Colorado School of Mines vs. Chadron State College, Saturday, 12 p.m.
Marv Kay Stadium at Campbell Field, Golden, Colo. | Video: RMAC Network 
[Live Video] [Live Stats] [Mines Media Notes]
 

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Suddenly thrust back into the RMAC title picture, Mines hosts Chadron State today in an important league game as the Orediggers try to keep pace with the top of the standings.

WATCH US
Every remaining Mines game this season will be seen live online on the RMAC Network at MinesAthletics.com/tv.

WEATHER REPORT
Perfect fall football weather is forecast with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s with light winds.

TICKETS
Walk-up tickets are available at Gates 1 (12th Street home side) and Gate 3 (11th Street visitor's side), cash or charge. Tickets are $15 for reserved seating, $10 general admission, $5 for military, seniors, and children 17 and under, and free for Mines students with Blaster Card and faculty/staff with pass.

FAN PARKING
Lot K parking (next to Stermole Soccer Stadium and accessed off 11th Street) is available to all fans for $10. Handicap parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the 12th and Maple Street lot and Lot K. Handicap fans can also be dropped off at the 12th Street (Gate 1) entrance to the stadium. All other campus parking is free. Please obey posted signs if using Golden city parking. For driving directions and a gameday parking map visit Directions.

BY THE NUMBERS
12,920 - career all-purpose yards by Justin Dvorak, six shy of the RMAC record
5,727' - elevation of Marv Kay Stadium above sea level
556.6 - yards per game by Mines, the #1-rated total offense in NCAA D-II
18 - TD catches by Brody Oliver, a Mines season record and the most in all of college football
8.0 - team-best tackle for loss total by Michael Kelso
7 - fourth-quarter turnovers generated by the Orediggers this year

THE MINES-CHADRON STATE SERIES
Chadron State leads the series 23-15 all-time, but Mines has won five of the last seven including three in a row. The series dates back to 1938.  

WEEK 8 REWIND
Colorado School of Mines' offense was unstoppable as they cruised to a 62-27 win at Dixie State University to keep pace at the top of the RMAC standings. The Orediggers racked up 582 yards of total offense, including 268 on the ground as the rushing attack had its second straight 250+ yard game. Justin Dvorak threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns, running for another, and Brody Oliver caught two on 166 yards receiving. On the ground, Sam Seeton ran for 104 yards and a score, Zac Guy had two touchdowns with 76 yards rushing. The Mines defense generated three interceptions and held Dixie State (4-4) to 320 yards of offense, including 107 yards in the air. 

IN THE RANKINGS
After four straight wins, Mines received 19 votes in this week's AFCA coaches' poll. The first release of the NCAA regional rankings was also kind to the Orediggers with Mines seventh in Super Region 4 as the top-ranked RMAC team (Colorado Mesa was 10th). The top seven teams in the final rankings make the NCAA Tournament field.

THE RMAC RACE
With three games left, there remains a four-way logjam of two-loss teams atop the RMAC standings. Both Colorado Mesa and Western State are 6-2 in RMAC play, with Mines and CSU-Pueblo at 5-2 (Mesa and Western have yet to play their non-conference games). Should Mines win out, it would be assured of at least a share of the RMAC title. A key game to watch today: Western State hosting CSU-Pueblo at 1 p.m.

DVORAK CONTINUES ASSAULT ON THE RECORD BOOKS
Quarterback Justin Dvorak continues to set records, becoming Mines' all-time leader in total offense last week. He now has 12,920 career yards, only six yards shy of snapping the RMAC career record. Dvorak already owns the RMAC passing touchdowns record (115) and is 1,083 yards from the RMAC passing yardage mark. With 34 passing touchdowns, Dvorak is now five shy of the Mines and RMAC single-season record of 39. This season, he has established himself as a top candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, leading the nation with 3,033 passing yards, 3,254 yards of total offense, 34 passing touchdowns, and 40 total touchdowns.

