Colorado School of Mines’ third-quarter rally gave fans hope on Saturday at Marv Kay Stadium at Brooks Field in Golden, but the Orediggers yielded the lead at the start of the fourth quarter to drop a 22-20 decision to 22nd-ranked Western Oregon. READ MORE
In another season opener for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference school, Fort Lewis’ road game at William Jewell in Liberty, Mo., was paused with 4:42 left in the first quarter due to a medical emergency involving a student-athlete and was subsequently canceled. READ MORE
Despite the setback, Mines’ Pierce Richards set a school record by catching 18 passes for 153 yards and one score. Orediggers quarterback Joseph Capra completed 30 of 49 passes for 232 yards, but Mines’ running game produced only 41 yards.
NOTE – The 18 pass receptions by Richards are tied for the third-most in a game by a Colorado college player.
- 19 (143 yards, 2 touchdowns), Justin Johnson, Fort Lewis vs. Western New Mexico, November 7, 2009
- 19 (179-3), Nelson Spruce, Colorado at California (2 OT), September 27, 2014
- 18 (204-3), Jamal Allen, Fort Lewis at Nebraska Kearney, October 13, 2001
After trailing 16-7 at intermission, Mines gained a 17-16 advantage with 11:39 left in the third quarter on a 49-yard field goal by Preston Kyle. Three minutes earlier, the Orediggers scored a 32-yard fumble return by Mo Russolillo just 36 seconds after the start of the second half to trail 16-14.
Western Oregon rallied with a 10-yard scoring toss from Jordan McCarty to Jaydan Burns with 10 minutes left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff, the Orediggers took advantage of a 15-yard personal foul on the kickoff to start a long drive (15 plays, 53 yards) that resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Preston with 4:57 left in the game.
The decision to kick the field goal came back to haunt Mines as Western Oregon did not relinquish the ball with a nine-play, 65-yard drive in the closing minutes to secure the win. Mines did force a fourth down during the drive, but it was nullified by an Oredigger personal foul after the penalty that gave the Wolves a first down and the opportunity to run out the clock.
Saturday, August 29 results
- Fort Lewis at William Jewell, canceled READ MORE
- Western Oregon 22, at Colorado Mines 20 BOX SCORE / RECAP
IDLE – Air Force, Colorado & Colorado State
Thursday, August 27 results
- at CSU Pueblo 44, Central Missouri 25 BOX SCORE / RECAP
- Western Colorado 52, at West Texas A&M 21 BOX SCORE / RECAP
- Western New Mexico 62, at Adams State 45 BOX SCORE / RECAP
- Minnesota State 38, at Colorado Mesa 14 BOX SCORE / RECAP
Friday, August 28 results
- Weber State 30, at Northern Colorado 29 BOX SCORE / RECAP
Thursday, September 3 Schedule
- Colorado at Georgia Tech, 6 p.m. ESPN
- CSU Pueblo at Fort Hays State, 6 p.m. MIAANet
- Angelo State at Western Colorado, 6 p.m. RMACNet
Saturday, September 5
- Duquesne at Air Force, 11 a.m. MW+
- Colorado Mines at Washburn, 11 a.m. MIAANet
- Colorado Mesa at Eastern N. Mexico, 2 p.m. LSNET
- Wyoming at Colorado State, 4 p.m. USA
- Arizona Christian at Fort Lewis, 6 p.m. RMACNet
- South Dakota at Northern Colorado, 6 p.m. ESPN+
- Adams State at Sul Ross State, 7 p.m. LSNET
STATISTICS – Click here for combined school statistics PDF
- Click here for Centennial State collegiate statistical football leaders PDF
FBS
- Air Force (0-0)
- Colorado (0-0)
- Colorado State (0-0)
FCS
- Northern Colorado (0-1)
DIVISION II
- Adams State (0-1)
- Colorado Mesa (0-1)
- Colorado Mines (0-1)
- CSU Pueblo (1-0)
- Fort Lewis (0-0)
- Western Colorado (1-0)
