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How It Happened
Jeff Grenfell's game-sealing interception - his second of the afternoon - helped #15 Colorado School of Mines hold off Chadron State in a 28-20 thriller at Marv Kay Stadium.
The Orediggers improved to 3-0 and 1-0 in RMAC play against the team picked right behind them in the league's preseason poll. Mines' defense stepped up, allowing only a single touchdown and generating four takeaways on picks by Grenfell, Jalen Champagne, and Adam Leonard.
Spurgeon's 12-yard touchdown opened the scoring in the first quarter, and Chadron was held to a field goal after a deep drive in the second quarter as CSM went into the half up 7-3.
The third quarter was when Mines built its lead, starting with a Sam Seeton run and an improbable touchdown by Spurgeon. Leonard's interception led to Seeton's six-yard drive capper, and later in the quarter after Justin Dvorak bobbled the snap, the quarterback improvised on the run and found Spurgeon 10 yards out from the end zone. The big senior receiver dragged his coverage the rest of the way to score and finish the 32-yard TD. Grenfell's first interception then led to a one-yard Dvorak keeper, and Mines entered the fourth quarter up 28-3.
Chadron wouldn't go quietly, however, scoring on Kevin Coy's eight-yard run to open the fourth quarter. Kicker Alex Ferdinand was true from 37 yards out, and a blocked punt scoop-and-score by Cole Montgomery suddenly swung it to 28-20 with 4:12 left in the game.
Mines couldn't quite run out the clock, giving the ball back to the Eagles (1-2, 0-1 RMAC) with 56 seconds left, but on their first play, Grenfell intercepted TD Stein over the middle and smartly went down instead of taking a sure pick-six.
Quotables
"That was a really heads-up play. You score there, we kick it off, you don't know what could happen. He knew we would be in victory formation if he went down." - Head Coach Gregg Brandon on Grenfell's decision to forego a sure pick-six to seal the game.
"I rely on the offense and the defense to pick each other up. Our defense won us the game today." - Brandon on Mines' defensive effort
Notables
- Seeton racked up his first career 100-yard rushing game, having a big second-half to end with 133 yards and a touchdown.
- Dvorak was 18-for-31 for 218 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for 15 yards with a score. He has thrown for 14 and rushed for two touchdowns this season.
- Spurgeon led all receivers with 119 yards and two touchdowns.
- Grenfell had a huge all-around game, delivering a game-high 13 tackles with a sack, and two interceptions with 49 return yards. Champagne added seven tackles and his second pick of the season.
- Chadron's rushing attack delivered as expected, as Derek Jackson ran for 184 yards and Coy 94 yards and a score. The Eagles had 277 yards on the ground overall.
- Chadron's Ryan Wood (11 T, 2.0 TFL) and Dylan Furrier (11 T) led their defense.
- In a messy, penalty-filled game, the two teams combined for 20 flags, including 14 for 125 yards against Chadron.
Next Up
Mines heads to Black Hill State next Saturday.