NO ONE BETTER
Justin Dvorak's stats aren't just historic by Mines standards - they're historic nationally. Dvorak is the active leader in all of college football in career passing yards (11,915), touchdown passes (115), and total offense (12,920).

OLIVER SHATTERS RECORDS
Brody Oliver continues to produce receiving numbers unlike any that have been seen at Mines. The redshirt sophomore has caught a Mines-record 18 touchdowns, which leads every division of college football. Oliver has caught an NCAA D-II-best 1,122 yards with eight consecutive 100+ yard games, and he now stands 255 yards from the Mines single-season yardage record and three touchdowns away from tying the RMAC single-season receiving TDs mark.

RUN GAME COMES ALIVE
One reason for the Orediggers' four-game win streak: the run game. After averaging only 118.5 yards over the opening six games, Mines has popped off rushing days of 369 yards against S.D. Mines (their best since 1992) and 268 yards at Dixie State. Over the last two games, Sam Seeton has accumulated 210 yards and a touchdown, Zac Guy has three touchdowns and 138 yards (averaging 10.6 yards per carry), and Justin Dvorak has three rushing TDs and 152 yards.

TIMELY TAKEAWAYS
Mines has generated seven fourth-quarter turnovers this year, including in each of the last four games. Last week, it was Brett Allison's interception at Dixie State; the week before that a Jalen Champagne interception in the end zone against South Dakota Mines; it was Champagne again with a pick against Azusa Pacific, and at Fort Lewis, Mines had two fourth-quarter takeaways thanks to Drew Stephon's interception and Caleb Courkamp's fumble recovery. Mines is +6 overall on turnovers this season.

LIVING IN THE BACKFIELD
Mines defenders have lived in the backfield this season, compiling 51.0 tackles for loss (compared to 31.0 for opponents) and 23.0 sacks (compared to 14.0 for opponents). Four Orediggers - Michael Kelso (8.0), Chris Brockman (7.0), Matthew King (6.5), and Dean Wenger (5.5) - have five or more tackles for a loss this season.

MINES LEADS RMAC ACADEMIC TEAMS
The Orediggers placed a league-best 26 players on the annual RMAC All-Academic Teams, including an RMAC-best eight First Team selections. Logan Woish, Levi Cecil, Richie Rice, and Hasan Shaar were honored on offense, while on the defensive side, lineman Dallas Fields, linebackers Chris Brockman and Grant Gale, and safety Caleb Courkamp were recognized as first-teamers.

CAN'T KEEP THEM DOWN
Mines has been one of the best teams in the country this year on third down, ranking third in D-II with a 58.5 percent conversion rating. As a result, Mines is also the best first-down generating team in D-II, ranking first with 231 this season. 

SCOUTING CHADRON STATE
Chadron State is 3-5 coming off back-to-back wins against New Mexico Highlands and South Dakota Mines. The Eagles have gotten it done on defense allowing 27.5 points and only 173 yards passing per game, led by Courtland Joshua (48 TT, 5.0 TFL) and Collin Eisenman (44 TT, 8.0 TFL, 3.0 S). Offensively, Derek Jackson leads the rushing attack with 467 yards and seven touchdowns, while Cody Paul (359 yards, 3 TD) and Kevin Coy (330 yards, 5 TD) have also been threats. Matt Vinson has taken over at quarterback and is completing 54.7 percent of his apsses for 1,394 yards and 10 touchdowns, the bulk going to top target Max Gray, who has 502 yards and six touchdowns through the air.

LAST YEAR VS. CHADRON
Big-play defense helped Mines to a 28-20 win over Chadron State last season. Jeff Grenfell '16 sealed the win with his late interception as Mines had four picks overall. Sam Seeton ran for 133 yards and a touchdown while Justin Dvorak threw for 218 yards and two TDs. Chadron pounded out 277 rushing yards.