Colorado School of Mines (1-2-1, 1-1 RMAC) at Chadron State (1-3, 0-2 RMAC) // Saturday, Sept. 26 // 1 p.m.
Beebe Stadium - Chadron, Neb.
[RMAC Network PPV] [Live Stats] [Tickets] [Mines Media Notes]

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Coming off their first win of the season, Colorado School of Mines hopes to add another as they visit Chadron State for a Week 4 road clash.

LIVE COVERAGE
This week's game will stream on the RMAC Network (pay-per-view).

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.

WEATHER REPORT
Saturday should be a great day for football in the Nebraska panhandle with a gametime temperature of 80 degrees under sunny skies and light winds.

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

NOTING THE SERIES
Mines and Chadron State are meeting for the 48th time in a series that began in 1938 ... The series is very close with CSC holding a 24-23 all-time lead, but Mines has won 12 of the last 15 ... The two played sporadically over the years before Chadron State joined the RMAC in 1989 ... Chadron State leads 13-10 playing in Nebraska... Mines and Chadron State have combined to have all five of the RMAC's Harlon Hill Award winners: Danny Woodhead (2006 and 2007) for the Eagles and Chad Friehauf (2004), Justin Dvorak (2016), and John Matocha (2022) for Mines.

LAST WEEK
Mines put together its best performance of the season, getting in the win column with a 34-3 victory over Fort Lewis at Marv Kay Stadium. The Orediggers (1-2-1, 1-1 RMAC) rode a dominating defensive display that held Fort Lewis (2-1, 1-1 RMAC) to only 188 total yards of offense, including -27 net rushing yards, and did not allow a score until the waning moments of the fourth quarter while generating three turnovers. Joseph Capra, in three quarters of play, went 16-of-22 for 267 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 55 net yards as well. Aksel Richard had a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown with Tyson Mauck and Jake Willis also catching scores, and Parker Johnson added a 40-yard pick-six in the third quarter. The Mines run game had its best showing of the season with 218 yards led by Braelon Tate (86 yards) and Max Barnes (62).

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Coming off an NCAA playoff appearance a year ago, Chadron State has had a tough start to the season at 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the RMAC, dropping back-to-back games to top-10-ranked Western Colorado and CSU Pueblo after beating Nebraska-Kearney in Week 1. The Eagles have split quarterbacks with Aidan Thompson throwing for 369 yards and a touchdown and Wyatt Sprague 212 yards and a score; Daytuawn Pearson (177 yards, 1 TD) and Devon Rivers (148 yards, 1 TD) have rotated at running back. Devon Sundgren is their leading receiver with 169 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles score 14 points off 262.8 offensive yards per game. Defensively, they surrender 31.5 points and 427.8 yards per game, with Jarred Marquez (33 TT, 1 S, 3 FF) their top tackler and turnover creator. 

THREE OREDIGGERS WIN AWARDS
Mines was well-rewarded after the Fort Lewis win as Parker Johnson won the RMAC's Defensive Player of the Week award, Lucas LeSieur the RMAC Specialist of the Week award, and Joseph Capra the NFFCC Colorado Player of the Week honor. It marks the first weekly awards of the season for the Orediggers (more on their individual performances to come).

CAPRA SHINES IN FLC WIN
Quarterback Joseph Capra had one of the most productive and efficient games of his career int he Fort Lewis win, passing for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-22 passing, and rushing for 55 yards in less than three quarters of work. He generated a career-high quarterback rating of 219.67 in the game as he produced 322 total yards of offense.

RICHARD'S CAREER GAME
Senior receiver Aksel Richard had a breakout performance against Fort Lewis with the best production of his career, compiling 150 yards on five receptions, including a 65-yard touchdown. Richard also had a key 44-yard catch in the first quarter that led to Mines' opening field goal. He becomes the third different 100+ yard receiver this season for the Orediggers joining Pierce Richards (Western Oregon) and Nick Stone (Washburn). Richard has been selected as a game captain this week against Chadron State. 

PJ'S HOUSE CALL
Safety Parker Johnson had a memorable first career start at safety, running back an interception 40 yards for a touchdown among four tackles and two more pass break-ups to earn the RMAC's Defensive Player of the Week award. Johnson's pick-six was the second defensive score by the Orediggers this season joining Mo Russolillo's fumble return for a touchdown against Western Oregon.

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.

BECKNER'S BACK
The Mines defense was lifted by the return of sixth-year senior 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, started at edge and had two tackles with a sack against CSU Pueblo, then continued to produce with three tackles, a half-sack, and a pressure against Fort Lewis.

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 four games. Russolillo leads the team with 28 total tackles ahead of Mills' 25, and Johnson is at 22 with a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss. 

HE DOESN'T SKIP LEG DAY
Returning all-American punter Lucas LeSieur had a monster game against Fort Lewis, averaging 55 yards per punt and putting all three of his kicks inside the 20. LeSieur pinned FLC to an average starting position of their own 10.6 yard line, with all three of his kicks over 50 yards. This season, LeSieur ranks second in NCAA Division II in punting average (47.75) and the Orediggers are also second in net punting (44.88). 

KYLE CONTINUES TO PRODUCE
Kicker Preston Kyle is the Orediggers' leading scorer this season with 31 points, and he has been heavily relied on to produce with eight field goals in four games so far. Kyle is 8-of-11 (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 7-of-7 on PATs.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Mines' 34-4 win over Fort Lewis was made even more impressive by the fact that they were missing four starters, and had four first-timers filling in. Parker Johnson, who went on to earn RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, was making his first career start at safety, while Wyatt Valiente (center) and Jude Suhajda (left guard) got the call on the offensive line and Braden Keith at cornerback. 

NEXT UP
Mines returns to Marv Kay Stadium for Homecoming, hosting Black Hills State on Oct. 3 at noon.