#9/8 Colorado School of Mines (1-0, 0-0 RMAC) vs. New Mexico Highlands (1-0, 1-0 RMAC), Saturday, 12 p.m.
Marv Kay Stadium, Golden, Colo.
[TV: KWGN 2 / Streaming: RMAC Network] [Live Stats] [Mines Media Notes]

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With both teams securing blowout wins in Week 1, #9/8 Mines and New Mexico Highlands meet in Week 2 trying to get to 2-0. Both teams flashed impressive performances on both sides of the ball.

LIVE COVERAGE
The RMAC Network has relaunched for 2021-22, and fans used to watching on their smart TV or other device must download the new app by searching "RMAC" in your device's app store. The new watch portal is available at minesathletics.com/tv or rmacnetwork.com. This week's game will also be simulcast live on KWGN Colorado's Own Channel 2 in addition to streaming on the RMAC Network. Miles Dunklin and Josh Dover have the call. 

FAN INFORMATION
Mines Athletics is excited to welcome fans back to home events this fall. 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.
- 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.
- Parking for home games has a new option 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 be open in the west end zone for all guests 21 and older. The beer garden will be cashless. 

WEATHER REPORT
Saturday's forecast is a warm 86 degrees with increasing clouds through the afternoon and a slight chance of a passing shower after 2 p.m.

LEADING THE WAY
The Mines team has elected six captains for 2021: offensive lineman Matt Armendariz, wide receiver Josh Johnston, and running Michael Zeman lead the Orediggers on offense while safety Kobe Brewster, linebacker Gabriel Kortz, and nose tackle Jack McAdams lead the defense. 

SERIES NOTES
Mines and New Mexico Highlands are meeting for the 56th time since 1938 ... The all-time series is very close, with Mines taking the lead in 2019 at 27-26-2 ... The Orediggers have won seven straight dating back to 2013 and 17 of the last 20 dating to 2000 ... Gregg Brandon is 5-0 against the Cowboys with an average margin of victory of 42.6 points ... The Orediggers are 16-12-1 against NMHU at home including 3-0 at Marv Kay Stadium.

AT THE HELM
Gregg Brandon enters his seventh year and sixth season at Mines, going 48-13 since 2015. Brandon is the two-time defending RMAC Coach of the Year, leading Mines to conference titles and NCAA appearances in 2016, 2018, and 2019, including an undefeated 10-0 RMAC campaign in 2019. Josh Kirkland was hired in February 2020 as the Cowboys' new coach, coming over from Incarnate Word where he was assistant head coach and running backs coach. Kirkland won his first game last week.

IN THE POLLS
In the national polls, Mines moved up one spot this week to #9 in the AFCA coaches' poll and remained at #8 in the D2football.com media ranking. Mines was selected as the favorite in the RMAC preseason poll on August 4, earning seven of the 10 first-place nods to lead CSU Pueblo, Chadron State, Colorado Mesa, and Western Colorado in the top five; New Mexico Highlands was chosen eighth. 

WEEK 1 REWIND
Mines got off to a winning start to 2021, playing for the first time in 642 days and producing an emphatic 42-3 win over Western Oregon on Sept. 2. Michael Zeman ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns, and caught another score, while John Matocha threw for an efficient 199 yards and four touchdowns with Josh Johnston, Mason Karp, and Joe Golter also catching TDs. Defensively Mines was spectacular, allowing a single net rushing yard and zero touchdowns with three turnovers, including Zach Hester's fumble recovery, Nolan Reeve's strip sack, and Collin Romero's interception. The defense's three points allowed was the fewest in a season opener since 2011 when Mines shut out William Jewell.

New Mexico Highlands pounded Fort Lewis 44-7 on Saturday with a 27-point first-quarter as the Cowboys produced 653 yards of total offense to the Skyhawks' 188. Quarterback Ramon Atkins impressed with 353 yards and four touchdowns while the Cowboys had two 100-yard rushers in Kamari Mosby and Cameron High, who each had 122. CJ Sims caught six passes for 122 yards and Quavon Beckford had five for 101 plus two touchdowns.

OPENING RMAC PLAY
Week 2 marks the start of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, and the Orediggers are 7-3 over their last 10 RMAC openers, including 4-1 under Gregg Brandon.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Marv Kay Stadium has been a daunting place for opponents to play since opening in 2015, with Mines going 27-4 overall at home. In the regular season, it's been awhile since the Orediggers haven't celebrated victory at home: 1,820 days, to be exact, or 21 straight games dating back to the 2016 season.

