Background

CSM FOOTBALL LOSES AT WESTERN STATE, 21-13

GUNNISON, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines football team fell at Western State, 21-13, in the 2006 season finale in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Mountaineer Bowl.

CSM took a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter as junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East) connected on a 37 yard field goal.

However, the Mountaineers would score a pair of second quarter touchdowns to take a 14-3 lead at halftime.

Abel's second field goal of the game, a 35-yarder with 12:39 to play in the game, sliced the lead to 14-6, but WSC's Jon Watson scampered 13-yards into the end zone with 5:12 to play in the game giving his squad a 21-6 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, CSM junior Michael Curl (Houston, Texas/Blinn JC) went 97 yards for his second touchdown of the season on a kick return and brought the Orediggers back to within one score (21-13).

The CSM offense was abel to get the ball back with 51 seconds to play at its own 21 yard line and senior quarterback Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) hit redshirt freshman wide receiver Brent Dickinson (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) for gains of 34 and 13 yards down to the Western State 27-yardline. After three incomplete passes, Mehl had his fourth down pass intercepted by Skyler Webster in the end zone to end the game.

CSM senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) ran 27 times for 135 yards and finished the season with 1,018 rushing yards. He is the first CSM player to run for 1,000 yards since Lloyd Madden in 1939. Mehl went 15-of-31 for 150 yards.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) led the defense with 11 tackles.

Watson and Avionne James combined to run 24 times for 103 yards and two scores to lead WSC, while Jordan Gage tied Wardlaw for game-high honors with 11 tackles.

CSM concludes its season with a 4-7 overall record and 2-6 in the RMAC.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL FALLS TO MESA STATE, 28-22

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines football team fell to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play as it fell to Mesa State, 28-22, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

Mesa State (3-7, 2-5 RMAC) claimed a 28-3 lead with 6:12 to play in the third quarter after a 15-yard scoring run from Kyle Britton.

However, the Orediggers would score the next 19 points to slice the lead to 28-22 with 6:09 to play in the game as junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East) connected on a 30-yard field goal.

Senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) began the stretch with a 2-yard scoring with with 1:33 to play in the third quarter. After a Maverick punt, CSM senior quarterback Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) threw a 41-yard scoring strike to redshirt freshman wide receiver Brent Dickinson (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) on the first play from scrimmage.

Following a Maverick three and out, MSC set up to punt, but the ball was snapped out of the end zone giving CSM a safety and slicing the lead to 28-19.

After Abel's field goal, the Oredigger defense forced another punt, but the CSM drive was halted on a fourth down incompletion with 2:16 to play in the game. MSC was then able to run the clock out.

Florendo finished with 125 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries and also caught seven passes for 54 yards. Mehl completed 18-of-28 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown, while junior wide receiver Michael Curl (Houston, Texas/Blinn JC) caught five passes for 87 yards.

The CSM defense was paced by senior linebacker Danny Sprague (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge) who tallied 10 tackles, while redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) added nine stops and a sack.

Britton ran 17 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, while Phil Vigil completed 4-of-8 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 54 yards. Drew Bohannan caught two passes for 112 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. Jacob Cadelinia recorded a game-best 14 tackles.

CSM will return to action next Saturday when it travels to Western State for a 1:00 pm kickoff. It will be the season finale for the Orediggers.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL WINS AT NEBRASKA-KEARNEY, 20-14

KEARNEY, Neb. - The Colorado School of Mines football team outscored Nebraska-Kearney, 13-2, in the final quarter and defeated the Lopers, 20-14, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

The Orediggers trailed, 12-7, heading into the fourth quarter, but used a 17-yard scoring run by senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) with 13:50 to play and a 42-yard fumble return by freshman safety Ben Tiller (Fort Worth, Texas/Fossil Ridge) to claim a 20-12 lead with 11:14 to play in the game.

Neither team would score again until UNK's Sir Keevin Hardiman tackled Florendo in the end zone for a safety with 1:06 to play in the game. The play was set up when CSM sophomore cornerback Drew Ferren (Lyons, Colo./Lyons) intercepted a Kevin Arbuckle pass at the CSM 1-yard line with 2:07 to play. The Orediggers ran two offensive plays before the safety on third down.

After the free kick, UNK marched to the CSM five-yardline with 20 seconds left. However, the Oredigger defense allowed a 1-yard pass, an incomplete pass and junior cornerback Ryan Lavergne (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield) then tackled Arbuckle for a three yard loss on third down as the clock ran out to secure the Oredigger win.

Florendo ran 25 times for 118 yards and a touchdown, while senior quarterback Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) completed 18-of-28 passes for 106 yards and also ran for a touchdown. Junior receiver Michael Curl (Houston, Texas/Blinn JC) caught a career-high 10 passes for 67 yards.

