Photo: Terry Douglass
 

Colorado School of Mines (2-2-1, 2-1 RMAC) vs. Black Hills State (4-1, 2-1 RMAC) // Saturday, Oct. 3 // 12 p.m.
Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium - Golden, Colo.
[TV: The Spot Denver 3] [RMAC Network PPV] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes]

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After back-to-back wins, Colorado School of Mines returns to Golden for Homecoming to face a high-flying Black Hills State team that has started the season 4-1.

LIVE COVERAGE
This week's game will stream on the RMAC Network (pay-per-view) and simulcast on TV in the Denver metro on The Spot Denver 3 (KCDO). Miles Dunklin and Josh Dover have the call. 

RMAC NETWORK 
The RMAC Network continues to have a pay-per-view model for all events. Fans can purchase monthly and annual subscriptions that will provide them access to all regular-season, championship, and archived broadcasts on the RMAC Network. A monthly subscription costs $25, and an annual subscription costs $130. Single-game passes are available for $12.50, which grants access to a single game for 24 hours. For technical support questions, fans can contact Hudl Support or email the RMAC directly (rmac@rmacsports.org). For further support, fans can visit the RMAC Network Help page.

FAN INFORMATION
For this week's game, please note the following important pieces of information:

- Gates open at 10 a.m.
- The Ore Cart Shuttles will run on game day for fans - visit the Parking page for more information.
- Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase digital tickets or print at home tickets ahead of time at tickets.minesathletics.com. Mines students and employees can access their free tickets by logging in with their Mines SSO.
- Gates and the tailgating lot open two hours before kickoff.
- Tailgating is permitted in Lot K only (next to Stermole Soccer Stadium). Fans are encouraged to park for free in the parking garage at 1400 Maple Street, located two blocks south of Marv Kay Stadium. Visit the Parking page for more information.
- The City of Golden's street parking requires a permit seven days a week. Fans can not park in the neighborhood surrounding the stadium. 
- The Kraemer Beer Garden in the McKee West End Zone will be open for all fans 21+. 

WEATHER REPORT
Saturday's forecast is perfect, with a high of 82 under mostly sunny skies and light winds.

LEADING THE WAY
Mines will again select gameweek captains this season, with safety Joe Gonzales, defensive end Christian Peluse, receiver Aksel Richard, and tight end Blake Smotherman picked as captains for this week's game.

NOTING THE SERIES
Mines and Black Hills State are meeting for the 16th time in a series that goes back to 1962 ... Mines is 15-0 in the series ... The Orediggers won the first meeting 45-19 on Oct. 27, 1962 in Golden ... BHSU joined the RMAC and NCAA Division II in 2012 and the series resumed ... Mines has scored 36 or more points in every game of the series.

LAST YEAR
Defensive splash plays combined with four total touchdowns by Joseph Capra to lead Mines past Black Hills State, 36-27, last season in Spearfish. The Orediggers led 29-14 at halftime following three first-half takeaways and a safety. Capra was 24-of-35 for 272 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another score among 73 yards on the ground. Pierce Richards ended with 117 yards on seven catches with a touchdown, and Aksel Richard and Nick Stone also caught scores. Luke Doby compiled 283 yards and a touchdown on 25-of-40 passing for the Yellow Jackets (1-4, 1-2 RMAC), and Cameron Goods ran for 75 yards and a touchdown. Kelby Olson had 110 receiving yards on six catches. Turnovers were the story of the game for the Mines defense, which had two recovered fumbles, forced another that led to a safety, and added an interception in the game.

LAST WEEK
Another standout defensive performance helped guide Mines to a road win at Chadron State, 16-12, last week. The Orediggers (2-2-1, 2-1 RMAC) got back to .500 with a controlled effort, posessing the ball for more than 36 minutes as they held the Eagles (1-4, 0-3 RMAC) out of the end zone until the final whistle. The defense held CSC to 277 total yards of offense including only 39 rushing yards, holding the hosts to 6-of-16 on third down. Joseph Capra was an efficient 20-of-24 for 196 yards and a touchdown, with Aksel Richard having another big game catching five passes for 136 yards and a score. A resurgent Oredigger run game was led by Max Barnes' 100 yards, the bulk of it coming in the second half. Preston Kyle made three field goals in a game keyed by special teams moments that included David Baba blocking a key Chadron State field goal.

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Black Hills State is having a terrific 2026 at 4-1 overall and 2-1 in RMAC play, bouncing back from a loss to New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 19 with a 28-20 win over Fort Lewis at home last week. Their offense scores 35.2 points per game led by dual-threat quarterback Kade Weber, who has thrown for 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns (61.7%) against four interceptions while running for six touchdowns and 268 yards this season. Jayden Williams (308 yards, 2 TD) and Joseph Randle (265 yards, 4 TD) have been a big-play duo in the receiving gam. Weber is their leading rusher with Wyatt Trembly their top running back at 250 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets have been solid allowing 24.8 points and 352.6 yards per game, with linebacker Jayshon Liles leading them in tackles (32), tackles for loss (7.0), and sacks (4.5).

