LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The South Dakota Mines football team was in control from start to finish as they held leads of 14-3 and 37-10 after the first quarter and at halftime, rolling to a 40-17 win to clinch their first winning season since 2015.

The Hardrockers were able to start out the game well, intercepting a pass on New Mexico Highlands' first offensive drive, when Kaleb Tischler recorded his 3^rd interception in the last two games. On the ensuing play, South Dakota Mines punched it in on the first play with a 15-yard run by Isaiah Eastman. The Hardrocker offense would get the ball back after a defensive stop, scoring on a halfback pass from Eastman from 33-yards out to cap off the 9 play 70-yard drive, going up 14-0. On the next New Mexico Highlands drive, they would get on the board with a field goal thanks to a 34-yard scramble by Ramone Atkins.

Early in the 2^nd quarter, the South Dakota Mines defense would get a stop, getting the ball back in the hands of the offense with good field position due to a 31-yard punt return by Eastman. On a 4^th and short, the Hardrocker offense would convert on a Jayden Johannsen rush. On the next play, Johannsen would punch it in himself from 5-yards out, taking a 21-3 lead. After that, it was the defense's turn to make a play as Justin Broekemeier and Gavin Chaddock recorded a sack in the endzone for a safety, increasing the lead to 23-3. On the ensuing offensive possession, the Hardrockers would make its' first mistake, putting the ball on the ground where New Mexico Highlands would recover. New Mexico Highlands would not be able to take advantage, failing to convert on 4^th down, giving the ball back to South Dakota Mines' offense. After an impressive broken tackle by Eastman to convert on 3^rd down, Johannsen would connect with a streaking Collin Zur for a 73-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 30-3. After that New Mexico Highlands would get their offense going, scoring on a 7 play 75-yard drive to decrease South Dakota Mines' lead to 30-10. Following that score, they would attempt an onside kick, but it would not go the necessary 10 yards, giving the Hardrocker offense the ball with good field position once again. This time, the Hardrockers would fail to convert a 4^th and short, giving the ball back to the New Mexico Highlands offense with 2:18 to go in the first half. On the first play, the Hardrocker defense would step up and force a fumble regaining the ball for their offense. Cole Peterson was credited for the force and recovery. The Hardrockers would take advantage with Johannsen finding Jake Leone in the back of the endzone to increase the lead to 37-10 after a converted point after and that would be the score heading into the locker rooms.

Neither team was able to get much going in the third quarter until Tischler recorded his second interception of the day and 4^th in the last two games gave the Hardrocker offense great field position. The offense would take advantage with Connor Taylor connecting on a 25-yard field goal. South Dakota Mines' defense would get another stop, getting the ball back to the offense with just over two minutes remaining in the 3^rd quarter and it would stay 40-10 to end the third.

After an interception, New Mexico Highlands would get into the endzone after a 5 play 55-yard drive to cut the Hardrocker lead to 40-17 early in the 4^th quarter. Late in the 4^th with New Mexico Highlands driving again, they were unable to convert a 4^th down. Towards the end of the game, New Mexico Highlands was driving down the field until a 3^rd Tischler interception kept the score 40-17 to clinch a winning season for the Hardrockers.

Up Next
The Hardrockers close out their season with senior day at home against Colorado Mesa on Nov. 13 at noon.
 
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.