#21/8 Colorado School of Mines (3-2, 3-0 RMAC) vs. Colorado Mesa (1-3, 0-3 RMAC) // Saturday, Oct. 8 // Noon
Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium, Golden, Colo.
[TV: KWGN] [Stream: RMAC Network] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes] 

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Off to a 3-0 RMAC start, #21/8 Colorado School of Mines hosts Colorado Mesa on Homecoming Weekend with the Nyikos Cup on the line.

LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's game will be televised live on KWGN Colorado's Own Channel 2 in the Denver metro, and stream for free on the RMAC Network. Every home regular-season game will air on KWGN, and all of the Orediggers' remaining regular-season games will stream on the RMAC Network.

FAN INFORMATION
For this week's game, please note the following important pieces of information:

- Gates and the tailgating lot open at 10 a.m.
- Parking in Lot K (next to Stermole Soccer Stadium) costs $10 with solar-canopy-covered parking now available. Tailgating is permitted in Lot K only. Fans are encouraged to park for free in the parking garage at 1400 Maple Street, located two blocks from Marv Kay Stadium. Visit the Mines Parking page for more information.
- Over the summer, the City of Golden changed its residential neighborhood parking to require a permit seven days a week. Fans can not park in the neighborhood surrounding the stadium. Fans can utilize paid City of Golden parking downtown near Washington Street. 
- Tickets are available at the gate (cash or credit) or online at minesathletics.com/tickets. Reserved seats have sold out for Homecoming Weekend. Fans are encouraged to utilize print-at-home or digital ticket options to skip waiting in line at the game. Kids under 12 are free, but must visit the ticket window to get tickets. 
- Mines students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with their BlasterCard.
- The New Terrain Beer Garden will be open in the west end zone for all fans 21 and over. 

WEATHER REPORT
Saturday is forecast to be a spectacular day for football in Golden with a high around 65 under mostly sunny skies and light winds. 

LEADING THE WAY
The Mines team has elected four captains for 2022: quarterback John Matocha and running Michael Zeman lead the Orediggers on offense while linebacker Mack Minnehan and cornerback Mason Pierce are the defensive leaders.

A NEW ERA
This season marks a new era for Mines Football under head coach Brandon Moore, named the successor to Gregg Brandon last winter after the former Oredigger boss announced his retirement. Moore is only the seventh head coach of the program since World War II, and since 2000, the Orediggers have known only three coaches - Bob Stitt (2000-14), Gregg Brandon (2015-21), and now Moore. Before being elevated to the head spot, Moore had been on staff at Mines since 2016, including as defensive coordinator since 2018. Moore kept the entire coaching staff from 2021 intact under him, including offensive coordinator Pete Sterbick and special teams coordinator Clement Grinstead, with defensive line coach Tripp Thomas promoted to defensive coordinator. Moore picked up his first career win in Week 3 at Adams State in the Orediggers' 84-10 victory and is now 3-2.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
It's Homecoming Weekend at Mines, which will include a pair of volleyball matches, the introduction of the 2022 Hall of Fame Class, and much more in addition to the football game. Homecoming has been kind to the Orediggers in recent years; Mines has never lost a Homecoming game at Marv Kay Stadium (6-0) since it opened in 2015, including last year's overtime thriller against Western Colorado. Mines has won eight consecutive Homecoming games dating back to 2013.

FOR THE NYIKOS CUP
The winner of the Mines-Mesa game gets to keep the Nyikos Cup to go with the bragging rights for the next year. The alumni associations of the two universities established the cup in 2010 in honor of Dr. Michael Nyikos, who was Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Mesa, as well as Vice President of Student Affairs and External Relations at Mines. In February 2002 Dr. Nyikos was appointed to the Mines Board of Trustees, and reappointed in March 2006. He served as Chairman of the Board, and was also a member of the Board of the Mines Foundation until his death in February 2009. The Orediggers have won it seven times to CMU's four.

