NCAA Division II Football Championship Second Round
#10/7 Colorado School of Mines (11-2) at #2/2 Angelo State (12-0) // Saturday, Dec. 3 // 1 p.m. CT
LeGrand Stadium, San Angelo, Texas
[Stream: LSC Digital Network] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes]

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For the second straight year, Colorado School of Mines has advanced to the NCAA Super Region IV final, and once again it'll be a matchup with Angelo State for a spot in the national semifinals.

LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's game will stream for free on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network. An audio-only stream will be on the RMAC Network with the voice of the Orediggers Miles Dunklin calling the action.

FAN INFORMATION
- Tickets are now on sale via Angelo State's site.
- Fans should be aware that LeGrand Stadium has a clear bag policy with any bag larger than 5"x8" needing to be clear and smaller than 12"x12".
- The Mines Alumni office will be hosting a tailgate adjacent to the stadium, click here for registration and details.

WEATHER REPORT
It'll be a nice December day for football in San Angelo with a forecast high of 55 degrees and mostly sunny skies. Winds will be out of the east at 10mph at kickoff and decrease through the game. 

IN THE POSTSEASON
Mines is making its eighth overall appearance in the NCAA Championship, all coming since 2004, including four in a row, which is the third-longest active streak in the nation. The Orediggers made their deepest postseason run ever last year, winning Super Region 4 and advancing to the national semifinals. This is the Orediggers' second-ever national quarterfinals appearance. Elsewhere around the bracket this Saturday, Indiana (Pa.) hosts Shepherd in the Super Region 1 final, Wingate visits West Florida in SR2, and Ferris State heads to Grand Valley State in SR3.

IN THE POLLS
Mines finished in the top 10 of both major polls to end the regular season, moving up one spot in each to #10 in the AFCA coaches' poll and #7 in the D2football.com media poll this week. Angelo State spent much of the season where it finished in the polls, sitting at #2 in both behind Grand Valley State.

OREDIGGERS LEAD ALL-RMAC TEAMS
Mines was well-rewarded for its unbeaten conference season with 24 All-RMAC honors, led by Coach of the Year Brandon Moore, Offensive Player of the Year John Matocha, and Offensive Freshman of the Year Landon Walker. Mines' 24 honors led the conference and included all 11 starters on defense earning all-RMAC status; first-teamers included Matocha, Michael Zeman, Josh Johnston, Levi Johnson, Matt Armendariz, Mason Pierce, Adrian Moreno, and Mack Minnehan.

THE LAST TIME WE MET
In an instant classic on Sept. 10, Angelo State outlasted Mines 30-27 in overtime at Marv Kay Stadium. The Rams trailed 27-20 in the fourth quarter but found a 37-yard Nate Omeyabu III touchdown with 2:57 to go, then hit a game-winning 36-yard Asa Fuller field goal in overtime after Mines missed its attempt. John Matocha threw for 167 yards and a score and Michael Zeman had 77 yards and a touchdown; Zach Bronkhorst threw for 173 yards Omayebu had 126 total yards as the Rams rushed for 264. Mason Pierce had a pick-six and Joel Diaz added his first career interception in the game.

NOTING THE SERIES
This will be the third meeting between Mines and Angelo State, all coming in the last year ... The Orediggers won in last year's Super Region IV final, 34-26, and Angelo State won 30-27 in overtime in Week 2 of this season ... This will be Mines' first trip to San Angelo, a visit they will repeat in Week 2 of the 2023 season ... After not playing in Texas for 90 years, this will be Mines' second visit to the Lone Star State in back-to-back seasons after playing at West Texas A&M in 2021 ... Mines and Angelo State originally had a home-and-home series slated for 2020 and 2021 that was cancelled due to the pandemic ... Mines is 3-2 against the Lone Star Conference, including 2-1 in the NCAA Championship.

SCOUTING THE RAMS
One of just two remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II, Angelo State (12-0) rolled to the Lone Star Conference title in 2022. They possess arguably the best defense in the nation, topping the stats in total defense, passing efficiency defense, defensive touchdowns, and interceptions, and they are fourth nationally in scoring defense allowing 11.3 points per game. Daron Allman leads the Rams' defense with 14.5 TFL and 7.0 sacks, while Andrew Pitts and DeShaun Douglas have combined for 12 interceptions. Offensively, the Rams are balanced led by quarterback Zach Bronkhorst's 237.1 yards per game and 23 overall touchdowns, and the rushing tandem of Nate Omayebu III (1,156 yards, 7 TD) and Kason Philips (700 yards, 6 TD) help ASU average 190.4 yards per game on the ground.

SECOND ROUND REWIND
Mines bounced back from a rough first quarter and then held off a terrific effort by #19/13 Minnesota State as they won, 48-45, in the NCAA Division II Football Second Round last Saturday.  A game featuring two of the highest-powered offenses in the nation turned into a track meet as they combined for 926 yards of total offense and 93 points. John Matocha accounted for more than 400 yards of offense by himself, throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns and also rushing for a season-high 106 yards and a score; Michael Zeman added a touchdown on 74 hard-fought yards and Josh Johnston caught three touchdowns in a 78-yard day. Mines rallied back from 21-7 down in the first half to tie it, 28-28, at halftime, then took the lead on Johnston's third touchdown early in the third quarter. Mines' special teams play in the second half was key as Kyle Bahnsen blocked a Maverick field goal, Jacob Click hit both of his attempts, including a 30-yarder with 2:06 left in the game that would ultimately prove to be the edge, and Mason Karp recovered a late onside kick.

