2006 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE #8

Colorado School of Mines vs. Fort Lewis
Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 12:00 pm
Golden, Colo. - Brooks Field

Click HERE for a complete .PDF version of the notes

ABOUT THE SERIES
Colorado School of Mines and Fort Lewis have met 44 times on the gridiron with the Skyhawks holding a 26-18 advantage in the all-time series which dates to 1963. The Orediggers have won the last three meetings by a combined score of and have scored at least 37 points in all three games. Fort Lewis’ last win came in 2002, a 33-30 win.

THE HEAD COACHES
Bob Stitt is in his seventh season as the head coach at CSM and claims a 43-31 (.581) overall record. Stitt’s .581 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 43 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 4-2 all-time versus Fort Lewis

Fort Lewis is led by third-year Head Coach Ed Rifilato who claims a 15-13 mark during his time at FLC. He is 22-17 overall as this is his fourth year as a head coach. Rifilato is 0-2 all-time against CSM.

ALL-TIME RECORD
CSM claims a 367-511-30 all-time record since its first collegiate football game in 1888, a 6-4 win over Denver University.

CSM vs. THE “F’s”
CSM is 27-40 all-time against the four schools it has played that begin with the letter “F”. In the 2006 home opener on Sept. 9, CSM knocked off Fort Hays State, 31-24.

RMAC OPENERS
The game on Sept. 16 against Adams State 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 against Adams State was the first time CSM opened the season against the Grizzlies.

UP NEXT FOR CSM
CSM returns to action on Oct. 28 when it travels to Neb.-Kearney for a 1:00 pm game.

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 FORT LEWIS
The Skyhawks enter the week with an overall record of 5-3 and in second place in the RMAC at 5-1. Two of FLC’s losses have come to Division I-AA teams. Last weekend, FLC fell at home to Chadron State, 40-27, in a battle of RMAC unbeatens as Chadron State’s Danny Woodhead ran for 301 yards and three touchdowns. Fort Lewis was picked as the Preseason favorite in the RMAC this season.

WHEN THE SKYHAWKS HAVE THE BALL
Fort Lewis is led on offense by quarterback Matt Gutierrez, the Preseason RMAC Player of the Year. He has completed 124-of-192 passes for 1,471 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions and has also run for 162 yards and two scores. His favorite target is Kris Ducy who has 52 catches for 468 yards and three scores. Brandon Cummings has caught 29 passes for 534 yards and a team-best four touchdowns. Justin Matherson has run for a team-high 470 yards and five scores on 93 carries. As a team, FLC is averaging 21.2 points and 311.8 yards of offense per game.

AND WHEN THEY DON’T
The Skyhawk defense is led by Reed Duvall, the Preseason RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. Duvall has posted 57 tackles and five interceptions this year. In Saturday’s loss to Chadron State, Duvall posted an RMAC season high 17 tackles. Laramy Miller has recorded 36 stops, including a team-best six for losses, while Collin Knight has tallied 48 stops. As a team, FLC is giving up 25.4 points and 339.5 yards per game.

IN THE POLLS
Colorado School of Mines is not ranked in any of the national polls this week. Fort Lewis is ranked 45th in the CollegeSportsReport.com poll and is also sixth in this week’s Southwest Regional Rankings.

LAST TIME vs. FLC (10/15/2005)
The Colorado School of Mines football team improved to 4-4 overall as it held off a furious fourth quarter comeback by Fort Lewis and defeated the Skyhawks, 42-41, at Brooks Field. CSM took a 42-20 lead with 7:04 to go in the game when quarterback Danny Medina hit running back Bryan Florendo for a 55-yard touchdown strike. However, the Skyhawks would go on to score 21 unanswered points to end the game and pulled to within 42-41 with 27 seconds to play when Matt Weaver caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matt Gutierrez. However, Mikael Bjork missed the extra point and CSM recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to preserve the win. Medina finished 23-of-30 for 321 yards and one touchdown and also ran for two scores and caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Florendo, who ran 16 times for 43 yards and a score and caught four passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. The Oredigger defense, which produced five sacks, was led by linebacker Luke Salmans who recorded a team-best 10 tackles. Gutierrez completed 19-of-32 passes for 353 yards and five touchdowns and also ran 23 times for 132 yards. Kris Ducy was the top receiver with five catches for 135 yards and two scores, while Richard Johnson produced a game-best 14 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. In order to earn a sixth, the Orediggers need to win three of their last four games. The five straight winning seasons are a record for CSM football.

RULE OF TWO
In 31 of the last 43 games, including all 13 in 2004, CSM had at least one player find the end zone two times. The Orediggers are 27-15 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 29 of the last 35 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, the Sept. 16 loss to Adams State when Bryan Florendo had a team-high 55 yards, the Sept. 23 loss at Chadorn State when Derek Dykstra had 17 yards and Saturday’s win at Western New Mexico when Florendo and Dykstra had a team-high 53 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 46-of-66 passes for 523 yards and two scores this year and has also run for 132 yards on 28 carries. He also has a team-best five touchdowns on the ground. For his career, Mehl has thrown for 2,417 yards and 15 touchdowns and has also run for 823 yards and 13 more scores.

