RAPID CITY, S.D. - Michael Zeman ran for a program-record 321 yards and four touchdowns as #9 Colorado School of Mines overcame mistakes to stop South Dakota Mines in a 49-28 win.

The Orediggers improved to 9-0 overall and 8-0 in the RMAC, and are now a win away from clinching at least a share of the conference crown. The Hardrockers (2-7, 1-7 RMAC) capitalized on three Oredigger turnovers and 114 penalty yards to score four times despite being held to 270 total yards.

Zeman ran wild with 35 carries for a 9.2-yard average, and he also caught two passes for 65 yards. He set the Mines single-game records for both rushing and all-purpose yards, and tied the rushing touchdown mark. John Matocha ended the day 13-of-18 for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for a score, but he didn't have much to do in the second half as the Orediggers pounded the ball on the ground and threw only five passes after halftime. Josh Johnston caught five passes for 106 yards and two scores, all in the first half.

Toby Smith was 20-of-39 for 172 yards and three scores for the Hardrockers; Ahmad Lewis ran for 102 yards and a touchdown.

The Orediggers got out to a fast start leading 28-0 early in the second quarter, and that ultimately helped them keep the Hardrockers at bay. Mines scored on their first offensive play of the game, a 40-yard strike from Matocha to Johnston, and Zeman scored from 11 yards out before Johnston picked out an incredible catch from a scrambling Matocha to end the first quarter up 21-0.

Zeman made a one-yard plunge to open the second quarter with a touchdown, but SDSMT ripped off its first significant play of the game to score less than a minute later when Ahmad Lewis went 67 yards to the end zone, and neither team would score for the remainder of the first half.

The Orediggers got the ball to start the third quarter and cashed in with a one-yard Matocha keeper, but fumbled just outside their own red zone on their next possession to set up an 11-yard Carson Hunt touchdown catch to cut the lead to 35-14.

That set up a see-saw fourth quarter that began with SDSMT in great position following a partially-deflected punt; Joe Luebbers' 24-yard touchdown catch cut it to a two-score game six plays later. The Orediggers answered back as Zeman ran for all 72 yards on four plays of the next drive, scoring with a 27-yard breakout, but three unsportsmanlike conduct flags on Mines pushed SDSMT from their own 38 to the Oredigger 17 and helped them score on a 15-yard Hunt grab to make it a 42-28 game.

Matocha completed a 32-yard catch-and-run to Zeman to start the next series but Zeman was stripped at the sideline by Dominick Jackson; the Oredigger defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs, however, when Luke Jeter sacked Smith on 4th and 10. That allowed Zeman to seal the game with a 12-yard tote four plays later, and the Orediggers again forced a turnover on downs courtesy of Myles Ruiz's breakup on 4th and 16 to get the ball for the final time.

NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 9-0 for only the fourth time in program history and the first time in consecutive years (1898, 2004, 2018).
- Zeman's rushing total was the seventh-best in RMAC history and most since Western Colorado's Austin Ekeler went for 344 against Western New Mexico in 2015. Zeman surpassed teammate Cameron Mayberry for the program record; Mayberry had 312 at Adams State in 2017.
- Zeman's 386 all-purpose yards surpassed Justin Gallas' Mines record of 366 yards against Fort Lewis in 2005.
- Zeman is the fourth player in program history to rush for four touchdowns in a single game, joining Tony Evans (1993), Zac Guy (2016), and Mayberry (2018).
- Pending other games on Saturday, Zeman has the #1 and #2 rushing performances in NCAA Division II this season after his 298 yards at Azusa Pacific last week. Today's game was also the NCAA D-II #1 all-purpose yardage game of the year.
- The Mines offensive line, in addition to the big rushing numbers, allowed only one sack, and have given up just two in the last three games and 12 this season.
- The Mines defense came up big when needed, holding SDSMT to just 2-of-13 on third down and 2-of-5 on fourth down. Luke Jeter had three sacks among seven tackles; two of his sacks came on third-down drive stops and the other on fourth down.
- Kobe Brewster led the Orediggers with eight tackles and two break-ups; Mason Pierce broke up three passes. 
- The Orediggers produced 633 total offensive yards to SDSMT's 270, including a season-best 401 on the ground.
- Mines was hit with nine penalties for 114 yards; seven of SDSMT's 20 first downs came off flags.
- The Orediggers again dominated time of possession at 33:50, just under their RMAC-best average of 34:12 per game.

NEXT UP
Mines plays at home for the final time in the regular season, hosting Dixie State on Nov. 9 at noon.