2006 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE #4

Colorado School of Mines at Chadron State
Saturday, September 23, 2006 - 12:00 pm
Chadron, Neb. - Elliott Field, Don Beebe Stadium

Click HERE for a complete .PDF version of the notes

ABOUT THE SERIES
Colorado School of Mines and Chadron State have met on the gridiron 28 times with the Eagles holding an 18-10 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1938. CSM has won the last two meetings (2004 and 2005), but each has been by a single point. In 2004, CSM scored a late touchdown and added a two-point conversion for the win and last season, used a field goal with three seconds left for the win. Prior to 2004, CSM had not defeated Chadron State since 1993 and the Eagles held a 10-game winning streak over CSM.

THE HEAD COACHES
Bob Stitt is in his seventh season as the head coach at CSM and claims a 41-29 (.586) overall record. Stitt’s .586 winning percentage is the highest by a CSM football coach who has coached in at least 20 games and the highest for a modern day coach at CSM. In addition, his 41 wins are the third most in CSM history and trail only Marv Kay (84 wins from 1969-1995) and Fritz Brennecke (78 wins from 1947-1969). Stitt is 2-6 all-time against Chadron State

Chadron State is led by second-year Head Coach Bill O’Boyle who claims a 7-6 career record, including 3-0 this season. He is 0-1 all-time against CSM.

ALL-TIME RECORD
CSM claims a 365-509-30 all-time record since its first collegiate football game in 1888, a 6-4 win over Denver University.

CSM vs. THE “C’s”
CSM is 92-130-8 all-time against schools that begin with the letter “C”. It has played six schools that begin with the letter “C”.

RMAC OPENERS
Saturday’s game was the RMAC opener for CSM, which is now 2-12-1 in 14 all-time RMAC openers since 1992. The two wins came in 2004 and 2005, both against Western State. The game on Saturday against Adams State was the first time CSM opened the season against the Grizzlies.

UP NEXT FOR CSM
CSM will return to action on Sept. 30 when it hosts Oklahoma Panhandle State at 12:00 pm at Brooks Field. It will be the final nonconference game for CSM in 2006.

LISTEN LIVE TO CSM FOOTBALL ONLINE
Now you can follow all the action of CSM football games on the internet, courtesy of Mines Internet Radio. Visit radio.mines.edu and click on the LISTEN LIVE link to follow all the live action of CSM football.

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES ON THE INTERNET
Now you can get all the latest and most comprehensive news on Oredigger football and Colorado School of Mines athletics 24 hours a day by visiting the Colorado School of Mines Athletics Department official website at ... http://athletics.mines.edu.

JOIN THE OREDIGGER EMAIL LIST
Get all the latest news on all of Colorado School of Mines Athletics by signing up for the Orediggers’ E-Mail List. Receive daily updates, game recaps and press releases on all of CSM’s athletic teams by emailing Sports Information Director Gregory Murphy at gjmurphy@mines.edu. You can sign up to receive updates on one sport, numerous sports or all sports. Please indicate in your email what sports you would like to be included on or if you would like to be included for all sports.

ALL ABOUT CHADRON STATE
The Eagles enter the week at 3-0 overall, as this week will be the RMAC opener for CSC. Last week, Chadron State defeated Wayne State (Neb.), 38-14, as Danny Woodhead ran for a carrer-high 324 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries. Chadron’s defense held Wayne State to just 198 total yards of offense, including only eight on the ground. Two weeks ago, CSC travelled to Division I-AA Montana State and won, 35-21. A week earlier, Montana State defeated Division I Colorado, 19-10, in Boulder.

WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL
Chadron State returned all 11 starters from last years team. Included in that is junior running back Danny Woodhead who has run 93 times for 720 yards (7.7 ypc) and eight touchdowns in just three games this year. He leads the nation in rushing (236.0 ypg), scoring (16.0 ppg) and all-purpose yards (251.3 ypg). Joe McLain has completed 30-of-55 passes for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two picks. Bryce Jarzynka has six catches for 146 yards and a score, while Logan Stropko has caught nine balls for 111 yards and a touchdown. As a team, the Eagles are leading the RMAC in scoring (31.3 ppg) and total offense (422.3 ypg). Their total offense output ranks 13th in Division II.

