GOLDEN, Colo. - Chadron State's fast start combined with three fourth-quarter scores held off Colorado School of Mines as the Eagles won 34-28.

The Orediggers (2-1, 0-1 RMAC) trailed 17-0 before rallying back to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles remained unbeaten in conference play (2-2, 2-0 RMAC) with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Aidan Thompson and a game-sealing field goal.

Landon Walker rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown for Mines, and Tyson Mauck caught his first career score while Preston Kyle hit two field goals. Thompson and Quincey Ryker both went over 100 yards on the ground, and Thompson added three touchdown passes as well.

The Eagles raced out to score on their opening drive with Thompson's 13-yard strike to Tommy Thomas, and Thompson got loose for a 73-yard score moments later before Wilson Yee's 43-yard field goal made it 17-0 after a quarter.

Mines got some momentum going on Kyle's 46-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, and Mauck capped off a 68-yard drive with his nine-yard catch in the back of the end zone from Joseph Capra to cut the deficit to 17-10 at halftime.

The third quarter saw only one score, a 28-yard Kyle field goal to make it 17-13, but the two teams combined for 32 fourth-quarter points in a wild finish. Walker scored on a four-yard finish to open the fourth and give Mines their first lead of the game, 20-17, but CSC drove the field to retake the lead on Devon Sundgren's seven-yard touchdown catch from Thompson.

Mines turned the ball over on downs at midfield and the Eagles took advantage with Thompson hitting Thomas for his second touchdown, giving them a 31-20 lead with 6:05 to go. Three plays later, Dax Yeradi intercepted Capra, but with Chadron driving in the red zone, Jackson Zimmermann stripped Thompson of the ball on the run and Sean Gilbert scooped and scored 89 yards to give Mines hope with 4:18 remaining.

Mines needed a turnover or to hold CSC to a field goal to have a chance, and CSC got a 32-yard Yee kick to hand the ball back to the Orediggers with 59 seconds remaining; Mines couldn't get going on the one-minute drill with no timeouts, however, and the clock ran out with a 34-28 final score.

NOTABLES
- Gilbert's 89-yard fumble return for a touchdown was his second career defensive score after a 31-yard pick-six against Fort Lewis last season. It was Mines' longest defensive touchdown since Logan Bock's 90-yard fumble return against CSU Pueblo in 2018.
- Mauck led Mines receivers with 55 yards and Pierce Richards had a game-high six catches.
- Braelon Tate added 61 yards on the ground.
- Joseph Gonzales made his first Oredigger interception on a crazy tip-drill play in the end zone combined with Jackson Zimmermann.
- Christian Peluse and Joel Diaz co-led Mines with eight tackles apiece. Evan Bish and Brady Zingelmann each collected sacks.

NEXT UP
Mines heads to Black Hills State on Sept. 27.