GOLDEN, Colo. - #18/9 Colorado School of Mines shut out Black Hills State, with John Matocha's career game complementing a stifling defense to reel off their sixth consecutive win. 

The Orediggers (6-2, 6-0 RMAC) ran out to a 31-0 halftime lead with their signature explosive offense, scoring on the first play of the game for the second straight week and never looking back. John Matocha passed for a career-best 377 yards and three touchdowns with 10 different receivers catching balls.

The Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-3 RMAC) dropped their third in a row after a 5-0 start, being held to only 146 total yards and going 0-for-13 on third-down chances.

Mack Minnehan led the Orediggers' defense with a game-high 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks among 4.5 tackles for loss. Mines had nine sacks and held BHSU to just 39 net rushing yards on 38 attempts. 

Mason Karp streaked 75 yards to score on the game's opening play, and it was off to the races for the Orediggers as Michael Zeman fought for a seven-yard rushing score later in the quarter and Max McLeod broke loose on a 73-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Matthew Eich hit from 42 midway through the second, and Matocha went over the top to Flynn Schiele for his first career touchdown catch with just 32 seconds left in the half to lead 31-0. Black Hills State missed a 48-yard field goal in their only true scoring opportunity of the day.

Content to control the clock in the second half, Mines did it on both offense and defense. A scoreless third quarter saw just five combined possessions between the teams as the Orediggers got a turnover on downs and forced two punts before Zeman's two-yard punch in was the only points of the fourth quarter. Meanwhile the Mines defense did not allow BHSU any further than the Mines 46 in the second half as they preserved the goose egg.

NOTABLES
- It was the first shutout for head coach Brandon Moore and defensive coordinator Tripp Thomas. Mines' last zero came in the 2021 regular-season finale against Adams State.
- Mines' nine sacks were its most in a game since the 2010 season when they hit Western New Mexico as many times. Seven different Orediggers had at least half a sack. 
- Matocha had 321 yards passing in the first half alone on his way to a career-high 377 yards, which surpassed his 362-yard day against the Yellow Jackets last season. 
- Max McLeod has four 70+ yard touchdowns in his last three games. 
- Zeman ended up with two touchdowns and 74 yards off just 14 carries. His two touchdowns ties him for second all-time at Mines in total TDs at 54 with Cam Mayberry.
- Mines had 10 different receivers catch passes with the returning Tristan Smith leading the way with seven balls for 64 yards; Karp had 89 yards on three receptions and McLeod 81 on three. Josh Johnston and Schiele each had 44 yards receiving. 
- Mines limited BHSU quarterback Chance Eben to just 16-of-25 passing for 107 yards, sacking him 10 times. Running back Nolan Susel was a bright spot for the Yellow Jackets with 57 yards on the ground, and Hasaan Williams had 73 of Eben's 107 passing yards. 
- BHSU averaged just 2.3 yards per play.

NEXT UP
Mines heads to Gunnison to take on Western Colorado next Saturday.