GOLDEN, Colo. - #10/8 Colorado School of Mines returned to the football field for the first time in 642 days Thursday night. Turns out, they didn't miss a beat.

Mines rolled to a resounding 42-3 victory over Western Oregon under the lights at Marv Kay Stadium, led by a stifling defense that generated three turnovers and did not allow a touchdown. Michael Zeman powered a 35-point first half with three total touchdowns and 151 all-purpose yards. 
 
Defensively, Mines (1-0) held the Wolves (0-1) to one net rushing yard led by a dominant line that included standout nights for Zach Hester (4 TT, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery) and Cameron Reller (4 TT, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks, a batted pass, and a blocked punt). 

The Orediggers were back on the field after not playing in 2020, hosting the first night game at Marv Kay Stadium since 2016. It was the second-ever meeting between Mines and Western Oregon.

With the ball, it was once again Zeman with an unstoppable performance as he ran for 111 yards and two scores, and caught three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. John Matocha threw for an efficient 199 yards and four touchdowns, hitting Josh Johnston and Mason Karp for additional scores among eight different receivers with completions. 

WOU was stymied by Mines' first-teamers as leading rusher Omari Land was held to 30 net yards and Ryan Worthley, while throwing for 222 yards, was sacked three times in the game. 

Mines got on the board on their second drive, a 16-play, 89-yard match that ended with a one-yard Johnston touchdown catch. One play later, a strip sack by Nolan Reeve gave Mines the ball back on the Wolves' 8, and Matocha hit Karp on second down to lead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The defense made a terrific goal line stand early in the second to limit WOU to a Daniel Cossette field goal, but Zeman responded with a 55-yard run to set up his first score of the night, and Reller's blocked punt on the next series sparked another Zeman touchdown to lead 28-3. Zeman caught a 10-yarder from Matocha late in the half to set it at 35-3, and Joe Golter's 20-yard catch in the third quarter would be the final tally of the game.

NOTABLES
- Mines evened the all-time series with WOU at 1-1.
- The Orediggers stretched their home regular-season win streak to 21 games dating back to the 2016 season. 
- Mason Karp led Mines receivers with five catches, while Johnston had a team-high 51 yards on four snags.
- True freshman Matthew Eich was a perfect 6-for-6 on PATs in his debut. Jacob Click averaged 42.8 yards on six punts including two over 50 yards.
- WOU's Justice Murphy led all receivers with 70 yards on four catches. 
- Mines allowed only 264 yards of total offense to the Wolves while producing 359. 
- The nation's #1 third-down defense in 2019, Mines held WOU to 4-of-15. The Wolves had only three first downs in the first half. 
- Mason Pierce was Mines' leading tackler with five stops. Reller, Ben Fuchs, Kyle Bahnsen, Max Fecci, and Josh Pollard all had sacks while Collin Romero had an interception.

NEXT UP
Mines begins RMAC play at home against New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 11.