Senior linebacker Danny Sprauge (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge) led the defense, which produced three turnovers, with a game-best 10 tackles. Junior defensive end Marin Richardson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mitchell) added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Ferren tallied six stops, two pass breakups and an interception.

Arbuckle finished 20-of-38 for 188 yards, one touchdown and two picks, while Eric Myrick caught 10 passes for 87 yards. Cheikh Fall led the UNK defense with 10 tackles.

CSM (4-5, 2-4 RMAC) will return to action next Saturday when it hosts Mesa State at 12:00 pm at Brooks Field. The game can be seen live online

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL FALLS TO FORT LEWIS, 41-34

GOLDEN, Colo. - Fort Lewis quarterback Matt Gutierrez hit Brandon Cummings for a 63-yard touchdown with 39 seconds to play to lift the Skyhawks to a 41-34 win over Colorado School of Mines in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

CSM (3-5, 1-4 RMAC) took a 7-0 lead on the opening possession when senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) scampered for a 5-yard score. All 11 plays on the 66 yard drive came on the ground.

The Orediggers were on the verge of going up 14-0, but a Florendo fumble was recovered by FLC's Sam Powell and returned 90 yards for a score to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:52 to play in the first quarter. Florendo scored his second touchdown of the game three minutes into the second quarter to give the Orediggers a 14-7 lead.

FLC gained a 20-14 lead with 2:55 to play in the first half as Justin Matherson scored on runs of 77 and 82 yards. However, CSM junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East) kicked a 25-yard field goal just before the half and added a 42-yarder with 10:32 to play in the third quarter to knot the game at 20-20.

But on the very next Matherson went 84 yards for his third score of the game. He added a 2-yard scoring run with 1:04 to play in the third quarter to put the Skyhawks up, 34-20.

The Orediggers would once again respond and tied the game at 34-34 with 6:37 to play as senior quarterback Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) threw a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes, including a 2-yarder to Florendo with 6:37 to play.

After the CSM defense forced a Skyhawk punt, the Orediggers got the ball back on the Skyhawk 46-yard line with 3:15 to play, but turned the ball over on downs with 54 seconds left setting up Gutierrez's heroics.

Florendo finished with 180 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 35 carries and also caught three passes for 29 yards and a score. Mehl finished 13-of-24 for 155 yards and two scores and also tallied 63 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Matherson carried 16 times for 290 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Skyhawks, while Gutierrez completed 7-of-14 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. Brady Haynes tied for game-high tackles with 12, including a sack.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) tied for game-high honors with 12 tackles and also tallied an interception.

The Orediggers will return to action next Saturday when they travel to Nebraska-Kearney for a 1:00 pm game.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL WINS AT WESTERN NEW MEXICO, 10-6

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines football team picked up its first conference win of the season as it travelled to Western New Mexico and handed the Mustangs a 10-6 setback on Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at Ben Altimirano Stadium.

CSM (3-4, 1-3 RMAC) jumped out to a 7-0 lead just 3:03 into the game as it scored on its first drive by marching 54 yards in six plays. The drive was capped when senior quarterback Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) ran into the endzone from two yards out. Mehl was seeing his first action since a week two win over Fort Hays State when he was injured in the third quarter.

The Mustangs (4-3, 3-3 RMAC) responded with its own scoring drive when Rod Windsor hit Jason Allison with a 31-yard scoring strike with 6:43 to play in the first quarter. However, the extra point was blocked by CSM senior defensive lineman Phil Supinski (Arvada, Colo./Wheat Ridge) and CSM led, 7-6.

From there, it was a defensive struggle as neither team could manage any points until the fourth quarter when CSM junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East) booted a career-long 50-yard field goal to put Mines up, 10-6, with 8:04 to play in the game.

His kick proved to be the final points of the afternoon as the Oredigger defense came up big all afternoon with three turnovers and two sacks.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) led the defense with 10 tackles, one sack and a pass breakup. Redshirt freshman rover Nick Haniszewski (Honey Creek, Iowa/Omaha Roncalli) posted eight strops, while freshman safety Ben Tiller (Fort Worth, Texas/Fossil Ridge) recorded five tackles and an interception.

Mehl and sophomore Rowdy Arciaga (Bonita Vista, Calif./Bonita Vista) combined to go 14-of-20 for 135 yards, while senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) ran for 46 yards and had 53 receiving yards.

CSM is slated to return to action on Saturday when it hosts Fort Lewis at 12:00 pm at Brooks Field.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL FALLS TO N.M. HIGHLANDS, 19-16, IN FINAL SECONDS

GOLDEN, Colo. - New Mexico Highlands quarterback Alex Aispuro hit Joseph Kensey for a 2-yard score with 39 seconds to play to lift the Cowboys to a 19-16 win over Colorado School of Mines in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

CSM (2-4, 0-3 RMAC) took a 3-0 lead midway through the first half as junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East) booted a 32 yard field goal. However, the Cowboys scored 13 unanswered points to take a 13-3 lead at halftime.