SECOND ROUND STANDOUTS
Standouts from the Minnesota State game:

- John Matocha accounted for more than 400 yards of offense, throwing for 307 and four scores and rushing for 106 and a touchdown.
- Josh Johnston caught three touchdown passes in a 78-yard day.
- Max McLeod had Mines' opening touchdown and was the team's receiving yards leader with 82.
- Tristan Smith had 52 yards off three catches including a critical third-and-long conversion late in the game.
- Jacob Click hit second-half field goals from 34 and 30 yards and averaged 38.5 yards per punt.
- Nolan Reeve had both of Mines' sacks to go with a team-high nine tackles, including a strip sack fumble recovered by Zach Hester. 
- Cameron Reller had six tackels with a TFL.
- Kyle Bahnsen blocked a field goal and had two tackles with half a TFL.

IN THE ZONE
The Oredigger offense is high scoring, that's easy to see - they lead NCAA Division II at 47.2 points per game, nearly four points better than second-place West Florida. What's even more impressive is how efficient they've been to get there: Mines tops NCAA Division II in red zone offense this season, scoring 56 times on 59 trips inside the 20 (46 touchdowns and 10 field goals) for a 96.6 percent conversion rate. The Orediggers have not come away from a red zone visit without points since Oct. 15 against South Dakota Mines, going a perfect 28-of-28 over the last six games. 

MATOCHA GETS HARLON HILL NOD
Quarterback John Matocha, the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, is having the most productive season of his career, and last week he was announced as a nominee for the Harlon Hill Award for the second time in his career. Matocha has compiled huge numbers in 2022: 4,038 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, and a 70% completion rating. Matocha heads into this week #1 in NCAA Division II in passing touchdowns, quarterback rating, points responsible for, and yards per attempt, and #2 nationally in passing yards and total offense. Last week he surpassed Mines Hall of Famer and 2004 Harlon Hill winner Chad Friehauf in career passing yards, and now stands just 32 away from 10,000 for his career. Matocha is  the only active quarterback in NCAA Division II with 9,000+ passing and 1,000+ rushing career yards (and doing so in his junior-eligibility year).

Mines Career Passing Touchdowns            
1. Justin Dvorak (2013-16) - 134        
2. John Matocha (2019-22)  - 108        
3. Chad Friehauf (2001-04) - 84        

Mines Career Passing Yards            
1. Justin Dvorak (2013-16) - 13,466        
2. John Matocha (2019-22)  - 9,968        
3. Chad Friehauf (2001-04) - 9,873        

COLORADO'S BEST
Running back Michael Zeman has pretty much broken every record there is. He has hit five major career milestones over the last three weeks; in the regular-season finale against Fort Lewis, Zeman snapped three major program records, becoming not only the Orediggers' all-time leading rusher and rushing touchdowns leader, but leading scorer as well as he surpassed Cam Mayberry's ground records and Brody Oliver's total touchdowns mark. In the first round against CSU-Pueblo, Zeman crossed 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the third time, becoming the only Oredigger to do so. Finally last week, Zeman became the all-time touchdowns leader by any college football player in the state of Colorado, scoring the 64th of his career to surpass Western Colorado great and current Los Angeles Charger Austin Ekeler. 

Mines Career Rushing Yards                
1. Michael Zeman (2018-22) - 4,303        
2. Cam Mayberry (2016-19) - 4,074         
3. Greg Marshall (1989-92) - 2,576         

Mines Career Rushing Touchdowns            
1. Michael Zeman (2018-22) - 55        
2. Cam Mayberry (2016-19) - 52        
3. Greg Marshall (1989-92)  - 37        

Mines Career Total Touchdowns Scored
1. Michael Zeman (2018-22) - 64 (55 rush, 9 rec.)    
2. Brody Oliver (2015-18) - 59 (59 rec.)        
3. Cam Mayberry (2016-19) - 54 (52 rush, 2 rec.)    

ARMENDARIZ AN UPSHAW FINALIST
Last week, center Matt Armendariz was named one of nine national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the most outstanding senior lineman on either side of the ball in NCAA Division II. Armendariz was the 2021 Rimington Award winner as D-II's best center and was a consensus all-American last season as well; in 2022 he is a First-Team All-RMAC honoree while holding down the center spot on the nation's #1 offense. He is the third Mines finalist for the award joining Grant Stewart (2019) and Mark Schiechl (2010). The winner will be announced on Dec. 5.

TO THE MAX
Receiver Max McLeod has played in five NCAA postseason games in his career. The results? Eleven receptions, 389 yards, and eight touchdown catches, including four in the first two rounds of 2022. Even more impressively, McLeod has caught a touchdown in all five of his postseason games, having one in each round of last year's semifinal round as well as his big start to this year's postseason. Overall in 2022, McLeod leads Mines with 15 touchdown catches and 1,211 yards off 61 catches. 

