RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines football team held its homecoming game on Saturday, facing off with the Colorado Mesa Mavericks.
How It Happened – The first quarter featured lots of scoring, with a lot of it coming from Colorado Mesa as the Hardrockers got off to a bit of a slow start, as the Mavericks took a 10-0 lead, before South Dakota Mines answered with one of three,
Jayden Johannsen to
Ben Noland connections on the day for 62-yard, only to be immediately followed by a 100-yard kick return by Kash Bradley. Each team would strike once more, with Johannsen finding Noland again only to be answered by a Gavin Herberg run, ending the quarter with Colorado Mesa leading 24-14.
The scoring was limited to just one Colorado Mesa touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Mavericks a 31-14 lead at halftime.
South Dakota Mines struck early in the third, with another Johannsen to Noland connection, cutting the deficit to 31-20 after a missed extra point. The two defenses would start to lock up after that point, with neither team getting much going, until the Hardrockers' last drive of the third spilled into the fourth.
A 17-play, 89-yard drive ended in a 20-yard field goal from
Connor Taylor, cutting it to a one-possession game. As they did throughout the game, however, Colorado Mesa answered with another big play from Herberg to Trevin Edwards. The Hardrockers wouldn't go without a fight, however, as they marched right back down the field and got 7, this time it was Johannsen to
Max Hoatson. Following that, the Hardrockers had a couple of chances to tie the game, but were unable to get what they needed, falling 38-20.
Notes – The Hardrockers outgained Colorado Mesa by a large margin, 498-278…Johannsen threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns…
Jalen Frye went over 100 yards on the ground for the second time in three games, while Johannsen ran for 53 yards…
Ben Noland had six catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns…
Max Hoatson grabbed 8 balls and a score with 78 yards…
Henry Dryden had a career game, catching six passes for 96 yards…
Hunter Newsom recorded three tackles for loss and a sack….
Caleb Franklin added a sack.
Up Next – The Hardrockers head to Las Vegas, New Mexico to take on the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands next weekend.
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 13 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.