The Orediggers sliced the lead to 13-10 with 2:32 to play in the third quarter as junior wide receiver Michael Curl (Houston, Texas/Blinn JC) caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Keenan Bruchez (Hayden, Colo./Hayden).

Abel connected on a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter, including a 42-yarder with 6:50 to play that gave CSM a 16-13 lead.

However, after the Cowboys forced a CSM punt with 2:15 to play, they proceeded to march 82 yards in nine plays for the winning score.

Bruchez finished 24-of-35 for 302 yards, one touchdown and two picks. Senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) amassed 163 yards from scrimmage on 27 touches, while Curl hauled in three passes for 99 yards and a score.

Junior defensive lineman Marin Richardson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mitchell) recorded eight tackles to tie for team-high honors with senior linebacker Danny Sprague (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge).

Aispuro went 16-of-27 for 232 yards and two scores, while Eddie Abreu caught seven passes for 148 yards.

The Orediggers will return to action next Saturday when they travel to Western New Mexico for a 12:00 pm contest.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL BLANKS OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE, 69-0

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines football team posted its first shutout since Sept. 11, 2004, with a 69-0 blanking of Oklahoma Panhandle State in nonconference action Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

CSM (2-3) took control of the game early as it scored on five of its eight first half possessions en route to a 34-0 lead at halftime. One drive ended as the first half clock expired.

The Orediggers added 24 points in the third quarter and 11 more in the final stanza for the win.

Senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) ran for a career-high 222 yards and three touchdowns on just 16 carries to lead the offense. He also had three catches for 10 yards and another score.

Freshman quarterback Keenan Bruchez (Hayden, Colo./Hayden) played well in his first collegiate start as he completed 11-of-18 passes for 133 yards and three scores and also ran for 55 yards and two more touchdowns.

The Oredigger defense allowed just 84 yards of offense and nine first downs in posting its first shutout since a 58-0 blanking of Western State in 2004. The defense was led by junior defensive end Marin Richardson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mitchell) who recorded eight tackles, while freshman rover Isaiah Smart (Phoenix, Ariz./Moon Valley) tallied six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

Junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East) connected on a pair of field goals for CSM, including a career-long of 46 yards in the fourth quarter.

OPSU (0-4) received a game-best 13 tackles from Ranaoldo Davis.

CSM is slated to return to action next Saturday when it hosts New Mexico Highlands at 1:00 pm at Brooks Field. It will be the Homecoming Game for the Orediggers.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL BLANKED AT CHADRON STATE, 57-0

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines football team was shutout for the first time since Oct. 16, 1999, as Chadron State handed the Orediggers a 57-0 setback in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium.

The shutout snapped a streak of 73 straight games in which CSM had scored dating back to a 47-0 loss at Mesa State in during the seventh game of the 1999 season.

CSC (4-0, 1-0 RMAC) scored 17 first quarter points and added 26 more in the second quarter to claim a 43-0 lead at the half.

Running back Danny Woodhead finished with 125 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries and also caught three passes for 63 yards and a score. Quarterback Joe McLain went 13-of-15 for 248 yards and four scores as the Eagle offense took advantage of four CSM interceptions in the game.

The Oredigger offense was limited to just three first downs and 28 yards of offense.

CSM will return to action on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Oklahoma Panhandle State at 12:00 pm at Brooks Field. It will be the final nonconference game of the season for CSM.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL FALLS TO ADAMS STATE, 26-7

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines football team dropped its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener to Adams State, 26-7, on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

Adams State raced out to a 16-0 halftime lead as Gene Mejia caught a pair of touchdown passes and Wayne Durham kicked a 24-yard field goal just before the half. Mejia's first score was a 7-yarder from Clint Buderus, while his second one covered 30-yards and came from Billy Lindquist.

Durham added a 27-yard field goal with 10:25 to play in the third quarter and Tyree Walton gave the Grizzlies a 26-0 lead with 7:49 to play in the game when he scampered 34 yards into the endzone.

CSM avoided its first shutout since Oct. 16, 1999, when senior running back Bryan Florendo (Crete, Neb./Crete) took a shovel pass from sophomore quarterback Rowdy Arciaga (Bonita Vista, Calif./Bonita Vista) and ran 9-yards for the score with 1:39 to play in the game.

Arciaga finished 34-of-49 for 206 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while Florendo ran 14 times for 52 yards and also caught 10 passes for 55 yards. Redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) had a team-best nine tackles and recovered a fumble, while redshirt freshman defensive lineman Danny Sorenson (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West) tallied six stops, including 1.5 tackles for losses.

Buderus and Lindquist combined to go 11-of-26 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while Mejia caught three passes for 53 yards and two scores. Walton ran eight times for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Mike McDonald led the Grizzly defense with a game-high 11 tackles and also forced a fumble.

