GOLDEN, Colo. - Second-seeded Colorado School of Mines left no doubt in its repeat matchup with CSU Pueblo, dispatching the Thunderwolves 45-24 in the NCAA First Round at Marv Kay Stadium.
The Orediggers (10-2) will host Minnesota State on Nov. 26 at a time to be announced in the Second Round.
Max McLeod caught three touchdowns and
John Matocha threw for four in a 316-yard day while the Mines defense was utterly dominant with 10 sacks led by
Jack Peterson's impressive 2.5-sack, five-tackle, one-fumble performance.
Matocha and
Michael Zeman also ran for scores and
Josh Johnston added a strike as well.
CSU Pueblo Hunter Raquet threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns, with Max Fine going for 219 yards and two touchdowns in an outstanding performance. Mines' defense held the Pack to 76 net rushing yards
Mines' big-play propensity was on display almost immediately as Matocha hit McLeod for a 60-yard scoring strike on the first play of their second possession. The Thunderwolves were then halted in the red zone and had to settle for a 20-yard Sullivan Moon field goal, and Mines took off after that. Johnston's hard-fought 16-yard touchdown catch made it 14-3, and after a 4th-and-1 stop at midfield by
Jaden Williams and
Adrian Moreno, the Orediggers drew more points on a shoestring McLeod catch at the boundary to lead 21-3 early in the second quarter.
Max Fine's midfield fumble recovered by
Jaden Healy again led to Mines points as
Jacob Click was true from 40 yards, and the Pack turned it over on a second consecutive possession with
Collin Romero's interception ultimately ending up with no points. CSUP started to swing momentum its way with a late touchdown in the first half, using a big pass to Fine to set up Kiahn Martinez's three-yard run to draw within 24-10 at the half.
CSU Pueblo failed to capitalize on having the ball first in the third quarter, and Mines began to pull away with Matocha hit McLeod for a 38-yard score to lead 31-10.
Zach Hester's blocked punt gave Mines the ball back just outside the red zone and they cashed in with a spectacular diving run by Matocha for six. CSUP got back on the board late in the third when Fine caught a two-yard touchdown pass to cut it to 38-17, and then tried an onside kick which Mines recovered and turned into a Zeman 19-yard scoring run to start the fourth.
Fine scored a 68-yard breakout reception midway through the quarter, but Mines effectively controlled the clock throughout to end the game.
NOTABLES
- A week after becoming the all-time leader in program rushing yards, Zeman crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season on his first carry of the day, becoming the first running back in program history to record three 1,000-yard seasons.
- Zeman also tied Western Colorado great Austin Ekeler's state of Colorado all-touchdowns record of 63.
- McLeod was the first Mines receiver to snare three touchdown catches in a game since Johnston did it in the 2019 season against Chadron State.
- Mines' 10-sack game was its first double-digit performance since the 2007 season when they hit Oklahoma Panhandle State for 14. Peterson (2.5),
Cameron Reller (1.5),
Jaden Healy (1.5), and
Mack Minnehan (1.5) were all involved in multiple sacks.
- Peterson and
Logan Rayburn both forced fumbles while Healy recovered Hester's punt block.
- Mines extended its win streak over CSU Pueblo to four games. It was Mines' first win over CSU Pueblo - or any RMAC team - in the NCAA tournament.
- At 10-2, Mines has won double-digit games for a fourth straight season.
NEXT UP
Mines hosts third-seeded Minnesota State, a 26-9 winner over conference rival Wayne State, in next Saturday's Second Round at a time to be announced.
