No. 16 Colorado School of Mines improved to 2-0, winning 42-7 on the road at William Jewell College.

Justin Dvorak threw for four touchdowns and ran for another, and Nate Wiemers put together a career game with 123 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Mines' defense stood tough against a team that scored 30 against Division I FCS Drake a week earlier, allowing only a single touchdown and generating three turnovers on downs to help the Orediggers keep momentum against a Cardinals team that did its best to slow the game's pace.

Dvorak hit Jimmy Ellis for the game's opening score midway through the first quarter, scrambling to his right and finding the wide-open senior at the post. Cole Spurgeon hauled in his third of the season later in the quarter from 12 yards out, but WJC's Thomas Cook took advantage of a Mines fumble to cap a quick drive with a touchdown early in the second quarter. Nate Wiemers hauled in a 27-yard touchdown at the tail-end of the first half to establish a 21-7 lead at the half.

Dvorak used his feet to open the second-half scoring, taking off on a 4th-and-1 from the 18 and scrambling for the end zone, while Wiemers' second touchdown grab came from 36 yards out early in the fourth. Jalen Champagne's interception sparked a Mines drive capped by Brandon Farmer's first career touchdown run midway through the final quarter.

Dvorak Keeps Scoring

Dvorak, the reigning D2football.com National Player of the Week, was responsible for five total touchdowns a week after throwing for eight. He hit seven different receivers led by Wiemers' eight receptions.

Mines' defense stepped up in drive-stop situations. The Cardinals went 0-for-3 on fourth-down conversions including a red-zone chance, with Jeff Grenfell, Emmanuel Graves, and Tommy Hoskins turning in fourth-down stops. Meanwhile, Mines' offense was 3-for-4 on last-chance conversions, with Dvorak rushing twice (once for a touchdown) and completing to Spurgeon for another.

Jalen Champagne picked off Mines' first interception of the season and worked a nice 40-yard return in the fourth quarter. It was Champagne's sixth career pick. Champagne jumped on a muffed punt fair catch later in the fourth quarter.

Mines' defense had a day to remember, racking up four sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Drake Thenell led the way with 3.5 TFL and a pair of sacks, while Andrew Renfrew (2.0 TFL, 0.5 S) and Logan Bock (2.0 TFL, 1.0 S) highlighted the defensive line's performance. It was Bock's first career sack.

Mines established a solid ground game, putting together 148 yards rushing overall led Sam Seeton's career-best 83 yards and redshirt freshman Brandon Farmer's first career touchdown. On the other side, WJC's Thomas Cook was tough to stop with 130 yards and the Cardinals' lone touchdown.

After going turnover-free in Week 1, Mines had three giveaways in the first half including two interceptions and a fumble, but managed to limit the damage. A first-quarter Dvorak pick led to a missed Cardinals field goal, but Devin Reaves' fumble to open the second quarter set up WJC's first touchdown. CSM had another second-quarter fumble brought back by Spurgeon before WJC snagged their second interception of the half on the next play, but the Mines defense - keyed by Drake Thenell's third-down sack - held the Cardinals scoreless on the drive.

Penalties hurt WJC with seven for 86 yards in all. The first quarter alone saw five flags for 61 yards, including a pair of special teams personal fouls and a defensive pass interference to set up Mines' second touchdown.

Mines opens RMAC play at home next Saturday, Sept. 19, hosting Chadron State at noon. [Tickets]