CHADRON, Neb. - #22/14 Colorado School of Mines overcame a slow start to score 45 unanswered points and roll past Chadron State, 45-9.
The Orediggers (3-2, 3-0 RMAC) stayed perfect in conference play as they combined an efficient offense with their characteristic opportunistic defense to stifle the Eagles (0-5, 0-3 RMAC) at home.
John Matocha continued his outstanding play with a 24-of-32, 329-yard, 4-touchdown performance, with
Josh Johnston breaking out for a 166-yard day with a score.
Max McLeod,
Landon Walker, and
Kenny Wright also caught touchdowns as Walker and
Chris Yoo each ran one in.
The Mines defense limited CSC to 11 first downs and 233 total yards including just 50 rushing yards.
Mack Minnehan and
Jaden Williams grabbed first-half interceptions, and eight different Orediggers had a hand in at least one sack led by
Nolan Reeve with 1.5.
Mines put a tough first quarter behind them, spotting Chadron State a 9-0 lead before getting things going in the second quarter. A 43-yard
Mason Pierce punt return sparked the visitors as Matocha's 29-yard strike to McLeod three plays later got them on the board; a punt block by
Logan Rayburn on the next series set Mines up at the Eagle 35 and Matocha would find Wright on a five-yard pass later in the possession to take a 14-9 lead. From there the Orediggers were off and running, with
Zach Hester's tipped pass grabbed by Minnehan to lead to a five-yard Matocha pass to Walker in the back corner, and Williams' interception on the next Chadron State series giving Mines the opportunity to find three points on
Matthew Eich's field goal at the halftime buzzer for the 24-9 lead.
After forcing a CSC punt to start the third quarter, Matocha went over the top for an 84-yard bomb to Johnston, and Walker's 12-yard slice up the middle on the next series put the game out of reach at 38-9. Mines worked the clock for the remainder of the half, scoring on a 10-yard Yoo run to start the fourth quarter.
NOTABLES
- Two Orediggers hit career milestones on the same play. Matocha's 84-yard touchdown pass to Johnston put the quarterback at 100 career total touchdowns (80 passing, 19 rushing, and 1 receiving), while it pushed Johnston over the career 2,000-receiving-yards mark.
- That touchdown pass was Mines' longest play from scrimmage this season.
- Matocha became the third quarterback in Mines history to pass for 80 career touchdowns, joining Justin Dvorak (134) and Chad Friehauf (84). He has now completed 72 percent or better of his passes in four of five games this season, including each of the last three.
- Johnston is the 11th Oredigger receiver to cross 2,000 career yards, and the first since former teammate Riley Hoff in the 2018 season.
- Johnston compiled his 156 yards on just five catches. It was the senior's second-best career game by yardage behind only a 160-yard day against New Mexico Highlands in the 2019 season.
- Mines remained perfect on 4th down this season, going for it twice and making it both times. The Orediggers are now 6-for-6 this season.
- The Mines defense has produced eight interceptions in five games as Williams snared his second and Minnehan his first of the year. Mines is +8 on turnovers in 2022.
- The win was the Orediggers' ninth in a row over CSC.
- Mines has scored 45+ points in each of their last three games, and are outscoring opponents 174-36 in that span.
NEXT UP
Mines host Colorado Mesa for Homecoming on Oct. 8. Kickoff is set for noon at Marv Kay Stadium with the game airing live on KWGN and the RMAC Network.
