RAPID CITY, S.D. --- South Dakota Mines football started fast but was not able to keep the pace going for all four quarters when it took on the 24^th ranked Western Colorado Mountaineers.

The Hardrockers got out to a fast start, with the defense forcing a 3-and-out on the first possession of the game. As soon as they got the ball, the offense went to work, scoring a touchdown on an 8 play 74-yard drive, capped on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Johannsen to Collin Zur. Once the Mountaineers got the ball back, Cole Peterson would intercept a pass, then lumber 41 yards for the pick-six to give the Hardrockers an early 14-0 lead. Western Colorado would answer on their next drive cutting the South Dakota Mines lead to 14-7. That would be brief, however, as Johannsen would deliver a dime to Jeremiah Bridges for a 64-yard touchdown, expanding the lead to 21-7. From there, it was hard to find things that went right for the Hardrockers. Western Colorado scored a touchdown before the end of the first quarter to decrease the Hardrocker lead to 21-14.

After Johannsen threw an interception, Western Colorado would get in field goal range to attempt a field goal, however, Jacob Schwab would come up with a block. Western Colorado would put together two more touchdown drives to go into halftime leading 28-21.

Midway through the third quarter, a 35-yard punt return would set up the Mountaineers with great field position, scoring one play later to take a 35-21 lead.

That is where the lead would stay until Western Colorado would score one more time late in the fourth to send the Hardrockers to 4-4 overall, 2-4 in RMAC play.
 
Leaders
Jayden Johannsen 204 passing yards, and 47 rushing yards, and threw 2 passing touchdowns…Jeremiah Bridges recorded 4 receptions for 88 yards to go with a touchdown…Will Carroll and Jarett Meyer led the charge defensively for the Hardrockers, each recording 11 tackles…The Mountaineers outgained the Hardrockers with 455 total yards compared to 313.
 
Up Next
The Hardrockers head to Spearfish next weekend to take on Black Hills State in the 136^th Black Hills Brawl on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1:00 p.m.
 
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.