It should be a Golden afternoon today when Colorado Mines hosts Colorado State-Pueblo in a matchup of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference unbeatens.
CSU-Pueblo (5-0, 4-0), fresh off its three-overtime, 33-30 victory over Chadron (Neb.) State last weekend, will try to take control of the RMAC and spoil Mines’ homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend. The ThunderWolves broke into the Division II poll this week at No. 25.
There is a three-way tie atop the RMAC with the ThunderWolves, the Orediggers (4-1, 3-0) and preseason favorite Nebraska-Kearney (4-1, 3-0).
“It’s a huge game for both teams, and I think it’s a great matchup as far as (playing against) strengths,” Orediggers coach Bob Stitt said. “They are a great running team, and defensively, we’re pretty good against the run. And we throw the ball pretty good, and they’re good against the pass.”
CSU-Pueblo averages a league-best 192.4 yards rushing, while Mines is second in rush defense (100.6). Meanwhile, the Orediggers are passing for 362.8 yards, and the Pack’s defense has allowed 201.8 passing on average and has 15 sacks to its credit this season.
Mines scores at a conference-best 42.2 points a game, while CSU-Pueblo is averaging 38.0.
“It just should be a great game to watch as a spectator,” Stitt said.
Colorado Mines and CSU-Pueblo combined to produce all three of this week’s conference players of the week, and both are near the top in nearly every statistical category in the RMAC. Also on tap this week in the RMAC is the Nebraska showdown in Chadron, with the Eagles (3-2, 2-1) hosting Nebraska-Kearney. Stitt and CSU-Pueblo coach John Wristen are undoubtedly rooting for Chadron to hand the Lopers their first RMAC loss.
“A Colorado school hasn’t won the RMAC since we did it in 2004,” Stitt said. “We’d like to get it back, and I’m sure (CSU-Pueblo) would like to get it done. The front-runner could be decided on our field on Saturday.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
