GOLDEN – Led by six total touchdowns from quarterback Matt Brown, as well as a swarming defense that limited South Dakota Mines to just 195 yards, the Colorado School of Mines football team posted a 72-6 season-opening victory over the Hardrockers on Saturday at Campbell Field in Golden.

Mines (1-0) rattled off 108 offensive plays en route to a program-record 727 yards of total offense. The 727 yards of offense breaks the mark of 690 that was set in last year's season-opening win over William Jewell. Mines recorded 42 first downs during the contest, which ties the NCAA Division II record set by Delaware in a win over Baldwin-Wallace in 1973.

As a squad, the Orediggers finished 53-of-74 through the air for 520 yards and five scores, while also knocking out 207 yards on the ground on 34 carries and five touchdowns. The rushing attack averaged a healthy 6.1 yards per carry on the afternoon.

Brown finished 37-of-51 through the air for 401 yards and three touchdowns. He added 12 carries for 72 yards and three more scores for a total of 473 yards of total offense. 

Sophomore quarterback Joe Schneider finished 16-of-23 for 119 yards and two scores as well, while also carrying three times for 38 yards.

A total of 14 Orediggers caught passes during the game, led by a game-high 10 receptions for 104 yards by sophomore Jimmy Ellis, who also added nine yards on the ground and 35 yards on returns for 148 all-purpose yards. 

Redshirt freshman Ty Young added seven catches for 79 yards and his first two collegiate scores, while senior Jordan Ward added 75 yards on five receptions with a touchdown.

Alex Waner added a touchdown on five receptions and 27 yards and Diamond Gillis added Mines' fifth score through the air with a 32-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. 

Tevin Champagne added 84 all-purpose yards and a rushing score as well. 

Senior and Lindy's Preseason All-American Chad McGraw, last year's national leader in forced fumbles, led the Oredigger defense with six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. 

Drake Thenell and Max Moran added five stops apiece, while Tommy Hoskins, Keegan Pratt, Shawn Kobylinski, Emmanuel Graves and Tyler Denson added four stops. 

Kobylinski added an interception that was returned 21 yards to give Mines another scoring opportunity. 

In all, the Oredigger defensive unit notched 9.0 tackles for loss for a total of 22 yards. 

Mines will return to action next weekend when the squad hosts No. 17 Carson-Newman in the Boulder Broker Classic at Campbell Field in Golden.

Scoring Summary
1st- 10:47 CSM - Diamond Gillis 32 yd pass from Matt Brown (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 7-0
       07:11 CSM - Matt Brown 1 yd run (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 14-0
       04:17 CSM - Matt Brown 33 yd run (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 21-0
2nd- 12:10 CSM - Tevin Champagne 9 yd run (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 28-0
       10:20 CSM - Matt Brown 1 yd run (Matt Brown pass failed) - Mines, 34-0
       05:45 CSM - Jordan Ward 3 yd pass from Matt Brown (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 41-0
       00:50 CSM - Avery Llewellyn 32 yd field goal - Mines, 44-0
3rd- 05:38 CSM - Ty Young 6 yd pass from Matt Brown (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 51-0
       02:07 CSM - Ty Young 3 yd pass from Joe Schneider (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 58-0
4th- 12:24 CSM - Alex Waner 4 yd pass from Joe Schneider (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 65-0
       03:43 CSM - Zack Newnam 1 yd run (Avery Llewellyn kick) - Mines, 72-0
       00:15 SDSMT - Sam Vollmer 7 yd pass from Ben Broeker (Devon Jones kick failed) - Mines, 72-6