Nyikos Cup All-Time Results            
2010 - @Mines 46, Mesa State 10        
2011 - Mines 28, @Colorado Mesa 20        
2012 - @Mines 37, Colorado Mesa 7        
2013 - Mines 27, @Colorado Mesa 10        
2014 - @Mines 37, Colorado Mesa 23        
2015 - @Colorado Mesa 31, Mines 17        
2016 - Colorado Mesa 41, @Mines 40 OT        
2017 - @Colorado Mesa 38, Mines 36        
2018 - @Mines 72, Colorado Mesa 31        
2019 - Mines 56, @Colorado Mesa 20        
2021 - @Colorado Mesa 26, Mines 21        

IN THE POLLS
Mines moved up in both major polls this week, advancing one spot to #21 in the AFCA coaches' poll and leaping six spots to #8 in the D2football.com ranking. After starting out in the top five of both polls in preseason, the Orediggers' have retained the pollsters' respect with both of their losses coming to #2/2 Grand Valley State and #3/3 Angelo State by a combined six points. The Orediggers have been ranked in 27 consecutive polls dating back to Week 3 of the 2018 season. Mines was a near-unanimous pick to win its fourth consecutive conference crown in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll announced in August as the Orediggers took nine of 10 first-place votes to lead CSU Pueblo, Western Colorado, and Colorado Mesa in the top four. 

DEFENDING THE CROWN
With a 3-0 start to conference play, Mines is off and running in seeking its fourth consecutive RMAC title. The Orediggers won the crown either outright or shared in 2018, 2019, and 2021 (no champion was awarded in 2020 due to the pandemic), and Mines has won four of the last five dating back to 2016.

AROUND THE RMAC
Week 5 was an interesting one in the RMAC led by the Black Hills Brawl that saw unbeaten Black Hills State defeat rival South Dakota Mines 24-17, handing SDM their first conference loss. Western Colorado outlasted Colorado Mesa 42-34 in double OT to also stay unbeaten in the RMAC while the Orediggers handled Chadron State 45-9 to be the third unbeaten left, with SDM and New Mexico Highlands (a winner at Adams State) at 2-1. The three games with the biggest impact on the standings this week are Black Hills State at New Mexico Highlands, South Dakota Mines at Western Colorado, and Mesa at Mines.

NOTING THE MINES-MESA SERIES
Mines and Colorado Mesa are meeting for the 46th time ... The two had met every year since 1977 until the pandemic forced the cancelation of the 2020 season ... The series has been very competitive in recent years with CMU winning three straight in 2015, 2016, and 2017, Mines in 2018 and 2019, and then CMU again in 2021 ... The Orediggers won the first meeting 21-7 in 1975 ... Either Mines or Colorado Mesa - or both - have been RMAC champion in every season since 2014 ... Mines is 8-13 at home against the Mavs but have not played them at Marv Kay Stadium since 2018. 

LAST TIME WE MET
Colorado Mesa's comeback gave them a 26-21 win over Mines in Grand Junction last season, rallying back from 21-7 down to win late. Tristan Smith caught two touchdowns and Michael Zeman rushed for 108 yards and a score. Karst Hunter passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns with Dwight Blakey catching 103 yards and a score. Jaden Williams had a career game defensively with 10 tackles, a forced fumble, and two pass break-ups.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Colorado Mesa is looking to snap a three-game skid that has seen them drop back-to-back one-score games, 31-28 to Black Hills State and 42-34 in double overtime to Western Colorado. Under first-year head coach Miles Kochevar, the Mavs' have had a healthy passing offense led by quarterback Karst Hunter. The dual threat has thrown for 984 yards and nine touchdowns this season, while rushing for 209 net yards and a score as well. Jullen Ison is the feature back averaging 65 yards per game, while Dagan Rienks' 15 catches leads the receiving corps with Keenan Brown's three touchdowns and 263 tops on the team. Defensively the Mavericks allow 369 yards and 29.5 points per game, and are -2 on turnover margin.

WEEK 5 REWIND
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 156-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 Cameron Reller and Nolan Reeve with 1.5 each.

MATOCHA HONORED BY RMAC
John Matocha's game earned him RMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the seventh time in his career. It's Matocha's second weekly award of the season; he was also the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter Player of the Week after the Adams State game. 

WEEK 5 STANDOUTS
Quick hits on standouts from Chadron State:

- John Matocha completed 75% of his passes going for 319 yards and four touchdowns to earn RMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
- Josh Johnston snared five passes for 156 yards and a touchdown, his second-highest career yardage output. His 84-yard touchdown was Mines' longest play from scrimmage this season.
- Landon Walker had two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) on 59 total yards.
- Max McLeod saw six catches for 79 yards and a TD.
- Kenny Wright caught his second touchdown of the season and Chris Yoo ran in his second.
- Jaden Williams returned an interception 37 yards and had a team-high eight tackles.
- Mack Minnehan snared his first interception of the season to go with three tackles.
- Nolan Reeve and Cameron Reller had nearly identical stat lines as both had 1.5 sacks and combined for 13 tackles.
- Max Fecci blocked a PAT, the first of his career.
- Mason Pierce averaged 16.3 yards per punt return, taking three back for 50 total yards. 

