GOLDEN, Colo. - It was a coronation for the RMAC champions as #11/8 Colorado School of Mines dominated every phase of the game to defeat Fort Lewis, 80-0, and complete a perfect conference season.

The Orediggers (9-2, 9-0 RMAC) will find out their postseason assignment Sunday when the NCAA reveals its bracket at 3:30 p.m. MT on ncaa.com. Mines entered the week #2 in the Super Region rankings, virtually assuring them of a playoff spot and at least one home game with a win. 

On his senior day, Michael Zeman broke three records to stand atop a legacy of great running backs in Golden. Zeman's 133-yard, three-touchdown day saw him break both the Mines records for career rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns - held by former stablemate Cam Mayberry - and set the record for career total touchdowns and scoring that had been held by receiver Brody Oliver.

In one half of play, John Matocha was 13-of-16 for 281 yards and three scores - including his career 100th touchdown throw - and Evan Foster was a perfect 6-of-6 for 60 yards and a touchdown in relief. And two receivers got in on the milestones as both Josh Johnston (2 rec., 83 yards, 1 TD) and Max McLeod (6 rec., 89 yards, 1 TD) crossed 1,000 receiving yards for the season, becoming the first Mines duo to do so since 2004.

Mines' depth chart got a workout in the blowout as Jack Lowery rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns and Konnor Mickelsen and Chris Yoo each had scores. 

The Mines defense pitched its second shutout of the season and second in a row at home, holding the Skyhawks (0-10, 0-9 RMAC) to -3 rushing yards and just 170 total yards of offense. They passed their only red zone test of the day on FLC's third drive, stopping the Skyhawks four times inside the five to prevent a score.

The Orediggers scored on all but their final possession of the game. Michael Zeman opened things with a six-yard run and Mason Karp and Johnston gashed FLC for touchdowns of 47 and 67 yards, respectively, later in the first quarter, before Zeman's runs of 16 yards and one yard made it 35-0 midway through the second. Chris Yoo scored with 1:25 left and a quick out gave Mines a chance to score on Zach Hoffman's 21-yard bullet from Matocha to lead 49-0 at the half.

Mines' only red zone visit without a touchdown came to start the third as Jacob Click hit a 27-yard field goal, and the rest of the game was run-dominant as Jack Lowery scored twice around Konnor Mickelsen's touchdown - both men finding the end zone for the first time in their careers - to complete the win.

NOTABLES
- Zeman cemented his legacy by surpassing Mayberry's record of 4,074 career yards and 52 touchdowns. Zeman also now has 62 total end zone visits (53 rushing, 9 receiving) to become the program's all-time leading scorer past Oliver. Zeman now has 4,154 rushing yards.
- Johnston and McLeod are the first 1,000-yard receiving duo at Mines since 2004, when Jonny Chan (1,376 yards) and Justin Gallas (1,352 yards) did it in Chad Friehauf's Harlon Hill-winning year. 
- Matocha joins only program leader Justin Dvorak in the 100-touchdown pass club, and he is the fastest Oredigger quarterback to reach the mark.
- Mines 701 yards of total offense are its most in a game since 2018.
- Brock Ewing had a career-high seven tackles with 1.5 for a loss to lead the defense.
- James Garrison had the game's only turnover on an interception, taking Mines to +12 on differential for the season.
- The nation's sack leaders had five on the day all from different players. 
- Mines' senior class was honored before the game as they depart Golden the winningest group ever. The class of 2022 has 43 wins, four RMAC championships, and four postseason appearances, all firsts in program history. 
- Mines has shut out Fort Lewis in three straight meetings.
- It was the Orediggers' largest margin of victory in a game in 132 yards, surpassed only by a 103-0 win over Colorado in 1890. It was Mines' largest margin of victory ever in a RMAC game.

NEXT UP
The NCAA First Round begins Nov. 19 with the field announced tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. MT.