Photo: Trevor Fleeman/WT Athletics

CANYON, Texas - A big second-half response by #5 Colorado School of Mines resulted in a key non-conference road win at West Texas A&M, 21-13. 

After a scoreless first half left them down 13-0, the Orediggers (4-0, 2-0 RMAC) answered with three unanswered scores in a grinding second half. Michael Zeman ran for 133 yards as ball control was paramount for Mines after the break, spending more than 36 minutes on offense in the game. John Matocha and Nathan Mackey ran for scores and Josh Johnston caught another, all in the second half, while Matocha threw for 116 yards and ran for 70 more. Counterpart Nick Gerber threw for 186 yards and a touchdown for the Buffs (2-2, 1-1 LSC). 

Kobe Brewster led the Mines defense with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception, all in the second half, while Gabriel Kortz and Nolan Reeve each had a team-high eight tackles. Cole Oster had 15 tackles for WT.

The Orediggers struggled to get going offensively in the first half, and the Buffs took advantage with big plays. After a Mines three-and-out, WT scored on their first offensive play with a 50-yard pass over the top to Hunter Kaufman, and a 37-yard Gage Urias field goal on their next series made it 10-0.

A Tobias Harris interception in the middle of the second quarter set the Buffs up with fantastic field position at the Mines 23, but a defensive stand held the Buffs to a 39-yard Urias field goal. Mines' best scoring chance of the first half was on a long drive late in the second quarter that came up empty after a missed 39-yard field goal.

The Mines defense got some momentum going with a 4th-and-inches stop at midfield by Brewster and Maghee McMullen to open the second half, and the offense made the most of the opportunity with an 11-play, 61-yard drive capped by Nathan Mackey's four-yard touchdown.

Another big defensive play helped Mines secure their first lead of the game. On WT's next offensive play, Kobe Brewster hit Brandon Blair to cause a fumble that he recovered at the 22, and three plays later, Matocha cruised into the end zone untouched on a three-yard finish to make it 14-13. 

Mines found the scoreboard again to start the fourth quarter as Zeman's fourth-down conversion and an 11-yard Tristan Smith pickup on 3rd-and-9 set up Matocha's five-yard pass over the middle to Josh Johnston to make it 21-13. The two sides traded possessions before the Buffs got something going offensively, but Brewster stopped them with an incredible tip-drill interception over the middle. Mines gave the ball back one more time on a punt with 2:19 remaining, but the defense came up with one last stand, flushing Gerber out of the pocket twice, sacking him once (by Nolan Reeve), and making a sideline stop short of the line to gain on 4th and 17. 

NOTABLES
- It was Mines' first time playing in Texas since 1931, when they visited Texas Tech, and only the second time overall. The Orediggers and Buffs were meeting for the first time.
- One of the nation's best time-of-possession teams, Mines held the ball for 36:28 in the game. Mines ran 26 more plays (76 to 50) than the Buffs.
- WT came into the game with NCAA D-II's #4 scoring offense at 48.7 points per game, while Mines was #2 at 49.7. 
- Mines compiled 321 yards of offense to WT's 316, including 205 on the ground. 
- The Orediggers went 8-of-16 on third down and 1-of-1 on fourth down in the game, while holding WT to 1-of-9 and 0-of-2, respectively. Mines is now 10-of-11 on fourth downs this season.
- Zeman crossed 100 yards for the third time in four games this season. Although held without a touchdown, he set up two of Mines' scores with key runs with 32 yards on Mines' first scoring series and a 4th-and-1 conversion on Mines' final TD.
- Tristan Smith led Mines receivers with 44 yards off five catches; Johnston caught three passes for 32 yards.
- Jacob Click had an outstanding night punting with three of his six inside the 20 and a long of 60 yards. 
- The last time Mines was held scoreless in the first half was against CSU Pueblo in 2015.
- For the first time in program history, the Orediggers are 4-0 for a third straight season.

NEXT UP
Mines returns to Marv Kay Stadium for Homecoming, hosting Western Colorado (4-0) at noon on Oct. 2. The game will be televised live on KWGN and the RMAC Network. It will be the first time in 96 meetings between the rivals that they meet as undefeated teams.