#9/10 Colorado School of Mines (11-1) vs. #RV Angelo State (11-2), Saturday, 12 p.m.
Marv Kay Stadium, Golden, Colo.
[TV: KWGN-2] [Streaming: RMAC Network] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes] [NCAA Bracket]

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It's a history-making game for top-seeded Colorado School of Mines, appearing in the super-regional final for the first time ever as they face off with Angelo State for the right to play in the national semis.

LIVE COVERAGE
This week's game will air live on KWGN Channel 2 in Colorado, and stream live and for free on the RMAC Network with Miles Dunklin and Josh Dover on the call. The RMAC Network is available at minesathletics.com/tv or rmacnetwork.com. 

FAN INFORMATION
For this week's game, please note the following important pieces of information:

- Gates and the tailgating lot open at 10 a.m.
- Masks are strongly encouraged for all guests. Although not mandated in outdoor settings, fans are reminded that Jefferson County mandates masks in indoor public spaces as of Nov. 23. 
- Tickets are available at the gate (cash or credit) or online at minesathletics.com/tickets. Fans are encouraged to utilize print-at-home or digital ticket options to skip waiting in line at the game.
- All fans must have tickets; there is no pass list for postseason play.
- Mines students will be admitted free courtesy of Mines Student Life but must scan in their Blaster Card at the entrance.
- Parking for home games has a new option this season with the opening of the new parking garage at 14th and Maple Streets, two blocks south of Marv Kay Stadium; parking in the garage is free. Tailgating continues to be permitted in Lot K only for $10 per vehicle. No tailgating is permitted in the garage. Visit the Mines Parking page for more information.
- The New Terrain Beer Garden will not be open for NCAA Championship games.

WEATHER REPORT
The incredible run of warm weather in Colorado continues as Saturday's forecast high is 64 under sunny skies. Winds will increase from the west throughout the afternoon. 

IN THE POSTSEASON
Mines is making its seventh overall appearance in the NCAA Championship, all coming since 2004, including three in a row. This is the first quarterfinals appearance for the Orediggers, who had previously made it as far as the second round three times. 

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Marv Kay Stadium has been a daunting place for opponents to play since reopening in 2015, with Mines going 33-4 overall at home. At 5,707' above sea level, this will mark the highest-elevation NCAA Super Regional final in Division II history, and the highest national quarterfinal since 1977 (hosted by Northern Arizona at 6,909'), when the first round represented the quarterfinals.

OREDIGGERS CLINCH RMAC TITLE
Colorado School of Mines clinched a share of its 14th RMAC title - and unprecedented third in a row - with its 63-0 shutout of Adams State on Nov. 13. The Orediggers shared the crown with fellow NCAA qualifier Western Colorado at 8-1 in RMAC play. 

DOWN TO EIGHT
Mines throttled Bemidji State 55-6 in last week's Second Round to advance to the national quarterfinals, while on the other side of the Super Region IV bracket, Angelo State handled Nebraska-Kearney 20-7 at home to move on. In addition to this weekend's SR4 final, Kutztown will host Shepherd in the SR1 final, Valdosta State will host Bowie State in SR2, and Ferris State will host Northwest Missouri State in SR3. The national semifinals will be reseeded, with matchups and sites announced Dec. 5.

IN THE POLLS
Mines remained at #9 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and #10 in the D2football.com media poll to close the regular season. The Orediggers have been ranked in every poll this season. Angelo State was the first team out receiving votes in the last AFCA poll.

AT THE HELM
Gregg Brandon is in his seventh year and sixth season at Mines, going 58-14 since 2015. Brandon has led Mines to conference titles and NCAA appearances in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Brandon won his 100th career game in Week 10 at CSU Pueblo, with a 44-30 record as the head coach at Bowling Green from 2003-08 in addition to his Mines record. Angelo State boss Jeff Girsch is in his third season as the Rams' head coach and eighth season overall with the program. He led ASU to an 8-3 record in 2019, 2-2 in the COVID-shortened 2020 year, and now 11-2 in 2021 for a total record of 21-7.