CSM will return to action next Saturday when it travels to Chadron State for a 12:00 pm kickoff.

-- OREDIGGERS --

CSM FOOTBALL DEFEATS FORT HAYS STATE, 31-24

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines defense recorded eight sacks and junior wide receiver Michael Curl (Houston, Texas/Blinn JC) returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to lead the Orediggers to a 31-24 victory over Fort Hays State in nonconference action Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

CSM improved to 1-1, while the Tigers, who are playing their first season in the MIAA, fell to 0-2.

The Orediggers raced out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter thanks to Curl's kickoff return and a 1-yard scoring run by senior quarterback Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) with 2:26 to play in the opening quarter.

The Tigers came back to slice the lead to 14-7 as Shane Jackson hit John Snyder in the corner of the end zone just 46 seconds into the second quarter.

CSM junior kicker Aaron Abel (Cheyenne, Wyo./East) connected on a 44-yard field goal with 9:57 to play in the first half and Mehl hit junior wide receiver Derek Dykstra (Seibert, Colo./Hi Plains) for a 46-yard scoring strike with 50 seconds to play in the first half to give the Orediggers a 24-7 lead.

However, the advantage was short lived as C.J. Lovett took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to cut the lead to 24-14 at halftime.

FHSU took the opening kickoff of the second half 70 yards in eight plays and capped the drive with Jackson hitting Snyder from 25 yards out to trim the lead to 24-21 just four minutes into the second half.

On the Orediggers' next possession, Mehl again found paydirt, this time from 5-yards out, to extend the lead back to 10 points (31-21). Justin Barr booted a 33-yard field goal for the Tigers with 1:27 to play in the game, but the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and the Orediggers ran out the clock.

Mehl finished 15-of-23 for 239 yards and a touchdown and also ran 11 times for 39 yards and two more scores. Dykstra hauled in four balls for 124 yards and a touchdown, while Curl caught six passes for 87 yards.

The CSM defense was led by junior defensive lineman Marin Richardson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mitchell) who posted nine tackles, including 2.5 sacks. Senior linebacker Danny Sprague (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge) notched nine tackles and a sack, while freshman safety Colby Harris (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) recorded eight sacks and an interception.

Jackson finished the game 12-of-23 for 142 yards and two scores, while Snyder caught five passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Greg Jackson's seven tackles led the Tiger defense.

CSM will return to action next Saturday when it hosts Adams State at 12:00 pm at Brooks Field in the Hall of Fame Game. It will be the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both squads.

-- OREDIGGERS --

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Colorado School of Mines football team dropped its 2006 season opener, 41-21, to Washburn in nonconference action Saturday afternoon at Moore Bowl at Yager Field.

WU (1-0), the defending MIAA Champions and a Division II Playoff Qualifier last season, opened the scoring by taking the opening kickoff 69 yards in five plays to jump out to a 7-0 lead. The drive was capped when Jordan Brill threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Sam Sissom.

CSM (0-1) was on the verge of tying the game with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter, but the Ichabods stopped the Orediggers thrid and goal and fourth and goal from the 1-yard line.

Washburn then took over at its own 5-yard line and marched 95 yards in 13 plays in just under five minutes to take a 14-0 lead Brill hit Aaron Gardiner from 25-yards out. Brill added his third scoring toss with 11:42 to play in the first half to extend the WU lead to 21-0. This time, he connected with Jake Lebahn from 17 yards out.

CSM sliced the lead to 24-14 at halftime with a pair of quick scores before heading into the locker room. With 35 seconds left, senior Garrett Mehl (Crete, Neb./Crete) threw a 16-yard scoring strike to junior wide receiver Derek Dykstra (Seibert, Colo./Hi Plains).

Washburn fumbled the ensuing kickoff and CSM was able to take advantage as Mehl found paydirt from 8-yards out to cut the lead to 24-14.

However, the Ichabods extended the lead to 34-14 midway through the third quarter when Brill hooked up with Gardiner from 7-yards out.

Mehl added a fourth quarter scoring run of 33-yards, while Brill threw his fifth TD pass of the day, a three-yard strike to Ben Ramsey with just under three minutes to play, to ice the game.

Mehl finished 29-of-41 for 246 yards, one score and three interceptions. He also ran 12 times for 61 yards and two scores. Dykstra caught a career-high 13 passes for a career-best 131 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) posted a game-best 13 tackles. Senior linebacker Danny Sprague (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge) added 10 tackles and two sacks.

Brill finished 18-of-27 for 309 yards and five touchdowns. Trent Hearn ran 22 times for 99 yards, while Gardiner caught six passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Zach Watkins led WU with 11 tackles.

CSM will return to action next Saturday when it hosts Fort Hays State at 12:00 pm at Brooks Field.