In the final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game of the season, the Colorado School of Mines topped the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks 80-0 on a cold Saturday afternoon in Golden.
Fort Lewis finishes its season 0-10 overall. Mines closes out the regular season 9-2. The 9-0 RMAC Regular Season Champions will most likely represent the conference in Super Region 4 of the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
“Today was all about the seniors, them officially playing their last game,” said Fort Lewis College Head Coach Johnny Cox. “I felt that the team responded with some good fight in the second half. We got down, and unfortunately, we were playing a really good team. I'm proud with the effort we laid on the field, and they (Mines) played with good class. The result just wasn't what we wanted.”
The Orediggers attacked early and took a 14-0 lead after converting on back-to-back drives to open the game.
Fort Lewis found themselves on the goal line after a 71-yard strike from quarterback Braden Wingle to Mikal Baker, but Mines made a goal-line stand and the Skyhawks turned the ball over on downs. Fort Lewis didn’t reach the red zone again.
It was all Orediggers from there on out, as the conference champions held the Skyhawks to 173 yards of total offense and just nine first downs.
Mines finished with 701 yards of total offense, securing 341 yards through the air and 360 on the ground.
John Matocha threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns on 13-16 passing attempts (81.2%). Backup quarterback Evan Foster was a perfect 6-6 for 60 yards and one touchdown.
Michael Zeman, the all-time program leader in career yards and rushing touchdowns, led the ground game for CSM with 133 net yards and three touchdowns on 18 attempts.
Wingle finished the afternoon 18-26 on passing attempts (69.2%) for 151 total yards. Nolan Bynum also saw action under center and completed 2 of 7 passing attempts for an 22 yards. Mines hit the Skyhawks quarterbacks five times.
Zach Russell led FLC’s receivers with three receptions, while Baker led with 71 total yards.
Chris Ponce, Jayden Helms and Chima Mbaruguru led FLC with nine tackles each. Durangoans Max Hyson made eight tackles and Jordan Stanley three.
With the 2022 season chapter now closed, Fort Lewis will take a prescribed two-week break before hitting the weight room and practice fields for winter workouts.
“The season as a whole was one where you say that you built the foundation. It's very interesting that after every game someone without fail would say, “Hey you're making a lot of progress, we like how you're organized, we like how you're playing with class.” Sometimes in life, your worst defeats inspire you to play your best ball in the future. This was a bad defeat but hopefully, we can have some energy and use that feeling to make us work hard in the weight room and in the classroom, so we don't have to feel it again. We have a long road to go, but the guys that want to be part of it will really reap the benefits if they stick to the plan and have confidence in what they can do.”
