#17/15 Colorado School of Mines at #9/7 CSU-Pueblo, Saturday, 6 p.m.
DeRose Thunderbowl, Pueblo, Colo.
[Streaming: RMAC Network] [TV: KOAA 5.2] [Live Stats] [Mines Media Notes] 
 

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The only two undefeated teams left in the RMAC meet in a top-25 clash as #17/15 Mines and #9/7 CSU-Pueblo renew their rivalry in Week 3.

WATCH US
Saturday's game will stream live on the RMAC Network, which is also available on smart TV services like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire. The game will also be simulcast on KOAA's secondary channel 5.2 in Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

IF YOU GO
Tickets are $13 and can be purchased online. Also note that all parking at CSU-Pueblo is now paid parking and costs $10 on game days.

WEATHER REPORT
Saturday evening should be terrific for football with a kickoff temperature forecast of 82 degrees and clear skies going down to the upper 60s later in the game.

CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2019
Mines has elected four captains for the 2019 season: senior linebackers Jimmy Bauer and James Kohlschmidt, senior running back Cameron Mayberry, and senior tackle Grant Stewart. Stewart is a returning captain from 2018.

MINES, CSUP APPEAR IN NATIONAL POLLS
Both Mines and CSU-Pueblo remained in their same spots in the two major national polls this week as the Orediggers are #17 in the AFCA and #15 in the D2football.com rankings; CSU-Pueblo checks in at #9/7.

A DECADE OF DOMINANCE
There's a reason why the Mines-CSUP game is circled on every RMAC football fan's calendar each year - over the last decade, the game has more than likely decided the league champion. Since 2010, either or both of the teams have clinched eight of nine RMAC championships (and CSU-Pueblo won the 2015 crown before it was nullified by an eligibility violation). The two teams have shared the title three times, in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

LAST TIME OUT
Mines was firing on all cylinders as they handled Black Hills State, 52-7, in their home opener on Sept. 14. True freshman John Matocha was the surprise starter at quarterback and had a spectacular debut, completing an eye-popping 20-of-22 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns while also running for another score. He powered the Mines offense to 548 total yards. Cameron Mayberry tied the Mines career rushing touchdowns record at 48 as part of an 84-yard, one-score game, while Josh Odom broke out for a 95-yard, one-touchdown effort on the ground. The Oredigger defense was absolutely dominant, allowing only 193 total yards including 21 on the ground. Logan Braden scored a defensive touchdown for the second straight week as he scooped up a fumbled Geoff Keating interception for a 59-yard run to the house.

MATOCHA, MARSHALL EARN RMAC HONORS
Quarterback John Matocha and kicker Scott Marshall were named the RMAC Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, on Monday after Mines' 52-7 win over Black Hills State. It is Matocha's first career honor and second for Marshall.

MAYBERRY, STEWART GET PRESEASON LOOKS
Two Oredigger returners received getting national attention over the summer as tackle Grant Stewart and running back Cameron Mayberry were preseason all-Americans. Stewart picked up two nods, from Lindy's and College Football Yearbook America (both first-team), while Mayberry was a D2football.com and Lindy's second-teamer.

LAST YEAR VS. CSU-PUEBLO
Mines and CSU-Pueblo split their two games last year, both in Golden, as Mines won 35-21 over the Thunderwolves in the regular season and the Pack won 37-17 in the NCAA Tournament; coincidentally, CSU-Pueblo was ranked #9 nationally in both of those games. Mines' defense carried the day on Sept. 15, holding CSUP to 1-for-4 in the red zone and only 112 rushing yards as Cameron Mayberry ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns. CSU-Pueblo had their revenge on a frigid day in the NCAA first round, however, generating four turnovers including two pick-sixes while shutting down the Mines run game to advance in the national bracket.

MINES VS. CSU-PUEBLO SERIES NOTES
CSU-Pueblo (formerly Southern Colorado) holds a 19-10 series advantage dating back to 1964 ... The two have alternated wins the last five games ... The last 10 games in the series are 7-3 in favor of CSUP ... None of the last five meetings have been less than a two-score game ... Mines has not won in Pueblo since 2009, and are 2-12 in the Steel City overall ... Last year the two teams met twice - a Mines win in the regular season and a CSU-Pueblo win in the NCAA tournament - marking the first time since 1989 Mines had played an opponent twice in one year ... Since 2010, either or both of the teams have clinched eight of nine RMAC championships (and CSU-Pueblo won the 2015 crown before it was nullified by an eligibility violated) ... The two teams have shared the title three times, in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

MAYBERRY CHASES RECORDS
Cameron Mayberry is already an all-timer, but his senior season could see his put several Mines records out of reach. He already owns the program career marks for yards (3,607) and touches (565), as well as the single-season and game versions of both records. He tied Lloyd Madden's long-standing single-season rushing touchdown mark last year with 23 (Madden did the same in 1939), and this year is eyeing one last career record: Greg Marshall's 48 rushing touchdowns set between 1989 and 1992. Mayberry tied the record last week and would be the sole owner with his next rushing score. With 50 total career touchdowns scored (48 rushing, 2 receiving), Mayberry is tied for the most rushing and total touchdowns among active players in college football:

NCAA Division II Active Career Rushers
Nate Gunn (Minnesota State) -    3,793 yds
Cameron Mayberry (Mines) -    3,607 yds
Stevie Green (Fayetteville St.) -    3,440 yds
Nelson Brown (Cal [Pa.]) -    3,349 yds
Antonio Wimbush (Carson-Newman) -   2,961 yds

NCAA All-Divisions Active Career Total Touchdowns
Cameron Mayberry (Mines) -    50 TD (48 rush/2 rec.)
Walter Fletcher (Ball State) -    50 TD (42 rush/7 rec./1 PR)
Brian Mann (Ferrum) -    49 TD (48 rush/1 KR)
Justin Hill (Mount Union) -    46 TD (42 rec./1 rush/3 PR)
EJ Lee (Wesley) -    44 TD (40 rush/4 rec.)
Lance Moise (Concordia Chicago) -    44 TD (42 rush/2 rec.)

