PUEBLO, Colo. - #5/7 CSU Pueblo pulled away in the second half to hand Colorado School of Mines a 45-17 loss in the two teams' RMAC opener.
The Orediggers (0-2-1) had a tough assignment to start RMAC play against a top-10 team as the Thunderwolves improved to 3-0.
Joseph Capra was 21-of-30 for 184 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for 34 net yards, while
Braelon Tate led all rushers with 74 yards.
Pierce Richards led Mines receivers with 87 yards and a touchdown off eight catches. Marcellus Honeycutt had two of CSUP's touchdowns in a 156-yard day with Navi Bruzon throwing for 379 yards and four scores on 20-of-25 passing.
Mines opened the game with a trip to the red zone that ended in
Preston Kyle's 23-yard field goal, but CSUP scored one play later with a 75-yard bomb over the top to Honeycutt. The Thunderwolves added another touchdown to end the first quarter on a 66-yard catch by Nate Gravagno, and Honeycutt got his second on a 24-yard pass from Bruzon to cap an 87-yard drive midway through the second quarter.
Mines would find the end zone on their next drive, however, set up by Tate's 71-yard breakout to the CSUP2 before Capra found
Blake Smotherman on a touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 21-10 at halftime.
CSU Pueblo ate up yards and possession in the second half, scoring twice in the third quarter on AJ Merrida's one-yard run to finish an 87-yard, 13-play drive, and then against on a Jackson Smith 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter to lead 31-10. Sean Conway's 38-yard catch to start the fourth put the game out of reach at 38-10 despite
Pierce Richards' 27-yard touchdown grab on the next drive, and CSUP capped the scoring with Moosah Alsaffar's 10-yard run in the closing minutes.
NOTABLES
- CSU Pueblo entered the game ranked #5 by the AFCA and #7 by D2football.com.
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Whit Martin had the game's only turnover, recovering Bruzon's fumble forced by
Parker Johnson in the fourth quarter.
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Jack Mills led Mines with a career-high 12 tackles.
- Mines produced three sacks by
Luke Johnson,
Joey Beckner, and a combined effort from
Mo Russolillo and
Henry Isackson.
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Lucas LeSieur punted six times averaging 45.2 yards per kick, including two over 50 yards.
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Aksel Richard had 82 return yards on four kick takes.
NEXT UP
Mines returns home to host Fort Lewis on Sept. 19 at noon.
