GOLDEN, Colo. - #17 Colorado School of Mines was firing on all cylinders as they handled Black Hills State, 52-7, in their home opener at Marv Kay Stadium.

True freshman John Matocha was the surprise starter at quarterback and had a spectacular debut, completing an eye-popping 20-of-22 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns while also running for another score. He powered the Mines (2-0, 2-0 RMAC) offense to 548 total yards.

Cameron Mayberry tied the Mines career rushing touchdowns record at 48 as part of an 84-yard, one-score game, while Josh Odom broke out for a 95-yard, one-touchdown effort on the ground. 

The Oredigger defense was absolutely dominant, allowing only 193 total yards including 21 on the ground. Logan Braden scored a defensive touchdown for the second straight week as he scooped up a fumbled Geoff Keating interception for a 59-yard run to the house.

The first half was pure Orediggers with a 35-0 margin at the break. Matocha's first career touchdown pass came on a 25-yard dime to Josh Johnston, and Matocha ran it in from four yards out later in the quarter. Mayberry punched in from a yard away to tie the touchdowns record at the start of the second half before the defense came up with a big play of their own. Keating intercepted a pass near midfield before immediately having it stripped, and Braden scooped and scored a week after his pick-six at Adams State. Joe Golter added a four-yard touchdown grab - the first of his career - from Matocha before the half to make it 35-0.

It was more of the same in the second has Brandon Farmer caught a long 36-yard scoring pass, and Scott Marshall nailed a career-long 46-yard field goal late in the third. Odom broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter and make it 52-0, and BHSU's only touchdown was a Kielar Harpham 13-yard catch from Andrew Tovar.

NOTABLES
- Mayberry tied Greg Marshall's record of 48 touchdowns on the ground. Mayberry is already Mines' career yardage leader and owns single-season records in both yards and touchdowns.
- The Mines front seven was unsolvable by Black Hills State as they allowed only 21 net rushing yards on 34 attempts. In two games this season, the Orediggers have allowed -3 yards on the ground. Mines produced eight tackles for loss and six sacks.
- The secondary wasn't too shabby either, as BHSU was 18-of-36 for 172 yards with an interception. Keating broke up three passes plus his interception and Mason Pierce had a pair of break-ups as well.
- Mines has scored defensive points in eight of their last 13 games dating back to the start of last season.
- In addition to his touchdown, Josh Odom forced a fumble with a big hit on a punt return that led to a touchdown in the second quarter.
 - Matocha, the first true freshman in recent memory to earn a start at quarterback, had only one incompletion in the first half. 
- The Orediggers improved to 10-0 all-time against Black Hills State.

QUOTING HEAD COACH GREGG BRANDON
- "We dominated from start to finish and I don't think there was ever any doubt, the way our kids showed up."
- "I'm looking forward to next week and the next four years because [John Matocha] is a gamer. He stepped up big time today and I'm proud of him."
- If we want to be in the hunt we have to shut down the run but also run the ball. I think we ran the ball better today. We have to work on that to be able to make a run to get to the playoffs and in the playoffs."

NEXT UP
Mines visits #9/7 CSU-Pueblo Sept. 21 in a 6 p.m. kickoff.