THE SERIES THAT NEVER WAS
Mines and Angelo State have never played each other - barely. The two were slated to meet in the 2020 and 2021 season openers (2020 in San Angelo, 2021 in Golden) before the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 season, and with it, the Mines-Angelo State series. Mines does have postseason experience against the Lone Star Conference, however, playing both Midwestern State (2004) and Texas A&M-Commerce (2019) in the NCAA Tournament, going 1-1, as well as West Texas A&M this season winning 21-13.

HEADING INTO DECEMBER
Mines is playing into December for the first time since 2008, and the first time ever in the NCAA Championship. The Orediggers have played seven games all-time in the final month of the year, but it will be the first time in the 128-year history of Marv Kay Stadium that football has been played there in December:

ROUND TWO REWIND
Mines bowled over Bemidji State, 55-6, in the NCAA Second Round, generating five total turnovers and riding a prolific offense to victory. Mines recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and immediately scored, then broke the game open with a monster 35-point third quarter after leading 13-0 at halftime. John Matocha threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns and Michael Zeman rushed for 93 yards and three scores; Max McLeod caught two touchdowns as he and Mason Karp went over 90 yards receiving. Kobe Brewster led the defense with two of Mines' four interceptions, and the defense pitched a shutout as BSU's lone score came on a kick return. The game marked Mines' largest postseason margin of victory.

SCOUTING THE RAMS
On paper, Angelo State and Mines look like twins: efficient offenses, stingy run-stopping defenses, huge plus-turnover numbers, and possession hogs. Rams quarterback Zach Bronkhorst has thrown for 2,167 yards and 17 touchdowns against only five interceptions, while Nathaniel Omayebu III leads the rushing attach with 1,108 yards and 10 touchdowns (Bronkhorst also has nine ground scores). ASU's balanced receiving corps is led by Kellen Pachto's 831 yards and five TDs. Defensively, the Rams have one of D-II's best scoring and total defenses at 244.7 total yards, which ranks #6 nationally. Kyle Hunter's 87 total tackles leads the team with Daron Allman having an impressive 19.0 TFL and 8.5 sacks. The Rams are one of the nation's best takeaway teams led by Andrew Pitts' five interceptions.

ZEMAN MAKES HARLON HILL CUT
For the fourth time in program history, Mines has a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist as running back Michael Zeman made Wednesday's list of eight national candidates. Two finalists from each super region advanced, and only four - Zemen, Shepherd QB Tyson Bagent, Bowie State RB Calil Wilkins, and Northwest Missouri St. RB Al McKeller - are playing in the quarterfinals. Chad Friehauf (2004 winner), Clay Garcia (2010 finalist), and Justin Dvorak (2016 winner) are Mines' other finalists.     

GOOSE EGGS
The Orediggers' shutout against Adams State was the fifth under Gregg Brandon and fourth for defensive coordinator Brandon Moore, who was promoted to the role in 2018 but has been on staff for all five. It is the second straight season that Mines has produced two shutouts, and the last time that happened was more than a century ago in the 1915 and 1916 seasons. 

PROTECTING THE END ZONE
Speaking of scoring defense, Mines has one of the nation's best allowing only 12.2 points per game this season. Mines has not allowed more than 26 points in a game this season and has held opponents to 20 or fewer nine times, including in their last four games when opponents are averaging just 6.25 points. The Oredigger front seven has allowed only five rushing touchdowns all season and one in the last five games; the defense has not been scored upon in the last eight quarters.

FIVE FIRST-TEAMERS ON ALL-RMAC LIST
Running back Michael Zeman, wide receiver Josh Johnston, center Matt Armendariz, linebacker Mack Minnehan, defensive end Zach Hester, and punt returner Mason Pierce were all named First-Team All-RMAC in the year-end awards announced Nov. 18. In addition, quarterback John Matocha, guard Justin Wood, tackle Nic van de Graaf, and linebackers Gabriel Kortz and Nolan Reeve were named to the Second Team, with 11 more players earning honorable mention status. 

