RAPID CITY, S.D. --- Isaiah Eastman and Jeremiah Bridges were lightning in a bottle for the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers in their season-opening win over Missouri S&T.

Quarterback Jayden Johannsen was the electrical engineer, no pun intended.

In the 43-20 win, the dynamic trio led the Mines to 534 yards of total offense in their first game out of the blocks on Sept. 1 in Rolla, Mo., and they did it by making big plays. Of the five touchdowns, four were 69 yards or more.

Johannsen was 20-28 passing for 433 yards and four touchdowns. Bridges caught five passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns (94 yards, 70 yards), while Eastman caught six passes for 136 yards and two TDs (69 yards, 12 yards). He also scored a third touchdown on an 85-yard punt return.

All three said it was no real surprise that the Hardrockers' offense came out on fire in their first game. They put in the work during the off-season and pre-season and it paid off in the opener.

"We felt like coming into the game we knew what we were going to be able to do," Eastman said. "We feel like we can do this to any team, anytime, anyplace and anywhere. That is us. We put the work in to be able to do it, so we're going to do it."

"It was great to see our hard work pay off," Johannsen added. "I think that is a good catalyst into the next game."

Bridges said their start was a testament to the work they had been putting in since the last game of the 2021 season.

"Last year we felt like we were a better team than what we showed and 6-5 was an accomplishment here. But we feel like we can go further with this team that we have," he said. "Big plays have to be made. They are preached by our coaches every day. Big plays have to be made by the receiver group, specifically. We have the wideouts still out here after practice, the QB's, just so we can lock in on making those big plays, so we can catch the ball."

Big plays take over the momentum

Eastman said the big plays gave them energy and momentum, especially after trailing 6-0 early in the contest, ironically after Mines turned the ball over on the first play from scrimmage on a fumble, which led to a Missouri S&T touchdown.

On their next possession, Johannsen hit Eastman on a short 5-yard pass that turned into a 69-yard score.

"When you are able to come back and have an explosive play like that, put points back on the board, it shifts that whole energy and the mentality that we have as a team on the sidelines," he said. "It kind of shifts it and helps you play better as an offense."

A sophomore, Eastman sparked Mines again on the next possession, taking a punt 85 yards to pay dirt.

"I really had the mentality coming into this season that regardless of what I am going to get, I have to get one, two, three of those – however many," he said. "I didn't have a single one (kick return) last year for a touchdown, so that was definitely one of my goals this year to sow that I am dynamic in the return game."

On his punt return for the score, Eastman said they were sending more pressure, not necessarily setting up a return. But Missouri S&T punter Parker Boyce kicked it deep and gave him some room to see where his punt team was at.

He said he just reacted, found some space, and got a little crease.

"I got good blocks from teammates – they kept their eyes up down field after going for that block," he said. "They came with some clutch blocks for me and opened up some holes and I just took off."

If Eastman was the spark, Bridges, a senior, was the flame for the Hardrockers. Holding on to a 16-13 lead in the second quarter, he took a pass from Johannsen 70 yards for the score. There was more to come – a lot more -- as early in the third, he did it again, this time from 94 yards out to put the 'Rockers up by 20.

His 94-yard TD pass – a Mines school record -- was on a basic slant route. He said that he and Johannsen just looked at each other, seeing that the safety was downfield. He said he had one player to beat, and if he could beat him, he was gone.

"If I could get around him and he (Johannsen) could hit me, if everything was on time like we had practiced, everything would work out perfectly," he said. "Once I saw I was open, I had to really kick it into another gear. A guy was on my butt, he was pretty close. It worked out for the better."

Bridges said the coverage on his 70-yard score was set up the same as the 94-yarder. He said it was just a perfect play call, perfect placement, and a perfect route.

Perfection happens when you do those things, he said.

"I think that is what happened on both of those plays," Bridges said. "If we can continue to execute the way that we do with that, you're going to be seeing this all season."