COLORADO'S BEST
RB Michael Zeman picked up the season's first National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter Player of the Week award for his performance against Western Oregon, the third of his career. Zeman produced 151 total yards and three touchdowns, with all of his scores coming in the decisive second quarter. The NFFCC award takes into consideration players from all of Colorado's football programs regardless of division.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Both DE Luke Jeter and RB Michael Zeman landed on the Lindy's Preseason Second-Team All-America list; they also lauded QB John Matocha as a potential national player of the year candidate. Jeter led Mines with 13.5 TFL to go with seven sacks in 2019, helping the defensive front rank #6 in NCAA Division II in rushing defense. Zeman ran his way to 2019 all-America honors with an RMAC-best 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 109.3 yards per game and 176.4 yards per start.

SPREADING IT AROUND
Eight different receivers caught passes for Mines in Week 1, and John Matocha hit four different targets for touchdowns. Mason Karp led all receivers with five catches and Josh Johnston had four; Michael Zeman caught three out of the backfield and Tristan Smith also snagged three. Max McLeod and Isaiah Kroll also made their first collegiate catches.

DUAL THREAT
Speaking of John Matocha, the signal caller once again made it a tough night for the opposing defense thanks to his dual-threat capability. While throwing for 199 yards, Matocha also ran 10 times for 54 yards gained (31 net) including a long run of 18. Four of his scrambles were for first downs, including that 18-yard run on a 3rd-and-3 situation in the second half.

STOPPING THE RUN
Facing a 1,000-yard rusher in Western Oregon's Omari Land, the Mines defense allowed only one net rushing yard and 51 positive yards in total on 24 attempts last week. The total was helped by four sacks, but WOU running backs averaged only 2.3 yards per carry and Land was held to 30 yards on nine attempts.

RELLER, HESTER SHINE IN OPENER
Mines' defensive line had a banner night against Western Oregon, and no one flashed a bigger breakout performance than defensive tackle Cameron Reller. Reller made four tackles, 1.5 for a loss, with a sack and a batted pass well behind the line of scrimmage. He also blocked and recovered a punt deep in WOU territory that led directly to a Mines touchdown. On the other end of the line, defensive end Zach Hester made four tackles, forced and recovered a fumble, and had half a tackle for loss as the pair led a dominant night for the line.

THIIIIIIRD DOWN
The Orediggers led the nation in third-down defense in 2019, and that didn't change a bit in Week 1. Western Oregon was held to 4-of-15 (26.7%) on third downs in the game, and just like in 2019, Nolan Reeve was the name that showed up over and over again. Reeve had all three of his quarterback hurries and one tackle on third downs in the game, all leading to drive stops.

YOUNGSTERS SHINE ON D 
While the veterans continued to make an impact, the Western Oregon game also let some of Mines' newer contributors on defense shine through. Collin Romero had an interception in his Mines debut, while Ben Fuchs, Kyle Bahnsen, Max Fecci, and Josh Pollard all made their first career sacks in the game.

EICH PERFECT IN DEBUT
Only one true freshman started the season opener and it was kicker Matthew Eich. The top kicking prospect in the state of Colorado last year, the Broomfield product went 6-of-6 on PATs and averaged 63.6 yards per kickoff with four touchbacks on seven tries. Mines did not attempt a field goal in the game. 

CLICK HELPS FIELD POSITION BATTLE
Jacob Click earned the start at punter last week and had an excellent game, averaging 42.8 yards per punt on six tries with two over 50 yards, including a 58-yard boomer. Other than one punt from his own end zone, Click forced WOU to start at an average of their own 22.4 yard line.

BLASTER TRACKER
It's tradition that Mines' mascot, Blaster the Burro, runs from the west end zone to the 50 yardline and back along with his handlers Blue Key after every Oredigger score. This year fans may notice a new Blaster on duty as the previous Blaster, who had served since the 1990s, retired over the summer to his ranch in Idaho Springs. In his debut in Week 1, Blaster ran for 600 yards thanks to six Oredigger touchdowns.

HARKER BEGINS 2ND CFL SEASON
Former Mines quarterback Isaac Harker continues to be a key part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders' roster as the backup to Cody Fajardo in all four CFL games this season. Harker beat out former Denver Broncos first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch for the backup spot. The CFL did not play in 2020, but the Roughriders are 3-1 so far this season in their return.

STITT GETS HALL CALL
On Aug. 21, former Mines head coach Bob Stitt was announced as part of the Mines Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Stitt won a program-record 108 games during his tenure, including RMAC Championships in 2004, 2010, and 2014 and the program's first NCAA appearances in those years. The offensive innovator produced 16 All-Americans, 31 All-Region selections, and 129 all-RMAC performers during his 15 seasons before moving to coaching stops at Montana, Oklahoma State, and Texas State. The Hall of Fame class - which also includes women's soccer's Anna Evans and track & field/cross country's Mark Husted and Mack McLain - will be inducted as part of Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 2.

NEXT TIME
Mines visits Fort Lewis on Sept. 18 at noon.