GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - #2 Colorado School of Mines retained the Nyikos Cup, shutting out Colorado Mesa in a comprehensive 52-0 win at Stocker Stadium.

John Matocha became the RMAC's all-time leader in career passing touchdowns, Noah Roper rushed for three first-half scores, and a stifling Mines defense generated four turnovers in earning their first goose egg of the season. The Orediggers improved to 6-0 and 4-0 in the RMAC.

Matocha, in three quarters of play, had an efficient 21-of-26, 197-yard, two-touchdown afternoon to go with 62 rushing yards, with Roper producing his second straight 100+ yard day going for 101 and three touchdowns on only 14 carries. Flynn Schiele caught a couple of touchdowns with Nick Stone and Sean Roberts the others.

Jackson Zimmermann snagged two first-half interceptions, Zach Hester recovered a third-quarter strip sack fumble by Nolan Reeve, and Will Ramsey had his first career interception as well.

Mines was methodical and controlling from start to end, holding a nearly 10-minute time-of-possession advantage (34:54 to 25:06) and dominating in the trenches on both sides of the ball. That was on display from the very start when Roper's four-yard run capped off an eight-play, 75-yard opening drive to provide the only score of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw things pick up with Roper's eight-yard scoring run opening the period, and his 15-yard touchdown on Mines' next series - started by a Zimmermann interception - polished off an epic 13-play, 83-yard drive to lead 21-0 at the half.

The second half was all Orediggers, scoring on all five of their possessions as they ran off multiple lengthy series. Hunter Pearson's field goal from 22 was the first points of the third quarter, and Matocha tied the program touchdowns record with a 12-yard strike to Schiele on the next time down the field. The Reeve strip sack recovered by Hester gave Mines the ball in CMU territory, and four plays later Matocha hit Stone from 29 yards to take ownership of the record.

Evan Foster had the ball in the fourth quarter and worked a long 11-play, 5+ minute drive that ended with his 16-yard pass to Schiele; Ramsey's interception two plays later let Mines kill more clock as Roberts ultimately caught Foster's second touchdown pass of the game with 4:17 remaining. Meanwhile, the defense preserved the shutout with a stand on the Mavericks' final try, stopping them four times on the edge of the red zone to end the game on downs. 

NOTABLES
- Matocha surpassed former Mines star Justin Dvorak for the Mines and RMAC career passing touchdowns record, hitting numbers 134 and 135 in the game. It moves Matocha to third all-time in NCAA Division II in that category. 
- Matocha also broke the Mines career starts record, starting his 48th career and consecutive game to surpass his former tackle Grant Stewart. 
- It was the third shutout of defensive coordinator Tripp Thomas' career, and first since defeating Fort Lewis 80-0 in Week 11 of the 2022 season. It was the first time Mines had shut out Mesa in 48 meetings. 
- Mines improved to 9-4 in games with the Nyikos Cup on the line. 
- Mines was a season-best +4 on turnover ratio. 
- The Oredigger defense held CMU to just 4-of-13 on third down and 1-of-4 on fourth down. 
- Roper and Matocha led a rushing offense that compiled 216 yards, with Braelon Tate adding 30 and Chris Yoo 17. 
- Max McLeod led all recievers with 74 yards on eight catches. 
- Reeve and Nate Sutter had sacks as the Orediggers kept CMU quarterback Gavin Herberg uncomfortable all day. His final line was 11-of-29 for 142 yards and three interceptions. 
- Zimmermann is the first Oredigger with multiple interceptions in a game since Kobe Brewster against Bemidji State in the 2021 NCAA tournament. 
- Adrian Moreno led Mines' defense with nine tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and keyed a rushing defense that allowed only 87 yards - Mines' fourth game this season allowing less than 100 yards on the ground.
- The Nyikos Cup is named in memory of Dr. Michael Nyikos, a vice president at both Mesa and Mines in his career. It was established in 2010. 

NEXT UP
Mines returns home Oct. 14 to host South Dakota Mines at noon.