#9/10 Colorado School of Mines (12-1) at #5/6 Valdosta State (11-1), Saturday, 10 a.m. MT
Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, Valdosta, Ga.
[TV: ESPN+] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes] [NCAA Bracket]

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For the first time ever, Colorado School of Mines makes its journey to the national semifinals as the NCAA Super Region 4 winners visit SR2 champs Valdosta State for a trip to the final.

LIVE COVERAGE
This week's game will be televised exclusively on ESPN+, ESPN's subscription-based streaming service. It will not be on the RMAC Network. To learn more and to subscribe to ESPN+ visit plus.espn.com. ESPN+ subscribers can click here for the direct link to the game. 

WEATHER REPORT
It will be warm and humid in southern Georgia on Saturday with a forecast high of 78 but mostly cloudy to overcast skies, with a slight chance of rain during the day. Winds will increase throughout the game to about 10-15 mph cutting across the field from the southwest. 

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

FOUR REMAIN
Only four teams remain in the NCAA Division II Championship bracket as the semifinals will determine who will face off in McKinney, Texas on Dec. 18 for the national title. In the quarterfinals, out of Super Region 1, Shepherd's Hail Mary at the buzzer advanced them past Kutztown 30-28, while Valdosta State cruised 41-17 in the SR2 final over Bowie State. In SR3, Ferris State bounced Northwest Missouri State 41-20, and Mines handled Angelo State 34-26 in SR4. Shepherd visits Ferris State in the other semifinal, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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. 

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. Valdosta State was #5/6 in the last polls.

AT THE HELM
Gregg Brandon is in his seventh year and sixth season at Mines, going 59-14 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. Valdosta State coach Gary Goff, in his third season, is an impressive 21-2 (the Blazers also did not play in 2020), and has made the NCAA field in both 2019 and 2021.

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 eight games all-time in the final month of the year.

THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
The semifinals will be televised on ESPN+, but Mines is no stranger to games on the Worldwide Leader. ESPN has visited Marv Kay Stadium twice, in 2016 when Mines took on CSU Pueblo and again in 2018 against Chadron State. The Orediggers are 2-0 playing on ESPN. 

MAKE IT A DOZEN
Mines' victory over Angelo State last week made them 12-1, marking only the third 12-win season in program history and second in a row. Mines won a dozen in 2004 (12-1) and 2019 (12-1), and will now play in a 14th game for the first time in program history stretching back to 1888. 

QUARTERFINAL REWIND
Mines advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the first time in program history, going up big and then holding off Angelo State 34-26 in the Super Region IV final on Dec. 4. Michael Zeman ran for 138 yards and a touchdown and also caught another, and John Matocha threw for four scores in a 254-yard day to pace an offense that touched the nation's #5 scoring defense for 34 points. Logan Rayburn made a critical late interception for the defense as they held ASU to 3-of-13 on third downs in a bend-not-break performance. Zach Bronkhorst paced ASU with 331 yards passing and two touchdowns, nearly getting the Rams (11-3) back into the game in the fourth quarter with both of his scores in the quarter. Mines jumped out to a 20-3 halftime lead with three second-quarter touchdowns, including a 60-yard strike to Max McLeod and 21-yard pass to Josh Johnston before Zeman found a one-yard score late in the half. Mason Karp caught a 42-yard score in the third and Zeman's 39-yard catch-and-run with 4:31 all but ended things to put Mines up 34-17, despite a late Angelo State comeback. 

SCOUTING THE BLAZERS
Valdosta State, champions of Super Region 2, are 11-1 this season with their only loss coming to West Florida on Nov. 13 on the road. The Blazers own NCAA Division II's #1 total offense at 526.3 yards per game which includes 262.8 yards on the ground. Dual-threat quarterback Ivory Durham has thrown for 3,047 yards and 27 touchdowns behind one of the nation's best offensive line that has given up an NCAA-low two sacks in 12 games. On the ground the Blazers have a triple threat of Seth McGill (1,147 yards, 14 TD), Jamar Thompkins (877 yards, 9 TD), and Durham (814 yards, 12 TD). Lio'undre Gallimore's 14 touchdowns leads all receivers as both he and Brian Saunds are over 1,000 yards for the season. Defensively the Blazers allow 19.1 points and 320.5 yards per game and have four defensive touchdowns this season.

ZEMAN MAKES HARLON HILL CUT, EARNS ALL-AMERICA HONOR
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 two of the eight - Zemen and Shepherd QB Tyson Bagent - are playing in the semifinals. Zeman was also named an AFCA Second-Team All-American on Wednesday, the second straight season Mines has had an AFCA honoree (joining OT Grant Stewart in 2019).

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 1,503 yards and 21 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 the second Oredigger with Mayberry to crack 1,500 yards in a season. Zeman's 1,503 yards is third all-time in a season and he could threaten Mayberry's program record of 1,615 set in 2018. 

...AND NEARS SCORING RECORDS
Zeman tied the Mines single-season total touchdowns record last week with one on the ground and one in the air to take him to 26, and with 21 rushing TDs, he could also threaten the Mines single-season rushing touchdowns mark of 23 with a big game on Saturday:

Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Season
Lloyd Madden, 1939, 23        
Cameron Mayberry, 2018, 23        
Michael Zeman, 2021, 21        
Cameron Mayberry, 2017, 18        
Greg Marshall, 1993, 18        
Dan Palmer, 2011, 18        

Most Total Touchdowns in a Season        
Michael Zeman, 2021, 26 (21 rush, 5 rec.)    
Brody Oliver, 2016, 26 (26 rec.)        
Cameron Mayberry, 2018, 24 (23 rush, 1 rec.)    
Lloyd Madden, 1939, 23 (23 rush)        

MATOCHA MAGIC
Quarterback John Matocha continues to do a little bit of everything for the Orediggers this season, entering the Valdosta State game with 2,845 yards passing and 36 touchdowns on a 69.6 percent completion rate, against only seven interceptions for a 170.1 QBR. He's also a capable runner with 405 net yards and five touchdowns, including three first-down scampers last week as his ability to move the sticks and extend drives has been critical to the Orediggers' offensive success. So far in the NCAA tournament, Matocha has put up big passing numbers including a 348-yard, 4-total touchdown performance against Bemidji State in the second round and a 254-yard, 4-touchdown day last week against Angelo State. Starting as a true freshman in 2019, Matocha is now 23-2 as Mines' starter.  

