Box Score How It Happened
Justin Dvorak tied an RMAC record with eight touchdown passes to lead an offensive explosion as Colorado School of Mines opened Marv Kay Stadium and the 2015 season with a 63-28 romp over South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
A standing-room-only sellout of 5,386 saw head coach Gregg Brandon earn his first win on Mines' sideline thanks to a monster offensive game from Dvorak, who threw for career-bests of 555 yards, eight touchdowns, and completed 37 of 49 attempts. Six different receivers caught scores, led by Cole Spurgeon and Ty Young's two apiece, and Spurgeon hauled in eight catches for 185 yards.
Mines ran out to a 28-0 lead with Sam Seeton, who ran for 78 yards and caught another 54, scoring the stadium's first two touchdowns with one each on the ground and in the air before Spurgeon spun off a defender and ran 59 yards and Jimmy Ellis snared a 32-yard score. Spurgeon added another before Young's first midway through the second, and Dvorak executed a fake field goal to find defensive lineman Michael Kelso in the back corner of the end zone late in the half as CSM led 49-14.
Young and Zach Richter added second-half touchdown catches from Dvorak. SDSMT's Trent McKinney threw for 227 yards and a touchdown before leaving injured; backup Jake Sullivan was a capable 13-of-18 for 105 yards and a score.
Quotables
"I thought the kids really focused and played their tails off. I'm extremely proud of this football team. With a new head coach, a new stadium, a lot of stuff going on around the program that you might consider distractions, these kids focused in and got the job done." – Head Coach Gregg Brandon
"It's certainly different than the NACC that we played in last year. It was a lot of fun, great facilities, we're very blessed and we don't take it for granted." – Justin Dvorak on opening Marv Kay Stadium
"We'd like to thank all the people who had a big part in this. It's 122 years in the making, it's an unbelievable experience and unbelievable turnout today." – Cole Spurgeon on the crowd and opening the new stadium
Record-Setting
Dvorak's eight touchdowns tied the RMAC single-game record and snapped the Mines mark set by Nate Jackson against Fort Hays in 2001.
Spurgeon's Big Day
Spurgeon's 185 yards were a career-high, topping his 171 yards against Western New Mexico last season.
Offensive Fireworks
CSM ran 89 offensive plays for an eye-popping 703 yards. South Dakota Mines was even faster – they ran 99 plays for 474 yards. The Orediggers had a lightning first half before stepping off the gas in the second, hitting 34 plays for 203 yards in the first quarter alone.
Defensively Speaking…
Mines' defense generated a pair of takeaways that led to quick touchdowns. Jeff Grenfell forced the first to be recovered by Adam Leonard, and Dvorak and Young hooked up the very next play; in the fourth quarter, Shawn Kobylinski forced the ball out for John Zorn, and Richter's TD came a few plays later.
Thenell led the defense with 10 tackles; Andrew Renfrew, Tommy Hoskins, and Aaron Frey compiled sacks, and Jalen Champagne had a pair of break-ups.
Catching On
Dvorak hit 10 different receivers (OK, nine receivers and one D-lineman) in the game, led by Spurgeon. But four others had 50+ yards: Richter (73 on three catches), Nate Wiemers (6 catches, 65 yds), Young (4 catches, 59 yds), and Seeton (4 catches, 54 yards).
Pomp and Circumstance
The opening of Marv Kay Stadium was a three-day slate of festivities culminating in the opening game, which saw Kay take the opening coin toss (Mines won) along with honorary captains Steve Chesebro', Harold Korell, Rob McKee, and Steve Mooney. At halftime, Kay was honored with his first team from 1969.