AND WHEN THEY DON’T
CSC returned nine starters on the defensive unit from last season. Leading the way is Kalan Jones who has posted 17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and three pass breakups. Paul Schweger has been in on 17 tackles and has one pick, while Zach Wheeler has registered 13 tackles and a team-best two sacks. As a team, CSC is second in the RMAC in scoring defense (13.7 ppg) and third in total defense (273.0 ypg).

IN THE POLLS
Colorado School of Mines is not ranked in any of the national polls this week. Chadron State is ranked 18th in Don Hansen’s National Football Gazette Poll, 16th in the d2football.com poll, and 20th in the American Football Coaches Association Poll.

LAST TIME vs. CHADRON STATE (9/24/05)
Colorado School of Mines kicker Aaron Abel connected on a 24-yard field goal with three seconds to play lifting the Orediggers to a 27-26 victory over Chadron State at Elliott Field. Chadron State took a 26-24 lead with 1:12 to play in the game when Danny Woodhead scored on a 3-yard run. CSM blocked the extra point attempt. The Orediggers marched downfield and got all the way to the CSC 7-yard line when quarterback Danny Medina scampered 23-yards to the 14-yardline. A personal foul on the Eagles moved the ball to the 7-yardline and Abel was good on the game-winning field goal. CSM gained a 24-10 lead at the half as Medina and Garrett Mehl threw a touchdown pass each. Running back Bryan Florendo also scored on a 55-yard run, while Abel hit a career-long 45-yard field goal in the first half. The Eagles cut the lead to 24-20 at the end of the third quarter and gained their first lead of the game on Woodhead's score. Medina and Mehl combined to go 20-of-30 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while Florendo ran 21 times for a career-best 171 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Danny Sprague posted a team-high 10 tackles. Woodhead ran 34 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles, while Tyler Hidrogo completed 20-of-34 passes for 248 yards, one touchdown and two picks. Paul Schweger posted a game-high 15 tackles.

STITT IN OPENERS
CSM Head Coach Bob Stitt is 4-3 in season openers at CSM after a 41-21 loss on Sept. 2 at Washburn to open the 2006 season. CSM lost its first game under Stitt, 43-34, to MidAmerica Nazarene but rebounded to win four straight openers before losing to the Ichabods the last two season openers. In the last 20 openers, CSM is 15-5. In overall season openers, CSM is 57-56-5.

PRESEASON RMAC POLL
CSM was picked fourth in the Preseason RMAC Poll with 24 points. Fort Lewis was picked first with 14 points and four first place votes. The Skyhawks were followed by Nebraska-Kearney with four first place votes and 21 points, while Chadron State received the final first place vote and 22 total points. After Mines was Adams State (36 points), Mesa State (38), N.M. Highlands and Western New Mexico (55) and Western State (58)

PRESEASON ALL-RMAC SELECTIONS
CSM had four players named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team. Senior running back Bryan Florendo and junior kicker Aaron Abel were named to the offensive squad, while senior defensive lineman Charles Yarbrough and senior linebacker Danny Sprague were named to the defensive team.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Two CSM players were named to Don Hansen’s National Football Gazette Preseason All-American Team. Senior running back Bryan Florendo and junior kicker Aaron Abel were both named to the squad.

SIX PACK
CSM has five straight winning seasons in the book and will be going after a sixth, a feat that has never been accomplished in program history. The five straight winning seasons are a record for CSM football.

RULE OF TWO
In 30 of the last 38 games, including all 13 in 2004, CSM had at least one player find the end zone two times. The Orediggers are 25-13 during that span.

THE HEAT IS ON
The CSM defense will have a new look this season thanks to Marty Heaton who is in his first year as Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. Heaton, who joined the CSM staff in January, consistently had one of the top defenses in the RMAC and Division II at Adams State where he worked from 1999-2005. Under Heaton, the ASC defense led the RMAC in both total and pass defense and sacks in 2003. In 2004, the Grizzlies were ranked at the top of nearly every defensive category in the RMAC and were named the NCAA Division II Defense of the Year by the College Sports Report. In addition, the defense finished the 2004 season ranked eighth in the nation in scoring defense, 11th in pass efficiency defense, 12th in total defense and 15th in rushing defense. In 2005, Heaton’s defense led the RMAC in pass defense, total defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks and opponent first downs. It also ranked 27th in Division II in total defense and 35th in rushing defense. Heaton guided several All-RMAC and All-Region players, including three-time All-American and two-time RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Adam McGurk (2003, 2004), Charles Allgood, a 2004 All-American and Cactus Bowl participant, and 2005 RMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Ernesto Villasenor.

