#21/17 Colorado School of Mines (0-2) at Adams State (0-2) // Saturday, Sept. 17, 1 p.m.
Rex Stadium, Alamosa, Colo.
[Stream: RMAC Network] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes] 

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After the nation's toughest out-of-conference schedule, #21/17 Colorado School of Mines is on the hunt for its first win as RMAC play opens at Adams State. 

LIVE COVERAGE
This week's game will stream live and for free on the RMAC Network. Live stats are also available courtesy of ASUGrizzlies.com, and ASU will have a streaming radio broadcast on KSPK.

WEATHER REPORT
Saturday should be a nice day for football in the San Luis Valley with sunshine and highs in the mid-70s, but increasing winds throughout the afternoon may play a factor. 

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.

IN THE POLLS
Despite their start to the season, Mines continues to garner the respect of the national poll voters with both losses coming to top-10 teams. The Orediggers are the first 0-2 team to ever be ranked the AFCA Top 25 poll, appearing tied for 21st this week, and Mines is also #17 in the D2football.com ranking. Grand Valley State is now #3/2, and Angelo State #5/4 in those two polls.

Mines was a near-unanimous pick to win its fourth consecutive conference crown in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll announced Aug. 15 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 non-conference play wrapped up, Mines turns its focus to capturing 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.

NOTING THE MINES-ASU SERIES
This will be the 74th meeting between Mines and Adams State in a series dating back to 1947 ... Adams State narrowly leads the series 36-35-2 ... Mines has a chance to get the series back to .500 for the first time since 1964 ... The all-time series is close no matter how you slice it: ASU leads 34-31-2 in RMAC play, and 18-15-1 in Alamosa ... Mines has won eight in a row and 13 of the last 14 dating back to 2007 ... The Orediggers have scored 40 or more points in each of their wins in the current eight-game winning streak, including last year's 63-0 shutout that was the most lopsided score in either direction in the series' history ... Mines has not lost in Alamosa since 2000. 

LAST TIME WE MET
Mines shutout Adams State 63-0 in the 2021 regular-season finale to secure the RMAC Championship, cruising from start to finish over the Grizzlies. Michael Zeman ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns while John Matocha threw for two scores and ran for two more on 75 net yards in the win. Chris Yoo and Evan Foster also had rushing touchdowns and Jaden Williams had a 55-yard pick-six. The Mines defense held ASU to just 286 total yards with five sacks and three interceptions generated.

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies went 0-2 in non-conference play with a 34-20 loss at Western New Mexico in week 1, and a 34-19 loss to #23 West Texas A&M last week. Last week the Grizzlies trailed 20-6 at halftime but scored touchdowns in each quarter of the second half to avoid letting the Buffs run away. Overall ASU averages 19.5 points and 295 total yards of offense per game, allowing 34 points and 438.5 yards of offense. Quarterback Mark Salazar has thrown for 390 yards and two touchdowns against three interceptions, with top target Elijah Harper gaining 13 catches for 139 yards and a score. Shammah Luani is the leading back on the ground with 96 yards and a touchdown, while Daniel Mendoze leads the defense with 20 total tackles. The Grizzlies are -3 in the turnover battle.

WEEK 2 REWIND
The battle between #12 Colorado School of Mines and #6 Angelo State was an instant classic, but the Orediggers ended up on the wrong end of a 30-27 overtime decision. Trailing 27-20, the Rams scored on a 37-yard Nate Omayebu touchdown to tie the game with 2:57 to go in regulation, then hit the game-winning field goal on Asa Fuller's 36-yard overtime boot after the Orediggers missed their attempt. Mines was playing its second straight game against a top-10 opponent, and the game was a rematch of the 2021 NCAA Super Region IV final won by the Orediggers. John Matocha was held to 13-of-26 for 167 yards and a touchdown as Michael Zeman rushed for 77 yards and a score. Josh Johnston had four catches on eight targets for 65 yards. The Mines defense generated interceptions by Joel Diaz and Mason Pierce, the latter going back for a touchdown.

WEEK 2 STANDOUTS
Quick hits on standout performances in Week 2:

- Mason Pierce recorded his first career interception return for a touchdown, jumping a route for a 27-yard takeback.
- Josh Johnston led Mines in receiving yardage for the second straight week, catching four passes for 65 yards.
- Mason Karp caught his first touchdown of the season and sixth of his career.
- Michael Zeman rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
- Nolan Reeve had a strip sack on the final drive of the game, the sixth forced fumble of his career.
- Cameron Reller had eight tackles with a sack and a hurry.
- Cam Forrest made a career-high nine tackles.
- Joel Diaz had his first career interception in the game.
- Matthew Eich's field goals from 43 and 41 were the first two of his career over 40 yards.
- Jacob Click averaged 41.0 yards per punt on seven tries with three inside the 20 and a long of 62.

