brown 6 yd run (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 17-0
0:33 CSM - Avery Llewellyn 37 yd field goal - Mines, 20-0
3rd 07:01 CSM - Avery Llewellyn 33 yd field goal - Mines, 23-0
