PUEBLO, Colo. - #17/15 Colorado School of Mines dominated every phase of the game as they rode a huge first half to upset #9/7 CSU-Pueblo, 34-14, on the road.

It was the first time in a decade that Mines (3-0, 3-0 RMAC) won in the Steel City as they snapped the Thunderwolves' (2-1, 2-1 RMAC) 15-game home winning streak.

Freshman quarterback John Matocha continued his emergence in his second start, completing 22-of-29 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns - all to Josh Johnston - while rushing for 95 yards and a score of his own. Cameron Mayberry became Mines' new all-time rushing touchdowns leader with the 49th of his career late in the first half as part of a 101-yard night. 

Sean O'Dell caught 10 passes for 103 yards to lead the wide receivers as Johnston had three of his five catches (48 yards overall) go for touchdowns.

But as impressive as the offense was, the defense was as spectacular. Led by Averie Mansfield (7 tackles) and Luke Jeter (6 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks) the Orediggers held the Pack to just 27 net rushing yards as Austin Micci went for only 14. CSUP was limited to 13 first downs, 278 yards of total offense, and perhaps most critically, was only 4-of-11 on third downs.

The Orediggers took a commanding 28-7 lead at halftime thanks to an effective, yard-eating offense and two key special-teams plays. The Thunderwolves scored on their opening drive with a big pass to open it up and Jordan Kitna's 13-yard scramble to lead 7-0, but the Orediggers wouild reel off four straight touchdowns before halftime. Matocha completed his first five passes and finished with a 13-yard completion to Johnston to tie the game. After a Pack punt, Mines was marching again before Tevin Donnell seemed to intercept Matocha deep in CSUP territory; the turnover was nullified by a holding flag, however, and Matocha went right back to work to find Johnston on another 13-yard score for a 14-7 lead.

CSU-Pueblo had a scoring chance early in the second half stopped when RJ Phillips blocked and recovered Mitchell Carter's 44-yard field goal try, and that sparked another Matocha-to-Johnston connection as he scored his third from five yards out.

Mines forced another CSUP punt late in the half that was blocked by Geoff Keating and pounced on by James Kohlschmidt, and that set up Mayberry for his record-setting touchdown, a one-yard plunge, with six seconds to go in the quarter to lead 28-7.

No one scored in the third quarter, and that was exactly how the Orediggers would have it. Mines chomped up 12:17 of clock in the third to get into Pack territory at the turnaround, and Matocha finished off a punishing nine-play, 80-yard drive that included three CSUP personal foul flags to score on a punch-in a minute into the fourth quarter.

The Thunderwolves scored on a swing pass to Micci early in the fourth quarter, and threatened again later before Kobe Brewster's interception with 6:17 left all but sealed the win.

NOTABLES
 -The win was Mines' first in Pueblo since 2009. It was head coach Gregg Brandon's first win over the Pack on the road; Brandon is now 3-3 all-time against CSUP.
- CSUP's 15-game home winning streak was the second-longest in NCAA Division II.
- Mayberry broke Greg Marshall's rushing touchdown mark of 48 set between 1989 and 1992. He now owns both the program yardage and touchdown rushing records.
- Mines dominated ball possession to the tune of 38:43.
- Penalties were critical for Mines as CSUP had nine go against them for 96 yards and five automatic first downs.
- The Orediggers are the lone unbeaten remaining in RMAC play after only three weeks.
- It was the second consecutive year Mines beat Pueblo in the regular season while the Pack were ranked #9 in the nation. Mines had not scored consecutive regular-season wins over their rival since the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

NEXT UP
Mines returns home to host New Mexico Highlands Sept. 28 at noon,