PELUSE WINS RMAC AWARD
Edge Christian Peluse was named the RMAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after leading a dominant Mines front at Chadron State. Peluse produced a team-high seven tackles with 2.0 TFL, a sack, and three hurries. Peluse was part of a defense that limited Chadron State to only 39 net rushing yards on 24 carries, and 277 total offensive yards overall; the Eagles did not find the end zone until the final buzzer.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
It's Homecoming Weekend at Mines, and Homecoming has been kind to the Orediggers in recent years; Mines is 9-1 in Homecoming games at Marv Kay Stadium since it opened in 2015, including a win over Black Hills State in the Yellow Jackets' last visit to Golden in 2024.

RICHARD HEATS UP
Senior receiver Aksel Richard has established himself as one of the RMAC's top deep threats, enjoying a breakout performance against Fort Lewis with the best production of his career, compiling 150 yards on five receptions, including a 65-yard touchdown. He followed that up with another 100+ yard day at Chadron State, going for 136 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. He is averaging a gaudy 23.9 yards per reception on 13 catches this season. Richard is one of three 100+ yard receivers this year for the Orediggers joining Pierce Richards (Western Oregon) and Nick Stone (Washburn). 

RUN GAME COMES ALIVE
The Orediggers' run game had been slow to get going this season, but broke through in the Chadron State game led by Max Barnes, who notched his first 100-yard outing of the season with his 24-carry, 110-yard effort.  Braelon Tate added in 55 yards on 11 carries, as well. Mines has had its two best rushing games of the season in the last two weeks, going for 218 yards against Fort Lewis and 158 at Chadron State.

SHOW STOPPERS
Under first-year defensive coordinator Scott McLaughlin, the Orediggers' front seven has been one of the most improved in the nation and it's shown in the defensive run game, with Mines ranking 17th nationally allowing 86.8 yards per game and only three rushing touchdowns in 2026. They have been dominant over the past two weeks, sacking Fort Lewis into -27 net yards rushing, and then holding Chadron State to only 39 yards overall.

LIVING IN THE BACKFIELD
The Mines defense generated five sacks against Fort Lewis, their first 5+ sack game since bagging six against Washburn early in the 2025 season. The Orediggers added six additional pressures against the Skyhawks as Christian Peluse, Joey Beckner, Davis Perkins, David Baba, Aaron Gall, and Eli Krawczuk all got in on sacks, with Gall leading with two hurries. This season, Mines has has a dozen sacks led by Beckner's 2.5 and Peluse's 2.0.

BECKNER'S BACK
The Mines defense was lifted by the return of sixth-year senior edge Joey Beckner against CSU Pueblo, playing in a game for the first time since the end of the 2024 season. Beckner, who had missed 13 games across the last two seasons due to injury, has been a terror since his return, generating seven tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two hurries in that span including at least half a sack in all three games.

BLOCK PARTY
David Baba's block of a Chadron State field goal was the Orediggers' second kick block of the season after Jack Mills got to a PAT at Washburn. Baba's block was  a rare feat, however, marking the Orediggers' first blocked field goal since the 2022 seasonwhen Kyle Bahnsen stopped one in the NCAA playoffs against Minnesota State.

KYLE LEADS NATION IN FIELD GOALS
Kicker Preston Kyle is the Orediggers' leading scorer this season with 41 points, and he has been heavily relied on to produce with an NCAA Division II-leading 11 field goals in five games to go with eight PATs. Kyle ranks fourth among D-II kickers in total scoring. His kickoffs have been just as impressive, producing 24 touchbacks on 26 kickoffs and helping Mines rank fourth nationally in kickoff return defense allowing only 11.5 yards per return.

LINEBACKERS LEAD THE WAY
Mines has had the same three starters at linebacker all season, and the trio of Mo Russolillo, Jack Mills, and Luke Johnson have been consistent leaders for the defense as they top the tackling numbers for the Orediggers through five games. Russolillo leads the team with 31 total tackles ahead of Mills and Johnson at 29, and they have combined for 7.0 tackles for loss as a unit.

HE DOESN'T SKIP LEG DAY
Returning all-American punter Lucas LeSieur has dipped below the minimum number of punts per game to be nationally ranked, but would lead the nation easily in punt average this week as he's averaged 47.6 yards per kick on 17 boots this season. LeSieur has put nine inside the 20 and kicked six over 50 yards this year against only a single touchback; Mines ranks fourth nationally in net punting at 41.9 ypp.

NEXT UP
Mines will enjoy a bye week and then return at Colorado Mesa on Oct. 17.