RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines football program has begun season practice, and today begins our 10-part season preview series. Today we will focus on the offensive side of the ball. 

Offensive Coordinator Ryan Gent is entering his second season at the helm of the offense, and first full season. 

The 2020 season saw offensive improvement for the Hardrockers. In 2019, the offense averaged just over 24 points per game, but in 2020 that number improved by over two points per game to 26.3, good for the second-best number in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. 

Gent feels that the limited season last year is benefitting the team this season "getting our feet wet, guys understanding us as coaches, and for the coaching staff to work together, but still feels there is room for improvement "we have really emphasized redzone, and turnovers and guys are buying into it."  

As for this year, SD Mines brings back a lot from the past season with over 40 players returning to the roster "we have the guys to step up and build the depth we need for this program said Gent, "expectations are set high, offensively we go off the standard set by Coach Flohr, overall extremely excited about the upcoming season."

South Dakota Mines plays its first game against Missouri S&T on September 2nd at 6:00 at O'Harra Stadium on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.