GOLDEN, Colo. - #14/12 Colorado School of Mines handled Chadron State in a 34-7 day at Marv Kay Stadium.

The Orediggers (8-1, 6-1 RMAC) executed every phase of their game, shutting down the Eagles (4-5, 4-4 RMAC) in the first half to race out to a 27-0 lead. 

John Matocha threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-31 passing, and Michael Zeman crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season in his 96-yard, two-touchdown day. Max McLeod, Tristan Smith, and Josh Johnston all caught touchdowns.

The Mines defense stuffed the Eagles for just 16 yards on the ground and 214 in total, limiting CSC to two first downs in the first half. Quarterback Dalton Holst was sacked seven times as he was 19-of-34 for 198 yards and a score. Chaffin Ross led the way with a career game, compiling seven tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Mack Minnehan recovered a fumble and Kobe Brewster had an interception.

Mines cruised through the first half scoring on their first two possessions with Michael Zeman breaking out a 17-yard run to open, and Josh Johnston staying off the ground for an 11-yard catch-and-dive over the line later in the first quarter.

Tristan Smith's 46-yard reception and sprint to the end zone opened the second quarter, and Zeman scored out of the wildcat on 3rd and goal from the 1 to make it 27-0 at the half.

Mines controlled the second-half tempo and scored only once, on an 11-yard Matocha-to-McLeod strike deep in the third quarter, and CSC's only points came on the next drive to open the fourth when Holst found Cole Thurness for a seven-yard touchdown over the middle. The Mines defense had two 4th-down stops in the final quarter, and a fumble recovered by Minnehan and the Brewester center-field interception stopped drives earlier in the half. 

NOTABLES
- The four-way tie atop the RMAC became three as #20 Western Colorado beat #22 Colorado Mesa 23-9 in Gunnison, and CSU-Pueblo drilled Fort Lewis 73-0. Mines, Western, and CSU Pueblo all have one loss in RMAC play.
- Head Coach Gregg Brandon won his 99th career game as a head coach, now 55-14 at Mines and 44-30 as the head coach at Bowling Green from 2003-08.
- Zeman became the third player in program history to notch back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and it's only the 10th 1,000-yard season all-time. Sam Seeton (2015 and 2016) and Cam Mayberry (2017 and 2018) are the other two two-timers. 
- Zeman is now at 1,007 yards for the season and has 13 touchdowns on the ground.
- Josh Johnston caught his 10th score of the year.
- The Orediggers' seven sacks were a season high, and eight different plays got in on the action led by Ross' 1.5. 
- In addition to his fumble pick-up, Minnehan had five total tackles with 2.0 for a loss and a sack plus a hurry. 
- The Mines defense ended up +1 for the day to get to +10 overall for the season.
- Jacob Click had another solid punting day averaging 41.0 yards per kick and putting three of his five inside the 20. Mason Pierce, the nation's leading punt returner, padded his total with a big 56-yard take on his only opportunity. 
- Mines dominated possession at 35:16, including a monster 7:36 drive in the fourth quarter to kill the clock.
- The Orediggers were 3-of-4 on fourth down. 

NEXT UP
Mines heads to CSU Pueblo in the regular-season's penultimate game next Saturday at 2 p.m.