FANTASTIC FOUR
Never before has a Mines football team been able to say it has four returning all-Americans, but that's exactly what Brandon Moore has at his disposal in 2022. Matt Armendariz and Michael Zeman were consensus all-Americans last year, with each earning honors from the AP, D2CCA, D2football.com, and Don Hansen; Zeman also added AFCA honors. John Matocha was named to the D2football.com list, while Mason Pierce was recognized on the Don Hansen team.

AMONG THE ELITE
In the preseason, Mines had five players named to the D2football.com Elite 100 Watchlist: running back Michael Zeman, center Matt Armendariz, cornerback Mason Pierce, defensive end Zach Hester, and quarterback John Matocha all made the cut. The Orediggers' five selections are tied with Valdosta State for the most in the nation.

BACK FOR MORE
Mines has a senior-heavy roster in 2022 with 33 listed, and five of them are utilizing their additional year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic-impacted 2020-21 school year. Matt Armendariz, Josh Johnston, Mack Minnehan, Cameron Reller, and Michael Zeman were all incoming freshmen in 2017 and are staying for a sixth year; each of the five is a graduate student at Mines. In addition to that quintet, the Orediggers have 26 redshirt seniors (fifth-year seniors) plus two true seniors.

MATOCHA MAGIC
Quarterback John Matocha started the season with one of the most productive games of his career, throwing for 350 yards on 26-of-36 passing with two touchdowns and no picks at Grand Valley State. His yardage total was the second-highest of his career. Matocha led Mines' charge back in the second half responsible for 12 of the Orediggers' 13 second-half first downs either with his arm or his legs, and he completed TDs of 49 and 40 yards. Matocha has consistently put up excellent numbers, and they're starting to pile up for his career: through 28 starts, Matocha has thrown for 70 touchdowns, 6,447 yards, and has a career 70% completion rating; he's also rushed for 1,104 career yards with 18 touchdowns. He ranks second among active D-II quarterbacks in career passer rating (165.06), and is third in total touchdowns (89) and first among juniors. 
    
LET'S GET IT STARTED
Two Orediggers are slated to hit career milestones in the Adams State game as both Josh Johnston and Mason Pierce make their 30th career starts in the blue and silver. It will be the team-leading 30th consecutive start for Johnston at wide receiver, while Pierce will make his 23rd in a row at corner. Two other Orediggers are nearing the 30 mark as QB John Matocha and OLB Mack Minnehan will start their 29th straight games, with Matt Armendariz not far behind with 27 straight starts at guard or center.

VETERAN JOHNSTON LEADS MINES
Sixth-year senior Josh Johnston continues to produce in his final season, leading a talented Mines receiving corps early this season with 12 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown. Johnston caught his 125th career pass last week, and with 28 career touchdowns is knocking on the door of becoming the fourth Mines receiver to reach 30 in a career (joining Brody Oliver, Adam Saur, and Jonny Chan).

TAKE IT AWAY
The Mines defense has generated three interceptions in the first two games, with Jaden Williams getting one at Grand Valley State and then Joel Diaz and Mason Pierce doing it against Angelo State. Diaz's came at a big spot in the game as he ended the first half with a goal-line pick to deny ASU of points heading into the break; Pierce's also proved critical as he jumped a route late in the third quarter and rolled 27 yards to the end zone for his first pick-six to give Mines a 24-17 lead. Incredibly for Pierce, it wasn't just his first career pick-six, but his first career interception of any kind, all the more remarkable considering he is the NCAA Division II's active leader in passes defended with 42. 
The fourth-best turnover-producing team in the nation last year, Mines is +2 this season with four total turnovers produced.

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 two weeks of the season. Through two games, Mines' opponents are converting on third down just 26.7% of the time (8-of-30); last year opponents converted on 29% of third and 31% of fourth downs. 

GO FOR IT
The Orediggers have had a perfect start to the season on 4th downs, converting three of three attempts in 2022. At Grand Valley State, John Matocha converted a 4th and 1 at midfield with a six-yard run; against Angelo State, Michael Zeman ran for three yards on 4th and 1 from Mines' own 34, and Matocha rushed for 10 on a 4th and 1 from the ASU 40 on the same drive. 

NEXT UP
Mines returns home to host CSU Pueblo on Sept. 24.