Colorado School of Mines (6-3-1, 6-2 RMAC) vs. New Mexico Highlands (4-6, 2-6 RMAC) // Saturday, Nov. 14 // 12 p.m.
Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium - Golden, Colo.
[RMAC Network PPV] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes]

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The 2026 season comes to a conclusion as Colorado School of Mines hosts New Mexico Highlands on Senior Day in Golden.

LIVE COVERAGE
This week's game will stream on the RMAC Network (pay-per-view) only; this week's game will not air on TV. 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 for a high of 49 under cloudy skies with a 20% chance of an afternoon shower.

SENIOR DAY
Before Saturday's game, Mines will honor 32 members of its senior class. The on-field Senior Day ceremony will take place at approximately 11:40 a.m. prior to the 12:05 p.m. kickoff. The senior day ceremony will also stream live on the RMAC Network as part of the game broadcast.

LEADING THE WAY
After selecting game captains this season, the Orediggers elected their season-ending captains this week and chose safety Joseph Gonzales, defensive end Christian Peluse, receiver Pierce Richards, and tight end Blake Smotherman.

STITT'S SECOND ERA CONTINUES
Bob Stitt was announced as the new head coach of Mines Football on Feb. 7, 2025 returning to Golden after 10 years away to take over the program that he built into a national contender. Stitt was originally the Orediggers' head coach from 2000 to 2014, winning three RMAC titles, earning the first three NCAA playoff appearances in program history, and compiling a record of 108-62. The winningest head coach in Mines history, Stitt built Mines into a power program in the RMAC and NCAA Division II, winning the program's first conference title in more than 50 years in 2004 and going on to have 21 all-Americans and 178 all-RMAC selections over 16 seasons, including his first year back in 2025.
   
IN THE POLLS
Mines still received a top-25 vote in the AFCA poll this week despite last week's loss, marking the fifth straight week the Orediggers received votes in that ranking. Mines also did not move in the NPI rankings, staying at 14th in Super Region IV. Harding, CSU Pueblo, and Western Colorado - all 10-0 - lead the regional NPI with Northwest Missouri State, Central Washington, Emporia State, Washburn, and Midwestern State rounding out the top 8. Central Washington and Harding have clinched the automatic qualifiers for the LSC and GAC, respectively, while the RMAC's will be decided in this week's game between CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado, and the MIAA's would go to Northwest Missouri State if they win over Pitt State.

NOTING THE SERIES
Mines and New Mexico Highlands are meeting for the 61st time since 1938 ... The all-time series is close, with Mines taking the lead in 2019 and now standing at 32-26-2 ... The Orediggers have won 12 straight dating back to 2013 and 22 of the last 25 dating to 2000 ... Bob Stitt is 13-3 all-time against NMHU ... Mines is 19-12-1 at home against the Cowboys.

LAST YEAR
Mines shut down New Mexico Highlands' high-powered rushing offense, cruising to a 48-21 win over the Cowboys at Marv Kay Stadium in 2025. The Orediggers ran for 295 yards while Joseph Capra threw for three touchdowns. The Mines defense held the Cowboys - which came into the week averaging 300 rushing yards per game - to 197 yards on the ground, limiting them to a single first-half touchdown. Max Barnes had a big game rushing for 172 yards and a touchdown while Braelon Tate added 84 yards with a score. Tight end Blake Smotherman had a career game with 73 receiving yards along with two touchdowns. NMHU's running back Jeffery Jones, second in the nation to that point in rushing averaging 200 yards per game and 11.5 yards per carry, was held to 67 yards overall and 4.2 per carry. Collin Stucki threw for 198 yards and a touchdown to Jones, while Tevita Valeti added two rushing scores for the Cowboys.

LAST WEEK
#5/5 Western Colorado used a second-half surge to get past Colorado School of Mines in a 41-20 decision at the Mountaineer Bowl. The Orediggers (6-3-1, 6-2 RMAC) saw their six-game win streak snapped after taking a tie game into halftime against the unbeaten Mountaineers (10-0, 8-0 RMAC), but WCU outscored Mines 24-3 in the second half to win. Pierce Richards led Mines with a career-high 161 yards off seven catches with a touchdown, while Cash Spence caught his first collegiate score. Joseph Capra finished with 284 yards and two touchdowns in the air. Counterpart Josiah Roy threw for 305 yards and two scores. Western Colorado racked up 518 yards of offense and shut Mines down in the second half defensively, holding the Orediggers to 61 yards on the ground overall and 4-for-15 on third down.

SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
New Mexico Highlands is 4-6 overall and 2-6 in RMAC play coming off a 42-34 shootout win over Adams State in their home finale last week. The Cowboys have one of the RMAC's most productive offenses scoring 33.1 points per game led by quarterback Collin Stucki, who has thrown for 1,296 and 12 touchdowns since taking over midseason. Leading rusher Ashton Bradford has 585 yards and six touchdowns this season, while Owen Smith has 362 yards and five scores, including 150 yards last week. Brian Spotwood leads NMHU in receiving with 476 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, the Cowboys have allowed 44.8 points per game, including 207.9 rushing yards per game and 475.2 yards overall. Damon Mayberry is their leading tackler with 67 stops and Kaleb Harris is among the RMAC's interceptions leaders with four. 

CAPRA, RICHARDS HIT CAREER HIGHS
Quarterback Joseph Capra threw for a career-high 284 yards in last week's game at Western Colorado, adding two touchdowns. It surpassed his previous best of 281 set just a week earlier against Adams State. His favored target at WCU was receiver Pierce Richards, put together a career day of his own notching his second 100+ yard game of the season with a career-best 161 yards off eight catches and a touchdown. Richards - who also had 153 yards in the season opener against Western Oregon - produced the third 100+ yard game of his career.

DOUBLE DIGITS
Four different Oredigger defenders have produced double-digit tackle games this season, headed by linebacker Luke Johnson, who recorded his third of the year last week at Western Colorado. Johnson now leads the team with 68 total tackles. All three of Mines' starting linebackers - Johnson, Mo Russolillo, and Jack Mills - have done so, along with safety Joe Gonzales.

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 14th nationally allowing 100.7 yards per game and only six rushing touchdowns in 2026. It's a significant improvement over 2025, when Mines ranked 118th in rushing defense (178.8) in NCAA Division II.

WHATEVER IT TAKES
Starting at one position is hard enough. Two? Really difficult. But Mines offensive lineman Tyson Kestner has now racked up four different starting positions, including three just this season. Kestner has 17 career starts, with 11 at left tackle (all in 2025), four at left guard, one at right tackle, and one at right guard. He's played three positions in the last four games, starting at right tackle at Colorado Mesa, right guard against South Dakota Mines, and left guard versus Adams State and Western Colorado.

KEEPING IT CLEAN
Heading into week 11, Mines is one of the nation's least-penalized teams, averaging only 4.7 flags and 45.1 penalty yards per game. That ranks seventh in NCAA Division II and is a marked improvement from 2025 when the Orediggers saw 6.3 flags and 56.6 yards per game against them.

GOLDEN LEG, PART I
Preston Kyle's season continues to impress as the Oredigger placekicker hit from 48 and 54 yards last week. Kyle is now 18-of-24 on the season and has a national-best nine 40+ yard field goals, going 9-of-13 beyond 40 including three better than 50. That includes his division-leading 60-yarder at Colorado Mesa on Oct. 17, which is also tied for the second-longest in any division of college football this season. Kyle's 18 made field goals are second nationally in NCAA Division II.

GOLDEN LEG, PART II
Preston Kyle's field goal kicking has been impressive, but one of his most valuable contributions this season has been the consistency and depth of his kickoffs. In 2026, Kyle has put 56 of his 59 kickoffs out of the end zone for touchbacks, leading NCAA Division II with a 94.9% touchback rate. Mines has allowed a national-low 37 kick return yards, and leads the nation in net kickoff coverage at 12.33 yards per return; Kyle averages 65 yards per kickoff with all 59 of his tries making the end zone. 

GOLDEN LEG, PART III
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 48.4 yards per kick on 32 boots this season. LeSieur has put 14 inside the 20 and kicked 13 over 50 yards this year against only three touchbacks; Mines ranks fourth nationally in net punting at 41.0 ypp.