MINES TOPS RMAC ACADEMIC AWARDS
John Matocha earned RMAC Offensive Academic Player of the Year and Nolan Reeve RMAC Defensive Academic Player of the Year to lead the league's all-academic team release. It is the first time the Orediggers have swept the top two awards; in addition to Matocha and Reeve, running back Michael Zeman, wide receivers Tristan Smith and Mason Karp, and guard Justin Wood were named First-Team Academic All-RMAC, and 24 more student-athletes were named to the Academic Honor Roll for having 3.3 or higher GPAs. 

FOUR NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
John Matocha, Michael Zeman, Tristan Smith, and Nolan Reeve were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team earlier in November for their combination of athletic and academic achievement. Mines' four selections tied for the most in Super Region IV with Northern State. Candidates are sophomores or above with 3.3+ GPAs and outstanding contributors to their teams. 

MATOCHA EARNS NFFCC AWARD
For the third time this season, John Matocha is the NFFCC Colorado Player of the Week, throwing for 348 yards and accounting for four total touchdowns against Bemidji State. Matocha ran in the game's opening touchdown and then threw scores of 26,65, and 48 yards later in the game in a career postseason best in yardage and scoring.

ZEMAN RACKS UP YARDS...
Michael Zeman ended the regular season as the undisputed top running back in NCAA Super Region 4, leading the region with 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns, both bests. Now at 1,365 yards and 20 tuddies on the ground, it is the seventh consecutive season that Mines has produced a 1,000-yard rusher, and Zeman is only the third Oredigger - joining Sam Seeton and Cameron Mayberry - to do it twice. 

...AND NEARS SCORING RECORDS
Zeman could also threaten the Mines single-season rushing touchdowns mark of 23, and the total touchdowns record of 26, with a big day against Angelo State: 

Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Season
Lloyd Madden, 1939, 23        
Cameron Mayberry, 2018, 23        
Michael Zeman, 2021, 20        
Cameron Mayberry, 2017, 18        
Greg Marshall, 1993, 18        
Dan Palmer, 2011, 18        

Most Total Touchdowns in a Season        
Brody Oliver, 2016, 26 (26 rec.)        
Michael Zeman, 2021, 24 (20 rush, 4 rec.)    
Cameron Mayberry, 2018, 24 (23 rush, 1 rec.)    
Lloyd Madden, 1939, 23 (23 rush)        

HOME COOKING
Wide receiver Max McLeod is having a remarkable rookie season in the lineup, and he especially seems to love two things: the west end zone at Marv Kay Stadium, and the east end zone at Marv Kay Stadium. McLeod has caught 21 passes in total this season, eight of them for touchdowns, and all but one of those scores have been at home. He caught a career-high two touchdowns on 91 yards receiving last week (his two catches were for 26 and 65 yards). 

BALL HAWKING
Mines' four interceptions against Bemidji State last week marked a season high and continued a torrid stretch for the Oredigger secondary, which has picked off seven passes in their last two games. The last time Mines had four in a game was in the 2017 season finale against Black Hills State, and they have at least one INT in 10 of 12 games this season. Kobe Brewster tied the Marv Kay Stadium record with two picks (one of five Orediggers to have done it) against Bemidji State, and Jaden Williams and Collin Romero both had interceptions for the second consecutive week.

ON THE PLUS SIDE...
After last week's interception-fest, Mines is a whopping +17 on turnovers this season, which is the fourth-best rate in NCAA Division II. Kobe Brewster leads the team with six total turnovers (4 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) followed by Mack Minnehan (1 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR), Jaden Williams (3 INT, 1 FR, 1 FF), and Nolan Reeve (3 FF, 1 FR). Fifteen different Orediggers have been involved in a turnover this season.

LET'S TALK PUNTING
Jacob Click has developed into one of the RMAC's best punters this season, and his 41.7-yard average is ranked #13 in NCAA Division II with Mines' net punting average of 37.6 ypp ranking 10th nationally. On the other side, Mines' punt return game is ninth-best in D-II at 16.5 yards per take, with Mason Pierce averaging a national-best 20.3 yards every time he gets the opportunity. 

NEXT UP
This week's winner advances to the national semifinals, which matchups and sites announced Dec. 5.