NCAA All-Divisions Active Career Rushing Touchdowns
Cameron Mayberry (Mines) -    48 TD
Brian Mann (Ferrum) -   48 TD
Wesley Schools (Grove City) -    43 TD
Walter Fletcher (Ball State) -    42 TD
Lance Moise (Concordia Chicago) -    42 TD

MATOCHA SHINES IN DEBUT
John Matocha was the surprise starter at quarterback last week, but the freshman certainly didn't act his age as he turned in a debut to remember. The Magnolia West (Texas) product was a stunning 20-of-22 (90.9%) for 249 yards and three touchdowns in the air, and ran 10 times for 50 yards and another touchdown. Matocha is believed to be the first true freshman to start a game at quarterback for Mines since the Marv Kay era, and his opener was among the best in program history:

Best QBR By A First-Time Mines Starter, Since 2000
John Matocha: 230.98 (20-22, 249 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT)
Matt Brown: 220.9 (23-30, 358 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT)
Isaac Harker: 191.5 (22-34, 317 yds, 5 TD, 0 INT)
Cody Limmer: 177.6 (13-19, 216 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT)
Clay Garcia: 166.55 (27-40, 314 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT)

ODOM BREAKS OUT
The Black Hills State game was a breakout performance for senior running back Josh Odom, who got things done all over the field. Odom was the team's leading rusher - eight hard-nosed rushes for 95 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown - but he also had a terrific special teams day with a forced fumble on a second-quarter kickoff return thanks to a crushing hit on Kielar Harpham. He added another special teams tackle later in the game. 

PRECIOUS CARGO
A big part of the success of Matocha and the Mines run game has been thanks to the offensive line, which despite several new faces in 2019 has been outstanding to start the season. They kept Matocha upright and sack-free last week and have allowed only two this season; on the ground the Orediggers are averaging 261 yards per game.

FIRST TIME TOUCHDOWNS
While Mayberry continued to add to his touchdown total against BHSU, three Orediggers scored their first career touchdowns last week: Josh Johnston, John Matocha, and Joe Golter. Josh Odom's touchdown was his first since 2017 after he spent last year at linebacker, and Brandon Farmer's was his first since moving from running back to receiver.

NONE SHALL PASS
After two weeks of play, Mines owns NCAA Division II's #1 rushing defense, #5 scoring defense, and #15 total defense as the Orediggers have been red-hot on that side of the ball. Mines has given up a grand total of -3 rushing yards this season (-24 at Adams State, 21 against Black Hills State) and are averaging 241.5 yards of offense allowed per game. Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, Mines is averaging 86.4 yards per game of rushing allowed. Meanwhile, their average of 8.5 points per game leads the RMAC and is fifth nationally to help the Orediggers to a 38-point scoring margin per game.

THIRD DOWN BATTLE
When Mines and CSU-Pueblo meet, the RMAC's two best third-down defenses will be on the field. Mines has allowed only five conversions in 33 attempts this season (15.2%) to lead the league, while CSU-Pueblo has allowed nine of 31 (29%). Mines' third-down defense ranks third in NCAA Division II.

TO THE HOUSE
Quick, who are Mines' scoring leaders after two games? Cam Mayberry, of course, with 24 points on 4 touchdowns. Scott Marshall? Certainly the kicker is in the mix with 20 points on three field goals and 11 extra points. But in third place? How about cornerback Logan Braden, who has scored defensive touchdowns in back-to-back games to start 2019. Braden took an interception 41 yards to the house at Adams State, then against Black Hills State scooped up Geoff Keating's fumbled interception and took it back 59 yards. The latter technically counts as an interception return, which gives Braden an even odder season statistic - he has exactly 100 yards worth of interception returns, but only one actual interception.

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK
The hard hat is a longtime symbol of Mines students (every freshman receives one when they embark on the M Climb) and engineers everywhere. This season, the Mines bench is featuring a Turnover Hard Hat, which is awarded to and signed by a player generating a takeaway. So far the hard hat has been worn by four different players:

Mack Minnehan  (at Adams State) - Interception
Logan Braden (at Adams State) - Interception
Josh Odom (vs. Black Hills State) - Forced fumble
Geoff Keating (vs. Black Hills State) - Interception

MARSHALL HAS STRONG START TO 2019
Kicker Scott Marshall earned RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Monday thanks to a perfect start to 2019 that has seen the redshirt junior go 3-for-3 on field goals and 11-of-11 on PATs. Marshall hit his career-long field goal last week with a 46-yarder, and he's also been outstanding on kickoffs with 14 touchbacks in 17 tries. 

NEXT UP
Mines returns to Golden to host New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 28 at noon.