LESS IS MORE
The Oredigger offensive line will have a new leader this year in Assistant Coach Curt Lessman who took over for Scott Carey when Carey departed for a similar position at Tarleton State. Lessman came to CSM from Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) where he was an assistant coach (tight ends) last season and helped the Bearcats to a Division II National Runner-Up finish. Lessman also spent three years (1999-2001) at NWMSU as a player and was part of the 1999 team that won the Division II National Championship.

TOPPING THE CENTURY MARK
CSM has had at least one wide receiver top the 100-yard plateau in 28 of the last 32 games. The only four times it did not happen was the 2004 regular season finale at Adams State when Jonny Chan led the team with 83 yards, a Sept. 24, 2005 win at Chadron State when Brent Chacon led the squad with 40 yards, an Oct. 22, 2005 win at N.M. Highlands when Michael Curl posted a team-best 91 yards and Saturday’s loss to Adams State when Bryan Florendo had a team-high 55 yards.

WITH THE ARM AND LEGS
Senior quarterback Garrett Mehl has shown that he is capable of beating teams with his arm and his legs. Mehl has completed 44-of-64 passes for 485 yards and two scores this year and is also the leading rusher for CSM with 100 yards on 23 carries. He also has four touchdowns on the ground. For his career, Mehl has thrown for 2,379 yards and 15 touchdowns and has also run for 791 yards and 12 more scores.

ROWDY, ROWDY ARCIAGA
Sophomore quarterback Rowdy Arciaga saw his first collegiate start in Saturday’s loss to Adams State. He completed 34-of-49 passes for 206 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

GO FLO
Big things will be expected out of senior running back Bryan Florendo this year. One of the top returnees to the 2006 squad, Florendo is coming off a season in which he earned First Team All-RMAC honors after totaling 1,492 yards from scrimmage. He ran 191 times for 913 yards and 15 touchdowns and also caught 53 passes for 579 yards and three more scores. This year, he has 287 all-purpose yards through three games.

DOUBLE “D”
Junior wide receiver Derek Dykstra is has started the season with a bang The 6-foot-3 receiver caught a career-high 13 passes for 131 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown in the season opening loss at Washburn. The 13 receptions were one shy of the CSM single game record of 14 set by Dayven Johnston in a triple overtime win at Fort Hays State in 2001. He followed that up with a four catch, 124 yard game in the Sept. 9 win vs. Fort Hays. He leads the team in catches (25), yards (292) and touchdowns (2) and is ranked third in the nation in receptions per game (8.3 rpg) and 17th in yards per game (97.3 ypg).

CURL’S ROUTE
Junior wide receiver Michael Curl is the speedster of the group and also led the team in yards per catch last season at 16.0 yards per reception. He has caught at least one pass in all 13 games he has played in. Curl ranks 5th in Division II in kickoff returns (35.1 ypg), which was highlighted by a 93-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff in the Sept. 9 win over Fort Hays State. Curl is also a member of the CSM track teams and ran a season best 6.95 seconds in the 60-meter dash during the indoor season and a 10.7 in the 100-yard dash during the outdoor season.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
Senior wide receiver Brent Chacon has some good blood in his genes. He is the cousin of MLB pitcher Shawn Chacon, a pitcher for the Pittsbugh Pirates. Shawn Chacon also served stints with the Colorado Rockies and New York Yankees. With the Yankees, he played a key role in their 2005 playoff run. Chacon has seven catches for 68 yards this year.

