The Colorado School of Mines football team stayed perfect Saturday afternoon in Golden.
And soon, the Orediggers are likely to be No. 1 in the nation, too.
Quarterback John Matocha and receiver Max McLeod connected for three touchdowns as second-ranked Mines raced out to a 31-0 lead and cruised from there in a 45-22 win over South Dakota Mines.
The Orediggers moved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the RMAC with the win, their 17th in a row in conference play. With top-ranked Ferris State falling to No. 7 Grand Valley State on Saturday, the Orediggers are a safe bet to move to the top of the national polls on Monday.
Matocha threw an interception on Mines’ first play from scrimmage but went on to finish 23-of-34 for 344 yards and five scores through the air. His first scoring pass to McLeod (six catches, 133 yards) gave the Orediggers a 14-0 lead with 7:23 left in the first half, and his third put them up 38-7 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.
Hardrockers receiver Ben Noland caught 16 balls for 137 yards, and quarterback Jayden Johannsen threw three touchdown passes to Henry Dryden in the second half, but by that time, the damage had already been done.
Mines travels to Black Hills State next Saturday for another RMAC affair.
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