Box Score HOW IT HAPPENED
Western State used big plays and took advantage of turnovers to upset #21 Colorado School of Mines 45-42 in the home finale at Marv Kay Stadium.
Justin Dvorak threw for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and ran for two more as Mines rolled out 708 yards of offense, but a four-touchdown, 233-yard performance by running back Austin Ekeler and an efficient 297-yard, two-touchdown passing day for Brett Arrivey gave Western the edge with big plays at key points.
Turnovers hurt Mines for a second straight game with a pair of interceptions and two fumbles. Giveaways also cost Western after a muffed punt led to a first-half Mines touchdown.
Mines ran out to a 14-0 nothing lead on Cole Spurgeon's catch and a Dvorak scamper to the pylon, but Ekeler scored the next two to cap off long Western State drives to tie it early in the second quarter.
Another Dvorak run gave Mines the lead back before Wiemers snagged a 21-yard catch to lead 28-14 with 4:13 left in the first half. Western quickly got a touchdown back, marching 85 yards on only three plays and finishing with Ekeler's 29-yard run. Mines appeared to have a touchdown at the stroke of halftime but Sam Seeton was ruled to have fumbled at the goal line.
The Mountaineers took the lead in the third after Ryan Winke's 37-yard field goal and Kyle Adkins' 39-yard catch from Arrivey put them ahead 31-28. Another Adkins catch extended the lead to two scores, but Mines didn't manage to score again until the 2:39 mark of the fourth when Ellis caught a 17-yarder from Dvorak. Western kept the onside kick and shut the door with Ekeler's 41-yard outburst.
Mines made it interesting when Spurgeon caught his second of the day from 27 yards out with 1:35 remaining, but Western again obtained the onside kick and two Ekeler rushing first downs ended the game.
NOTABLES
- Mines' 708 yards of offense were a season high and the second time they've gone over 700 in a game (703 vs. South Dakota Mines). The Orediggers ran 92 plays.
- Dvorak ended up 35-of-47 for the day. He left the game briefly in the second half after a hit but returned throw two more touchdowns.
- Both Spurgeon (133 yards) and Wiemers (139 yards) went over 100 yards receiving, and Ty Young had 86 yards.
- Sam Seeton compiled his fourth 100-yard game of the season, rushing for 124.- Western compiled 561 yards of offense and averaged 8.4 yards per play.
- Zach Richter picked up Western's lone fumble on a punt in the second quarter.
- Caleb Courkamp and Drake Thenell led the Mines defense with eight tackles apiece. Emmanuel Graves put together a six-tackle, three-hurry game.
NEXT UP
Mines will conclude the regular season next Saturday at Adams State.