EXPERIENCE UP FRONT
The Oredigger offensive line is again one of the most experienced groups under Head Coach Bob Stitt. The line features four returning starters from last year’s group, including center Nick Belden, a three-time All-RMAC honoree. In addition, junior left tackle James Reeves, junior right guard Stephen Immel and junior right tackle Brian Fitzpatrick all return after starting last season. Junior left guard James Tyree is penciled in as the starter this year after seeing significant action last year backing up two-time All-American Travis Yenne and also playing on the right side. The group has surrendered just six sacks in three games this year.

IT’S MILLER TIME
Senior free safety Tim Miller returns for his final year at CSM after posting 54 stops last season. He returns as the second leading tackler in 2006. As a sophomore, Miller played the role of “Jonny on the Spot” as he tallied a team-best six interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery en route to First Team All-RMAC accolades.

OH DANNY BOY
Senior linebacker Danny Sprague has come a long way since beginning his sophomore year as a backup linebacker. Sprague earned his first start on Oct. 18, 2003, in a 37-7 win against Fort Lewis and has not looked back. He finished the game with eight tackles and two sacks en route to RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Since that game, Sprague has registered 244 tackles over 31 games (7.9 tpg). He has 22 tackles, including a team-best 4.5 for losses and three sacks this year. Sprague ranks 29th in Division II in sacks at 1.0 sack per game.

MAR “IN” THE BACKFIELD
Junior defensive lineman Marin Richardson earned RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the Sept. 9 win over Fort Hays when he posted nine tackles, including three for losses and 2.5 sacks. His tackles for losses totaled nine yards. He has three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this season.

CHARLES IN CHARGE
Senior defensive lineman Charles Yarbrough will be counted on to be one of the leaders on and off the field this season. This is evident as he was voted by his teammates as one of two Oredigger captains. Yarbrough, a Preseason All-RMAC selection, has tallied 13 tackles, including two sacks in 2006.

BEAU KNOWS DEFENSE
Senior defensive lineman Beau Koenig is getting a chance to start for the first time in his career at CSM. Koenig, who played in nine career games at CSM prior to this season, has posted 14 tackles, including three for losses this year. He had two sacks in Saturday’s loss to Adams State.

LAYING DOWN THE LAW
Redshirt freshman linebacker Hunter Wardlaw has had quite a start to his CSM career. The Broomfield native opened his collegiate career by posting a game-best 13 tackles in the season opening loss at nationally-ranked Washburn. He currently leads the team with 29 tackles and is ranked 24th in the country with 9.7 tackles per game.

ONE SMART FRESHMAN
True freshman rover Isaiah Smart has proven that he will be a force on the field over the next four seasons. Smart has amassed 21 tackles, which ranks third on the team, and has three tackles for losses and two sack.

WHAT’S IN A NAME
Sophomore cornerback Kevin Folly-Kossi has made an immediate impact for CSM. Folly-Kossi, a transfer from Santa Monica J.C. (Calif.) and a native of the Ivory Coast, leads all CSM defensive backs with 15 tackles and is also tops on the team with seven pass breakups. His 2.3 pass breakups per game ranks second in Division II.

READY, WILLING AND ABEL
Junior placekicker Aaron Abel is back for his third season as the Oredigger kicker. He has been solid at CSM as he has connected on 19-of-28 field goal attempts (.679), including 12-of-18 from 30 yards or more and 4-of-6 from 40 yards or more. Last season, Abel connected on a game-winning 27-yard field goal with three seconds left in a 27-26 win at Chadron State. Abel hit his first field goal of the 2006 season, a 44-yarder, in the Sept. 9 win over Fort Hays State. It was one yard shy of tying his career long of 45 yards.

SACK ATTACK
The CSM defense has recorded 16 sacks through the first three games of the 2006 season and is well on its way to having the most sacks under Head Coach Bob Stitt. The team had a high of 28 sacks in 2002.

POINTS ON THE BOARD
CSM has a streak of 73 games in which it has scored, including all 70 games under Head Coach Bob Stitt. The last time the Orediggers were shut out was Oct. 16, 1999, a 47-0 loss to Mesa State. During that same time period, CSM has shutout three opponents with the last time being Sept. 11, 2004, a 58-0 blanking of Western State. CSM kept the streak alive with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Adams State on Saturday. During Stitt’s tenure as coach at CSM, the Orediggers have scored at least 30 points 41 times (out of 69 games).