MINES FOOTBALL BLANKS WESTERN STATE, 58-0, IN RMAC OPENER
Friehauf Continues Torrid Pace to Open Season

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines senior quarterback Chad Friehauf (Brush, Colo./Brush) continued his torrid pace to open the season and the Oredigger defense posted its first shutout since the 2002 season opener during Saturday afternoon's 58-0 victory at Western State's Mountaineer Bowl. It was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Friehauf finished the game 26-of-33 for 415 yards and three touchdowns as the CSM offense gained 686 yards and a school-record 32 first downs. In contrast, the Mines defense held the Mountaineers to just 270 yards of offense to earn the win.

Senior running back Craig Van Horn (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty) opened the scoring with a 1-yard run five minutes into the game. Friehauf added a 6-yard scamper and a 52-yard pass to senior wide receiver Derek Lis (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) in the second quarter to extend the Oredigger lead to 23-0 at halftime.

CSM (3-0, 1-0 RMAC) kept the heat on in the third quarter as Van Horn added another 1-yard scoring run at the 11:54 mark and a 52-yard pass from Friehauf less than three minutes later to make it 37-0. Friehauf capped his day late in the third quarter with a 14-yard strike to junior wide receiver Justin Gallas (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn).

The Orediggers added a 1-yard run from sophomore running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) and a 48-yard run by sophomore quarterback Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) in the fourth quarter to provide the final margin.

Senior wideout Jonny Chan (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview) caught seven balls for 118 yards, while Gallas caught seven passes for 71 yards and a score and Van Horn totaled 39 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards and three total touchdowns.

Senior strong safety Daniel Leger (Arvada, Colo./Faith Christian) notched 11 tackles, including three for losses, a forced fumble and a sack to lead the CSM defense. Junior linebacker Jared Heath (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch) tied Leger for team-honors with 11 tackles, as the Oredigger defense produced four sacks and two turnovers.

The defense also held All-American running back Chaumount Bouknight to just 64 yards on 24 carries. A year ago, he finished second in the nation with 154.3 yards per game. Quarterback Nate Baca completed 14-of-23 passes for 153 yards for the Mountaineers (0-3, 0-1 RMAC)

CSM returns to action next weekend when it travels to Northwest Oklahoma State, the second ranked NAIA team.

-- OREDIGGERS --