IN THE AIR
The Mines receiving corps has been one of the nation's most balanced units this season with six receivers notching 300+ yards and four with 400+. Tristan Smith leads the group with 752 yards on 58 catches with seven touchdowns, while Mason Karp's breakout season continues with 47 receptions for 489 yards and a score. Josh Johnston is the team's touchdown leader with 12 (46 rec., 484 yards) and the emergence of Max McLeod, with nine touchdown grabs in only 23 receptions for 445 yards, has given John Matocha yet another option in the air.

BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS IT
The Oredigger offense has had the capacity for quick-strike scores all season, but that's been especially apparently over the last four games when Mines' 11 passing touchdowns have averaged a whopping 39.3 yards in length. Highlighted among the group is Tristan Smith's 96-yard touchdown at CSU Pueblo, Max McLeod's 65-yard take against Bemidji State, and McLeod's 60-yard opening strike last week versus Angelo State. Five of the 11 receiving TDs in the last four games have been over 40 yards in length.

BALL HOGS
Mines' offense is designed to chew up time on the clock, and that's been especially on display in the NCAA tournament so far. The Orediggers held a whopping 15:52 advantage against Bemidji State with 37:56 of time; against Angelo State it was an 8:40 advantage at 34:20. This season Mines has been on the plus side of time of possession in nine of 13 games, and has been +10:00 or more five times.

ON THE PLUS SIDE...
Mines enters the national semifinals a whopping +18 on turnovers margin, which is the fourth-best rate in NCAA Division II and by far the best of the four remaining teams. 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), Logan Rayburn (3 INT, 1 FR) and Nolan Reeve (3 FF, 1 FR). Fifteen different Orediggers have been involved in a turnover this season. Mines is fifth nationally with 17 interceptions gained and 10th nationally with 13 fumbles gained.

BALL HAWKING
Mines' four interceptions against Bemidji State in the NCAA Second Round marked a season high and continued a torrid stretch for the Oredigger secondary, which has picked off eight passes in their last three 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, while Logan Rayburn kept the streak going with his late pick against Angelo State in the quarterfinals. This season Mines is fifth in NCAA Division II in interceptions with 17. 

OFF THE EDGE
The Orediggers' defensive front has been led by its two outside linebackers, Nolan Reeve and Mack Minnehan. The two - both all-RMAC selections - have put up impressive numbers, combining for 131 tackles, 27 TFL, 14.0 sacks, and nine total turnovers this season.

#1 VS. #1
Mines leads the nation in sacks, with 52. Valdosta State leads the nation in not allowing them, with only two. Something will have to give. The Orediggers faced a similar matchup in the NCAA Second Round against Bemidji State, which ranked fifth nationally having allowed only eight to that point; Mines managed only a single sack by Chaffin Ross in that game, but effectively pressured quarterback Brandon Alt with five other hurries and a batted pass, resulting in four interceptions and 10 pass break-ups on the day.

PROTECTING THE END ZONE
Mines' scoring defense is the sixth-best in NCAA Division II at 13.2 points per game as the Orediggers have constructed arguably the best defensive season in program history. Mines has surrendered two touchdowns or less eight times in 13 games including two shutouts this season (and the defense has three goose eggs as Bemidji State's lone TD came on special teams). 

LET'S TALK PUNTING
Jacob Click has developed into one of the RMAC's best punters this season, and his 41.8-yard average is ranked #13 in NCAA Division II with Mines' net punting average of 37.7 ypp ranking 10th nationally. On the other side, Mines' punt return game is eighth-best in D-II at 16.5 yards per take, with Mason Pierce averaging 19.1 yards per return when he gets a chance to rank second in D-II. Pierce had a key 28-yard return to the Angelo State 42 last week to set up Mines' third touchdown in the second quarter.

ON A BUSINESS TRIP
The trip to Valdosta State represents the second-longest in program history and the longest within the United States at 1,377 miles. Mines' only longer trip was a 1989 postseason journey to Mexico City to play a team of all-stars there. It will only be the third time Mines has played in the Eastern time zone, all of them being in the NCAA tournament. The Orediggers will fly charter directly into Valdosta on Thursday. It will have been more than a month since Mines last played on the road (Nov. 6 at CSU Pueblo) and two months since they last left Colorado (Oct. 9 at Black Hills State) as the Orediggers finished the regular season at home, had the bye week, then hosted two NCAA games.

FIVE ON D2CCA ALL-REGION SQUAD
Mines had five players named D2CCA All-Super Region 4 on Dec. 2, led by two first-team picks on offense. Center Matt Armendariz and running back Michael Zeman garnered First-Team All-Region honors, with three players on the defensive side of the ball - lineman Zach Hester, cornerback Mason Pierce, and linebacker Nolan Reeve - earning Second-Team All-Region status. As first-team selections, Zeman and Armendariz will advance to the All-America ballot.

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 COSIDA 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. 

NEXT UP
This week's winner advances to the national final in McKinney, Texas, on Dec. 18 to play the Ferris State-Shepherd winner. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.