NICE START, KID
Freshman quarterback Keenan Bruchez played in and started his first collegiate game in the Sept. 30 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State. The 6-foot-4 Bruchez was impressive as he completed 11-of-18 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns and also ran five times for 55 yards and two more touchdowns. He led CSM to scores on 5-of-8 first half possessions, including the first two when he scampered into the end zone from 26 and 7 yards out. Bruchez followed that up with a 301 yard day through the air in the Oct. 7 loss to New Mexico Highlands.

GO FLO
Senior running back Bryan Florendo had his breakout game of 2006 in the Sept. 30 win over Panhandle State. He rushed for a career-high 222 yards on just 16 carries (13.9 ypc) and scored three touchdowns on runs of 8, 40 and 54 yards. 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 799 all-purpose yards through five games (114.1 ypg). He is also ranked 12th in Division II in receptions per game (6.4 rpg).

DOUBLE “D”
Junior wide receiver Derek Dykstra 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. Dykstra is tops on the team in receiving yards with 456. He also ranks 23rd in the nation in receptions (5.7 rpg).

CURL’S ROUTE
Junior wide receiver Michael Curl is the speedster of the group and leads the team in yards per catch at 13.8 yards per reception. He has caught at least one pass in all 17 games he has played in at CSM. Curl is also ranked first in Division II in kickoff returns (32.9 ypg), which was highlighted by a 93-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff in the Sept. 9 win over Fort Hays State. He is also tops on the squad and 34th in the country in all-purpose yards (126.3 ypg). Curl is a member of the CSM track teams and ran a 2006 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 eight catches for 82 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.

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 in 2004, 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. Miller has recorded 11 tackles and a team-high two fumble recoveries this season.

OH DANNY BOY
Senior linebacker Danny Sprague has come a long way since beginning his freshman 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 266 tackles over 35 games (7.6 tpg). He has 44 tackles, including a team-best 5.5 for losses and 3.5 sacks this year.

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. Richardson leads the team with 4.5 sacks this year and is third with 41 tackles this year. He has posted eight tackles three times this year and nine one time.

CHARLES IN CHARGE
Senior defensive lineman Charles Yarbrough is being counted on as 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 20 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss 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 37 tackles, including 4.5 for losses and three sacks this year. He had two sacks in the Sept. 16 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. In Saturday’s win at Western New Mexico, Wardlaw recorded 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He leads the team with 56 tackles and has had at least five tackles in every game this year.

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 41 tackles, which ranks third on the team, and is second in tackles for loss (5) and sacks (4).

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, has recorded 27 tackles and is tops on the team with eight pass breakups.

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 25-of-37 field goal attempts (.676), including 16-of-25 from 30 yards or more and 7-of-12 from 40 yards or more. In Saturday’s win at Western N.M., Abel hit a career-long 50-yard field goal. In the Oct. 7 loss to N.M. Highlands, Abel nailed all three of his field goal attempts en route to RMAC Player of the Week honors. He is 19th in Division II in field goals per game (1.0 fgpg). Last season, Abel connected on a game-winning 27-yard field goal with three seconds left in a 27-26 win at Chadron State. In a Sept. 23 loss at Chadron State, Abel also did the punting for the first time in his career. He booted five punts for 203 yards (40.6 ypp), including two over 50 yards and one inside the 20-yardline.

SACK ATTACK
The CSM defense has recorded 27 sacks through the first seven games of the 2006 season and is well on its way to breaking the school record of 28 sacks in 2002.

BEHIND THE LINE
The CSM defense has also posted 49 tackles for losses totaling 232 yards this year. Included in that total were 11 tackles for loss in Saturday’s win over Panhandle State.

POINTS ON THE BOARD
CSM had its streak of 73 games in which it has scored, including all 71 games under Head Coach Bob Stitt, snapped in a Sept. 23 loss at Chadron State (57-0). The last time the Orediggers were shut out prior to that was Oct. 16, 1999, a 47-0 loss to Mesa State. During that same time period, CSM had shutout three opponents with the last time being Sept. 11, 2004, a 58-0 blanking of Western State. During Stitt’s tenure as coach at CSM, the Orediggers have scored at least 30 points 42 times (out of 72 games). The 69 points scored against Panhandle State were the most since CSM posted 75 in a win at N.M. Highlands in 2003.

POINTS OFF THE BOARD
The CSM defense has done a great job of keeping points off the board this year. The Orediggers have limited two teams to fewer than 10 points this year as it shutout Oklahoma Panhandle State (69-0) and defeated Western New Mexico, 10-6. It is the first time since the 2003 season that CSM has held two opponents under 10 points. That year, the Orediggers defeated Missouri-Rolla, 28-7, and Fort Lewis, 37-7. The Orediggers have not held three opponents under 10 points in the same season since 1981.