JJ'S BIG DAY
As mentioned, it was Max McLeod with a three-touchdown day in the NCAA First Round, and Josh Johnston matched that performance last week with an impressive three-score game against Minnesota State. Johnston - who has 11 TDs this year and 38 in his career - caught all three of his touchdowns in succession wrapped around halftime, helping Mines tie the game and then take the lead for good. He had a game-high five catches for 78 yards overall. Johnston  has also now cracked the top-five at Mines in career receiving yardage, surpassing Ty Young for fifth at 2,754.

TRIPLE THREATS
For the first time in program history, Mines has three 1,000-yard producers on its roster as both Josh Johnston and Max McLeod surpassed the receiving yards mark and Michael Zeman hit the rushing yards plateau. How rare is that? Mines is the only program in NCAA Division II, and one of just three nationally at any level, to have three 1,000-yard producers, joining Arizona with receivers Dorian Singer and Jacob Cowing and running back Xazavian Valladay, and Fordham, who actually has four with three 1,000-yard receivers in Fotis Kokosioulis, Dequece Carter, and MJ Wright along with RB Trey Sneed. McLeod (1,228 total yards), Johnston (1,188 total yards), and Zeman (1,342 total yards) have accounted for 3,758 total yards and 51 total touchdowns this season.

BLOCK LIST
In each of the first two rounds of the 2022 NCAA Championship, Mines has come up with critical kick blocks. In the first round against CSU Pueblo, it was Zach Hester who blocked a third-quarter punt recovered by Jaden Healy inside the red zone; that set up a touchdown to go up 38-10. Last week in the second round against Minnesota State, it was another third-quarter stop, this time of a field goal by Kyle Bahnsen, that kept the Mavericks scoreless in a 38-31 game that Mines ultimately won by three points.

IT'S ALL CLICKING
Since taking over placekicking duties two weeks ago, Jacob Click has been perfect, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 12-for-12 on PATs. Click hit a 40-yard field goal against CSU Pueblo (the longest in Mines postseason history), then followed that up with two crucial second-half tries from 34 and 30 yards against Minnesota State, including one with 2:06 left to effectively ice the game. 

TO THE HOUSE
The Mines defense sports a +13 turnover margin this season, but that only tells part of the story. The Orediggers have also been good at scoring off those turnovers - to the tune of four defensive touchdowns this season. Mason Pierce has a pair of pick-sixes to his credit, but Mines also has a couple of fumble recoveries in the end zone courtesy of James Hess at Adams State and Mack Minnehan at New Mexico Highlands.

THE STARS AT NIGHT...
Saturday's game will be a homecoming for a good chunk of the Mines roster, which features 38 Texans. Although Mines doesn't have any San Angelo-area natives, it will be closest to home for Austin-area Orediggers Cam Forrest (Hutto), Matt Armendariz (Lake Travis), Danny Lackowski (Westwood), and Jacob Wienecke (Fredericksburg) and for San Antonio-area natives Mason Pierce (Bulverde) and Preston Yates (Reagan). Mines has a large contingent of upperclassmen hailing from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including Jacob Click (Frisco Lone Star), Logan Rayburn (Parish Episcopal), Will Drogosch (Allen), Landon Walker (Keller Central), Jaden Healy (Allen), Max Fecci (McKinney North), Chandler Poggensee (Burleson), Michael Magar (Southlake Carroll), Kasen Loveless (Southlake Carroll), and numerous other players from further away in the Houston and Amarillo areas. More Mines alumni live in Texas than any other state outside of Colorado.

GET IT STARTED
Both WR Josh Johnston and CB Mason Pierce hit a milestone last week starting their 40th career games for the Orediggers, and Johnston holds a team-best 40 straight start streak. The two will be playing in their ninth career postseason game Saturday, a Mines program record (a record shared with OLB Mack Minnehan, DT Cameron Reller, and RB Michael Zeman). QB John Matocha and Minnehan will be making their 40th career and consecutive starts at Angelo State.

DIGGING INTO DECEMBER
Mines is playing into December for the second straight year and just the ninth time overall. The Orediggers are 5-3 in the final month of the year dating back to 1890.

MINES TAKES ACADEMIC HONORS
Mines had seven student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team on Tuesday, with Evan Alexander, Mason Karp, John Matocha, Jack Peterson, Nolan Reeve, Tristan Smith, and Kenny Wright selected for their combinations of athletic and academic achievement, all with 3.5+ GPAs. Earlier this month, Mines was also well-represented on the RMAC All-Academic Teams announced last week as Matocha repeated as the RMAC Offensive Academic Player of the Year among five first-team selections. Matocha, Mason Karp, Peterson, Reeve, and Joel Diaz were all named First-Team Academic All-RMAC, and 28 players were named to the Academic Honor Roll for holding 3.3+ cumulative GPAs.

NEXT UP
The national semifinals will be re-seeded, and games will take place at the higher seeds on Dec. 10 for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II championship game in McKinney, Texas on Dec. 17.