RAPID CITY --- The South Dakota School of Mines football team hits the road again this week for the Hardrockers' second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup in as many weeks. This time SD Mines head to Pueblo, Colo., to play perennial powerhouse CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves in a first-ever meeting between the two programs.
"CSU-Pueblo is the 2014 NCAA Div. II National Champions and their record since 2010 is 68-8," said Hardrocker football head coach
Zach Tinker. "They are a good football program and have some really good players."
The ThunderWolves, who made it to the NCAA Div. II Playoff Quarterfinals in 2015, have started the 2016 campaign with two losses. On the flip side, the Hardrockers (2-0) hope to remain undefeated but recognize the caliber of CSU-Pueblo, who was ranked No. 5 in the nation during the preseason coaches' poll.
"They've lost two games to start out the season, but it was to a pair of Top-15 teams in the nation," Tinker said.
The ThunderWolves suffered back-to-back losses in a season for the first time since 2010, as CSU-Pueblo took a 26-10 home loss to West Texas A&M last Saturday after falling to Colorado Mines two weeks ago (57-21).
CSUP's Brandon Payer recorded a career-high 14 tackles (10 solo), three tackles for loss and forced a fumble in the loss to WT. His 21 tackles (12 solo) ranks third in the league. Teammate Bernard McDondle rushed for more than 100 yards for the second time this season with 139 yards. He is sixth nationally in rushing yards (289 yards) and rushing yards per game (144.5 ypg).
Through the first two weeks, the Hardrockers have the second highest scoring offense in the RMAC. The 'Rockers also have the most rushing yards per game in the conference, averaging 287 per contest.
The Hardrockers used a 21-point third quarter to open a 24-21 advantage headed to the fourth quarter at fellow RMAC newcomer, Dixie State. SD Mines scored a touchdown early in the final frame to go up, 31-21, and held on for a 31-27 victory.
Dixie State outgained the Hardrockers, 475-410, as the SD Mines won the ground battle 225-169, which included an 84-yard touchdown run in the third quarter by senior
Kevin Thompson. The win guided the Hardrockers to a 2-0 record after they defeated William Jewell College, 64-41, in Week 1.
The Hardrockers are outscoring opponents, 21-12, in the fourth quarter this season. Thompson leads the team with 219 rushing yards and three scores, while starting junior quarterback,
Jake Sullivan is second with 179 yards and two scores. Through the air, Sullivan is 37-for-54 (68.5 percent for 443 yards and six scores (six different receivers) with just one interception. His favorite target is senior
Marcus Sanchez, who owns nine receptions for 144 yards.
Defensively, the 'Rockers Dawgs are led by junior
Triston Brown's 17 tackles (10 solo). Senior
David Jakpor has totaled 16 tackles (nine solo) with 1.5 (-3 yards) tackles for loss.
"Our kids are very enthusiastic about this opportunity," Tinker said of challenging CSU-Pueblo. "There's not a lot of motivational speeches required to get the kids ready for the greatest challenge this program has ever seen in my time here."
The game is set to start at the "Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl" at 6 p.m. (MST). The game will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network at:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .
"Our kids are ready to compete and they are getting excited for this opportunity Saturday," Tinker added.
