Colorado School of Mines (0-2-1, 0-1 RMAC) vs. Fort Lewis (2-0, 1-0 RMAC) // Saturday, Sept. 19 // 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]

---

Colorado School of Mines returns home hoping to get right against an upstart Fort Lewis team as they host the Skyhawks at Marv Kay Stadium.

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 Kienan Dixon 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
Bring a jacket - Saturday's forecast is for a kickoff temperature of 70 degrees with a 50% chance of rain during the afternoon.

LEADING THE WAY
Mines will again select gameweek captains this season, with defensive end Joey Beckner, quarterback Joseph Capra, defensive tackle Aaron Gall, and running back Braelon Tate picked as captains for this week's game.

NOTING THE SERIES
Mines and Fort Lewis are meeting for the 64th time since 1963 ... The two have met every season since the Skyhawks began football in 1963, save for the 2020 season when Mines didn't play ... The all-time series is close, with Mines owning a 36-27 lead ... The Orediggers have won 18 straight dating back to 2007 ... Mines has scored 40+ points in each game of the series dating back to 2012 ... The Orediggers are 17-13 in Golden.

LAST WEEK
#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. CSUP built a 21-10 halftime lead, then ran away with two third-quarter touchdowns before Richards' fourth-quarter score.

SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
Off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 1979, Fort Lewis is riding high off a dramatic overtime win against New Mexico Highlands in their RMAC opener last week. RMAC Specialist of the Week Lucas Schmitten hit a walk-off field goal in overtime after a wild back-and-forth game that saw quarterback Jacob Morris throw for three touchdowns and Solomon Latimer catch two among 104 yards receiving. This season, the Skyhawks score 29 points per game against 18.5 given up, but have allowed 262 rushing yards per game. They have a pass-first offense led by Morris, who has thrown for 434 yards and five touchdowns versus two interceptions in two games. Latimer is their leading receiver with nine catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Trenton Sullivan is their leading tackler with 25 including 2.5 for loss.

RICHARDS LEADS RECEIVERS
Preseason all-RMAC selection Pierce Richards has lived up to expectations this season, leading Mines with a healthy 31 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns through three games. Richards had a career-high 153 yards against Western Oregon, and is coming off an eight-catch, 87-yard day at CSU Pueblo last week. He ranks second nationally in receptions per game (10.3) and leads the RMAC by a wide margin in total catches (the next closest player has 20).

BECKNER'S BACK
The Mines defense was lifted by the return of sixth-year senior Joey Beckner last week, 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, started at edge and had two tackles with a sack against CSU Pueblo. He has been selected as a game captain this week.

MILLS SETS CAREER HIGH
Linebacker Jack Mills has had a productive season so far, and is coming off a career-high 12-tackle performance at CSU Pueblo, the most by an Oredigger this season. Mills has 17 stops, a forced fumble, and a blocked PAT this season in three starts, the first game action of the redshirt sophomore's career.

GIMME SOME MO
Middle linebacker Mo Russolillo has been one of the breakout defensive players in the RMAC so far this season, producing a team-leading 25 total tackles that includes 11 at Washburn and eight against Western Oregon. Russolillo, who made his first career start against WOU, also has 2.5 tackles for loss, a half sack, and returned a fumble for a touchdown in Week 0.

LESIEUR LEADS RMAC
Returning all-American punter Lucas LeSieur leads the RMAC in punting through three games, entering this week averaging 46.1 yards per kick on 13 tries. The redshirt sophomore has put five of his 13 inside the 20 and opponents have managed just 4.8 yards per return on five tries. LeSieur ranks ninth in NCAA D-II this season, and Mines as a team also ranks ninth in net punting.

KYLE CONTINUES TO PRODUCE
Kicker Preston Kyle is the Orediggers' leading scorer this season with 23 points, and he has been heavily relied on to produce with six field goals in three games so far. Kyle is 6-of-9 (with all three misses coming from long range including one from 64) and has hit a long of 49 yards this season. He is also a perfect 5-of-5 on PATs.

RICHARDS SETS CATCHES RECORD
Receiver Pierce Richards had a monster start to 2026, breaking the Mines program record for receptions against Western Oregon in Week 0. Richards, a redshirt junior, hauled in 18 catches on 21 targets for a career-high 153 yards and a touchdown. He had an impressive 131 yards after catch, including all of 39 yards on his second-quarter touchdown catch from Joseph Capra. Richards had the most receptions in the RMAC since 2009 and broke the Mines record of 16 that had been co-held by David Pawelek and Jerrod Doucet since 2012. Through two games, Richards leads Mines with 23 catches (which also leads the RMAC) for 196 yards and a score.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING, PT. 1
Nine Orediggers made their first career starts in the Western Oregon game, including Ty Deppe (RT), Aaron Gall (DT), Joseph Gonzales (S), Jackson Harmon (CB), Jack Mills (SLB), Jacob Mumy (LG), Mo Russolillo (MLB), Jackson Van Otten (S), and Russ Woodward (LT). In addition, Christian Peluse, already with three career starts under his belt at linebacker, earned his first at defensive end. At Washburn, Bryce Bailey (CB) added his first career start, and at CSU Pueblo, Evan Godin got the nod at right guard.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING, PT. 2
With the NCAA's new five-year eligibility rule, freshmen no longer redshirt, which opens up opportunities to play immediately without impacting eligibility. In Week 0, Cash Spence was the first Oredigger freshman to take advantage, starting at kick returner and seeing some offensive snaps at receiver as well; at Washburn, it was Rocco Tompkins and Parker Harris getting the same opportunities with special teams snaps. All three played last week at CSU Pueblo. 

PRESEASON HONORS
Mines was well-represented in preseason honors, with punter Lucas LeSieur being named to the D2football Elite 100 list and kicker Preston Kyle appearing on the Fred Mitchell Award watchlist. In addition, running back Max Barnes, wide receiver Pierce Richards, and tight end Blake Smotherman were named to the preseason all-RMAC offensive team, and Mines dominated on the specialists team with long snapper Josh Hildebrand joining Kyle and LeSieur in being recognized.

NEXT UP
Mines visits Chadron State on Sept. 26.