Bridges said that just makes sure that he is "friendly to his quarterback," by being in the right spot at the right time.

"One thing that Coach preaches to us a lot is if you just do your 1-11, do your job, you are going to be in position to make plays," he said. "Big plays are something that we instill in our receiving corps. I just make sure that I am in the right position, make sure the quarterback sees me and after that and let the athleticism take over. It was very exciting seeing some of those plays transpire like they did. We definitely have more to come."

Delivering the goods

Although nine Hardrockers caught passes in the opener, Eastman and Johannsen caught half of them and all four of the offensive touchdowns.

"They are dynamic playmakers. I'm just a facilitator. I try to get the ball out of my hands as quick as possible," said Johannsen, a redshirt sophomore. "These guys are a lot more athletic than me. They made a lot of plays. It's just me getting the ball out of my hands as fast as possible and let them do their thing."

All-in-all, the Mines had eight plays of 25 yards or more from scrimmage, seven through the air.

"I just try to put the ball in our guys' hands and not turn the ball over and make smart decisions with that" Johannsen said. "Just let the guys do their thing. Coach always talks about completions, completions, competitions. Every ball in our guys' hands is a good thing."

Johannsen's ability to run the football also expands what they can do offensively. Now the defense has to worry about the quarterback throwing and running, as well as the running backs. Last season he led the Hardrockers in rushing with 559 yards and eight TDs. He did the same against Missouri S&T with 56 net yards, including a 30-yard scamper.

"It's a double-edge sword – you either stop the pass or you stop the run," he said.

As could be guessed, the 'Rockers benefitted from the big opener with some individual awards. Johannsen was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the D2football.com Offensive Player of the Week, and the College Football Network Offensive Player of the Week, while Eastman was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

"It's a great thing for the school. It's exciting to see that but at the same time that was last week. We need this week. You just have to move on," Johannsen said as they get ready for their home opener Saturday against Truman State.

Teammate trash talking and brotherly love

Eastman said that he and Bridges talk about the dynamic careers of Ja'Mar Chase of the Bengals and Justin Jefferson of the Vikings and look to chase greatness. They also look to do one-up on each other in helping the team put up points.

"Me and 8 are always competing, we're always talking trash to each other," he said with a huge grin. "But at the end of the day it is always a brotherly competition. We both want to see each other succeed; we both want to see each other win and do the best that we can. It is exciting, though. It pushes us to be better and to perform at each of our abilities, which is only going to help the team at the end."

Bridges said there is a competitiveness that he and Eastman have with each other that they both want to succeed. If Eastman goes out there and makes a play, he said he to make sure that he makes a play now.

You can see why. Last season both had 46 receptions to lead the team. They were right on each other's tail in the opener in catches and touchdowns.

"Zai has a big run and everybody is coming to me, the whole offense saying, 'alright, your turn,'" he said. "That is just something that me and Zai got. We have that connection with each other. We have been doing this, it is not just something that happened in the last game. It happens throughout the week. Zai is my guy. Each and every time we go out there we are excited for each other, pumped for each other, and then make it happen."

While Eastman and Bridges have brotherly competitiveness between them, Bridges and Johannsen have also formed a bond in their short time together.

"I came here last year and that was my first year with him, but even throughout that season, I would tell him that we are 'this close,' and we have to just keep executing and keep working," Bridges said. "You keep working on your craft and I'll keep working on perfecting my craft. The effort we put on the field this summer is just transpiring on the field. It's nothing but just execution. Jayden is a great guy off the field and great competitor on the field. I'm excited to compete with him."

That was apparent Wednesday night after practice. Bridges waited for Johannsen – who was being interviewed -- in the end zone as the two have a ritual after each practice that they both have to step into the end zone before leaving.

Bridges crossed the goal-line for the score and Johannsen spun around in the front right corner of the end zone, stepping in just beating the defender.

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.