RISING UP THE RANKS, PART I
Michael Zeman's career has seen him shoot up the Mines career lists, and the sixth-year senior now finds himself among the greats. Entering this week, Zeman ranks second all-time at Mines in rushing yardage (3,542) with former teammate Cameron Mayberry's 4,074-yard program record in sight; he is also second behind Mayberry in rushing touchdowns at 41, crossing the 40-TD mark last week. Zeman's ability in the aerial game also has him rising up the Mines total touchdowns list, where his 48 total scores (41 rush and 7 receiving) has him 11 behind all-time leader Brody Oliver. 
  
RISING UP THE RANKS, PART II
Quarterback John Matocha is only in his third season since starting as a true freshman in 2019, but he's already rapidly moving up the career passer lists at Mines. Matocha ranks third in career touchdowns and fourth in passing yards at Mines; Matocha is fourth among active NCAA Division II quarterbacks in career touchdown passes (and the only junior in the top five), and he is also one of only six active D-II quarterbacks with 5,000+ passing and 1,000+ career rushing yards, and the only one with 7,000+/1,000+. Last week, Matocha reached 100 career touchdowns responsible for (80 passing, 19 rushing, 1 receiving) with his four-touchdown day, and became the fourth Mines passer to surpass 7,000 career yards with third place on the career list in sight.

RISING UP THE RANKS, PART III
Veteran Josh Johnston has been leading the Mines' receiving corps this season and is in the midst of moving up in the Mines record books. Johnston caught career touchdowns #29 and #30 in the Adams State game, then #31 last week at Chadron State, moving him to a tie for third all-time at Mines. With his 84-yard touchdown strike last week, Johnston also became the 11th Mines receiver to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards and now stands at 2,080. This season Johnston is averaging 5.8 receptions, 102.8 yards, and 0.8 touchdowns per game, all team bests.   

VERY EFFICIENT
The Orediggers' passing attack has been one of the best in the country this year, and it all starts with accuracy. Mines and quarterback John Matocha produce 296.4 yards per game in the air with 13 touchdowns against just one interception, and nationally Mines has the second-best completion percentage in NCAA Division II at 73.1 percent. It's not just Matocha and his 71.8 percent completion rating taking care of business; backups Evan Foster (8-of-10) and Jake Sype (5-of-5) have also excelled, and Mines has had a dozen different receivers catch a pass this year.

LET'S GET IT STARTED
There are now five active Orediggers with 30 or more career starts as center Matt Armendariz joined the ranks with his 30th last week. Josh Johnston and Mason Pierce have 32 and John Matocha and Mack Minnehan 31. Nineteen different Orediggers have 10 or more career starts, with Johnston (32), Matocha (31), and Minnehan (31) each with 30+ consecutive starts.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
It takes both sides of the ball working to keep your turnover ratio positive, and the Mines offense has certainly complemented the defense's efforts this season. The Orediggers have committed only three turnovers this season: a pair of fumbles at Grand Valley State and a tipped interception at Chadron State. Meanwhile the defense has eight interceptions and three fumble recoveries to be +8, having generated two or more takeaways in every game this season. Mines ranks fifth in NCAA Division II in turnover margin, 13th in turnovers gained, and ninth in fewest committed. 

WHEN IT COUNTS
Mines' third-down defense has been among the national elite in the last few seasons, and they continued to show that intensity in the first half of the season. Through five games, Mines' opponents are converting on third down just 28.7% of the time (21-of-73); last year opponents converted on 29% of third downs. 

TWO SIDES OF THE COIN
When it comes to sacks, Mines has been excellent this year at taking care of business on both sides of the ball. The Oredigger offensive line has allowed only two sacks in the last three games and just seven all season; on the defensive side of the ball, the Orediggers are 11th nationally with 3.8 sacks per game and 19 total, led by Cameron Reller and Jaden Healy with 3.0 apiece. Fourteen different Orediggers have at least a half-sack this season.

GO FOR IT
The Orediggers have had a perfect start to the season on 4th downs, converting six of six attempts in 2022. The Orediggers are one of just two teams in D-II batting 1.000 on fourth downs along with Nebraska-Kearney. Of those six conversions, Mines has scored twice on 4th down inside the red zone, each coming in the last two weeks on a Max McLeod touchdown versus CSU Pueblo and and Chris Yoo rush at Chadron State.

NEXT UP
Mines heads north to face South Dakota Mines on Oct. 15.