GOLDEN, Colo. - Hunter Pearson's 41-yard field goal with two seconds remaining put #2 Colorado School of Mines past #3 Grand Valley State in a thrilling season opener that lived up to its billing as one of the best non-conference games in the nation this year.

The Lakers came back from 28-7 down in the third quarter to tie the game on a Cade Peterson touchdown run with 36 seconds, but John Matocha marched the Orediggers downfield and into field goal range to win it in the closing seconds.

Matocha unrolled 327 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-41 passing while Peterson went for 294 yards, three total touchdowns, and rushed for 64 in a battle of two of the nation's top quarterbacks. Mines running backs Noah Roper and Landon Walker each had two-touchdown games, and Max McLeod caught 11 passes for 157 yards to lead all receivers. 

In the end, though, it was both programs' special teams that shined. Pearson - the University of Virginia transfer who had not kicked in a game since 2018 - nailed both the game-winning field goal into the wind and was four-for-four on PATs, while punter Blake Doud made his Mines debut with a 49.2-yard average, three boots over 50 yards, and all six of his punts stuck inside the 20. GVSU kicker Kollin Kralapp squibbed a critical late on-side kick that the Lakers recovered to tie the game.

Unlike last year's slow start against the Lakers, Mines dominated the first half and change of the game, racing out to a 28-7 lead late in the third quarter. After an opening Kyle Nott touchdowns capped a 99-yard drive for the Lakers, Mines reeled off consecutive Noah Roper touchdowns - one rushing, the other receiving - and Walker did the same in the third quarter to build the big lead. 

The GVSU defense began to force quick outs, however, and a 31-yard Cody Tierney catch made it a two-score game to open the fourth quarter before Lynn Wyche-El's five-yard catch over the middle with 1:17 left cut it to 28-21. Kralapp's onside kick was recovered deep in Mines territory and that let Peterson take off on a 20-yard run to tie the game at 28-28 with 36 ticks to go, stunning the home crowd but setting up enough time to try to win.

And that's exactly what Matocha did. Starting at his own 25, Matocha rifled quick boundary passes to McLeod and then three straight completions to Flynn Schiele, including a 17-yard jump ball with only seconds remaining, to put the Orediggers at the GV24 and get within Pearson's range. Kicking into the wind, Pearson was true from 41 on a perfect snap and hold by Josh Wojciehowicz and Jacob Click.

Grand Valley had a wild final later play result in a Jack Peterson fumble recovery as time expired.

NOTES
- Head Coach Pete Sterbick won his first game at the helm of the Orediggers after the former offensive coordinator was promoted in April.
- It was the first top-five game played at Marv Kay Stadium and just the third night game since the facility opened in 2015.
- McLeod crossed 2,000 career yards during the game. 
- Mines won for the first time against GVSU in three tries.

NEXT UP
Things don't get easier as Mines heads to #5 Angelo State next week.