2023 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team explained
The 2023 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team was an American football team that represented the Colorado School of Mines in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach Pete Sterbick, the team compiled a 14–1 record (9–0 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 656 to 150, and won the RMAC championship.[1] The team was led on offense by quarterback John Matocha who broke the NCAA record for career touchdowns, won the 2022 Harlon Hill Trophy and was a finalist for the award again in 2023.
The 2022 Orediggers advanced to the national championship game where they lost to Ferris State. Coach Sterbick noted that, having lost the 2022 championship game, the Orediggers have "an extra chip on our shoulders" to win the school's first national championship in 2023.[2] [3] The team opened its season ranked No. 2 nationally and defeated No. 3 and No. 4 in its first two games. The Orediggers finished the regular season ranked No. 1[4] and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they received a bye in the first round, and defeated (56–10) in the second round,[5] (38–14) in the quarterfinals,[6] and (35–7) in the semifinal.[7]
Notes and References
- News: 2023 Football Schedule. Colorado School of Mines. December 4, 2023.
- News: Mines football opens Division II playoffs eyeing another run to the national championship game: "We have an extra chip on our shoulder". The Denver Post. Kyle Newman. November 24, 2023.
- News: Warning to football teams standing between Mines and first national championship: Oooh, this is going to hurt. The Denver Post. Mark Kiszla. November 25, 2023.
- News: Colorado School of Mines ranked No. 1 going into semifinals. Fox 31 KDVR. December 4, 2023. Maddie Rhodes.
- News: Colorado School of Mines kicks off their quest for a football national championship. CBS News. Michael Abetta. November 25, 2023.
- News: Colorado Mines back in D-II football semifinals after running over Central Washington. The Denver Post. December 2, 2023. Matt Schubert.
- News: Mines blasted in Division II national title for second straight year, as Harding runs over Orediggers. The Denver Post. December 16, 2023. Kyle Newman.
- News: The Computer Science Major Leading College Football's Nerdiest Contender. he Wall Street Journal. Jason Gay. November 30, 2023.
- News: If You're Not Paying Attention to the Colorado School of Mines' Football Team, You Should Be. 5280. Craig Meyer. November 16, 2023.
- News: Big Stars/Small Schools. The Columbus Telegram. August 22, 2023. B5.
- Web site: John Matocha Selected as 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. November 29, 2023. December 4, 2023.
- News: Mines quarterback breaks all-time NCAA record for total touchdowns. Fox 31 KDVR. Brooke Williams. November 12, 2023.
- Web site: Max McLeod. Colorado School of Mines. December 4, 2023.
- Web site: Noah Roper. Colorado School of Mines. December 4, 2023.
- Web site: Hunter Pearson. Colorado School of Mines. December 4, 2023.
- Web site: 2023 Football Cumulative Statistics. December 4, 2023.
- News: No. 1 Colorado School of Mines football advances to DII title game with blowout win over No. 4 Kutztown. KMGH-TV | Denver7|date=December 9, 2023|url=https://www.denver7.com/sports/college-sports/no-1-colorado-school-of-mines-football-advances-to-dii-title-game-with-blowout-win-over-no-4-kutztown}} They lost to No. 3 Harding, 38–7, in the Division II national championship game.[7]
The team plays its home games at Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium in Golden, Colorado.
Schedule
Rankings
See also: 2023 NCAA Division II football rankings.
Game summaries
No. 3 Grand Valley State
| Statistics | GVS | CSM |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Grand Valley State | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| Colorado Mines | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
At No. 4 Angelo State
| Statistics | CSM | ASU |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Colorado Mines | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| Angelo State | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
Adams State
| Statistics | ASU | CSM |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Adams State | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| Colorado Mines | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
At CSU Pueblo
| Statistics | CSM | CSUP |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Colorado Mines | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| CSU Pueblo | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
Chadron State
| Statistics | CSC | CSM |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Turnovers | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Chadron State | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| Colorado Mines | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
"College football's nerdiest contender"
Colorado Mines' football team, drawn from its student body of engineering students, has gained attention both for its ability on the field and for its nerdy and colorful characters. In November 2023, The Wall Street Journal profiled quarterback John Matocha, a computer science major, as the leader of "college football's nerdiest contender."[8] 5280 magazine profiled the team's official headshots including Matocha in pigtails and a drawn-on blue mustache; safety Blake Ramsey sporting a tonsure, friar-style haircut; linebacker Owen Marnell in Harry Potter cosplay; and tight end Kenny Wright with emo-style black bangs combed over one of his eyes.[9]
Statistical achievements and honors
Through their December 9 semifinal match with, the Orediggers have scored 691 points, an average of 49.36 points per game, and have gained an average of 520.6 yards of total offense per game. On defense, they have held opponents to 157 points (11.21 points per game) and 247.1 yards of total offense per game. The team's individual statistical leaders include:
- Redshirt senior quarterback John Matocha won the Harlon Hill Trophy, considered the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, in 2022,[10] and was a finalist for the award in 2023.[11] On November 11, 2023, Matocha broke the NCAA record for career touchdowns at all levels of play, as he tallied four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), bringing his career total to 181.[12] Through the first 14 games of the 2023 season, Matocha has tallied 4,028 passing yards and 42 touchdowns.
- Redshirt senior wide receiver Max McLeod[13] leads the team with 1,503 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
- Redshirt senior running back Noah Roper[14] leads the team with 951 rushing yards.
- Redshirt senior placekicker Hunter Pearson[15] leads the team with 114 points scored.[16]
- Redshirt junior outside linebacker Jaden Healy leads the team with 63 total tackles.
- Redshirt sophomore cornerback Jackson Zimmerman leads the team with six interceptions and nine pass breakups.
- Redshirt senior outside linebacker Nolan Reeve leads the team with ten sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.
References
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