GOLDEN, Colorado — The No. 1 Colorado School of Mines Orediggers continue looking dominant in their quest for a National Championship.
On Saturday afternoon, The Orediggers dismantled the Augustana Vikings 56-10 at Marv Kay Stadium, thanks to star quarterback John Matocha. He was 25/31 for 328 yards, threw for three touchdowns and ran one in for his fourth total. He is the NCAA’s all-time leader in total touchdowns. Erie High School alum Noah Roper rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown, while receiver Max McCleod caught 12 balls for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, seven different Orediggers recorded at least a 0.5 sack and Jackson Zimmerman had an interception.
Mines had a 28-3 halftime lead and didn’t let their foot off the gas in the second half. They scored 14 points in all four quarters today, but regardless of a blowout, this team understands that today was just step one of their playoff journey, “We celebrate today, be proud and happy, watch the film then come back tomorrow and be ready to learn and get ready for the next week,” Matocha said. “We have a lot of football we want to play. So it’s definitely exciting, extremely blessed to be in this position, just resettle and get ready to play another one.”
Head Coach Pete Sterbick echoed the same sentiment after the win, “I just told the guys: everything up that has happened to this point is by design and by plan. [We’re] definitely excited but we know what our mission is. This is just the next step along the way and can’t wait to get to it again.”
Coach Sterbick got past the second round in his first year as the Orediggers Head Coach, and he did it by beating his Alma Mater. He played football at Augustana for five years, “Some of it’s almost emotional a little bit. That place means a lot to me, but not as much as John and these guys do now. I just kinda had to take that out. But early on when we were getting going, I was pretty hyped and it was exciting so it was kind of a mix.”
Mines will host another playoff game next Saturday, when they welcome in the Central Washington Wildcats for the Regional Final. It will be the Orediggers third straight appearance in the Super Region 4 Final, having won the last two. A time for the game will be announced at a later date.
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