FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: OCTOBER 2, 2004
CONTACT: GREG MURPHY, SID (303) 273-3095

COLORADO MINES FOOTBALL DEFEATS FORT HAYS STATE, 35-21
Mines Ties School-Record With Eighth Straight Win

Senior running back Craig Van Horn accounted for three touchdowns on Saturday

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines football team tied a school-record with its eighth straight win, dating back to last season, won its 10th of 11 overall and moved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference with a 35-21 victory over Fort Hays State in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

"It was a complete team effort," CSM Head Coach Bob Stitt said. Our offense was once again solid and the defense came up big late in the first half and through the entire second half. We executed in all three facets of the game today."

With the game tied at 14-14 at halftime, the Orediggers scored the first two touchdowns of the second half to claim a 28-14 lead with 5:39 to go in the third quarter. Senior running back Craig Van Horn (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty) opened the second half with a 15-yard scamper less than two minutes into the quarter and senior quarterback Chad Friehauf (Brush, Colo./Brush) found sophomore wide receiver Derek Dykstra (Hi Plains, Colo./Seibert) from 1-yard out with 5:39 to go in the quarter.

FHSU (1-5, 1-3 RMAC) sliced the lead to 28-21 on a 4-yard scoring run from John Montgomery, his second of the day, but the Orediggers regained a 14 point cushion when Van Horn found paydirt for the third time on the afternoon on a 9-yard toss from Friehauf.

Friehauf finished the game 33-of-43 for 394 yards and three touchdowns. He threw an interception on his 40th pass of the game, ending his streak of consecutive passes without an interception at 180 straight.

Van Horn toted the ball 22 times for 123 yards and two scores and also caught four balls for 62 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Justin Gallas (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) caught eight balls for 127 yards, while senior wideout Jonny Chan hauled in eight balls for 99 yards and a touchdown. In the process, Chan broke CSM career records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Sophomore free safety Tim Miller (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) led four Mines defensive players in double digit tackles with 13. Senior strong safety Daniel Leger (Arvada, Colo./Faith Christian) added 12, including a sack, while junior linebacker Jared Heath (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch) added 11 and junior cornerback Nick Gilbreath (Mead, Colo./Roosevelt) 10.

FHSU was led by Reed Gottula who completed 18-of-32 for 155 yards and gained 81 yards on 16 carries. Marcus West and James Wideman tied for team-high honors with 10 tackles apiece.

Mines will return to action on Saturday when it travels to Nebraska-Kearney for a 1:00 pm kickoff.

-- OREDIGGERS --