CHADRON, Neb. - #4/5 Colorado School of Mines relied on its defense to grind out a 13-12 win to open up RMAC play at Chadron State as Devyn Lauer-Duarte's interception to end the game sealed victory.

The Orediggers (3-0, 1-0 RMAC) matched up against an outstanding Eagles defense (1-2, 0-1 RMAC), holding CSC to a touchdown and two field goals on 223 total yards of offense.

Special teams play was critical in the game as Matthew Eich hit a pair of field goals in a tough crosswind, and punter Blake Doud was again a weapon in a strategic field-position battle, averaging 41.8 yards per punt on five tries with three inside the 20. On the flip side, Chadron State missed an early two-point conversion attempt and a first-half field goal. 

Evan Foster was 24-of-28 for 235 yards and ran for Mines' lone touchdown. Braelon Tate led all rushers with 51 yards, and Max McLeod had five catches for 79 yards while Flynn Schiele had nine for 65.

Adrian Moreno led Mines with eight tackles, and Jaden Healy had seven. Christian Peluse, Evan Bish, Dominic Caggiano, and Justin Vaughn had sacks.

It was a frustrating first half for the Oredigger offense, who collected just two Matthew Eich field goals - a 22-yarder midway through the second quarter and a 30-yarder as time expired at the half - among 145 yards of offense and two red zone trips. Chadron State, meanwhile, marched downfield and scored on their opening drive with Grant Swenson's 15-yard touchdown catch, but failed on the two-point conversion, then clanked a field goal against the upright later in the first quarter to also end up with six points at the break.

Mines came out of the break on fire, stringing together a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive keyed by McLeod's 40-yard reception, and his drawing of a pass interference flag in the end zone set up Foster to sneak in behind the heavy package for a two-yard score.

Neither team scored for the balance of the third, and CSC got back on the board with Wilson Yee's 43-yard field goal with 7:42 remaining in the fourth. One play later, Mines fumbled at their own 25, and after a defensive stand in the red zone, the Eagles settled for Yee's 33-yarder to make it 13-12 Mines with 5:19 left.

The Orediggers tried to run out the clock from there but ultimately sputtered across midfield with under a minute to go, giving CSC the ball back deep in their own territory with 23 seconds left. One play later, the game was over as Lauer-Duarte got under Wyatt Sprague's pass and smartly slid down despite a sure pick-six to end the game.

NEXT UP
Mines returns home to host Black Hills State on Sept. 28.