RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines football team opened its season at home with a CSU Pueblo team that was receiving votes in the first AFCA poll.
For much of the first half it was a defensive battle and the South Dakota Mines defense was strong as it made plays at opportune times throughout the first half and much of the second, however, the CSU Pueblo passing attack proved too much as they escaped O'Harra stadium with a victory, spoiling the Hardrockers home opener.
How It Happened – In the first quarter, neither team was able to get much going, while the first opportunity came when CSU Pueblo attempted a 22-yard field goal that the Hardrockers were able to get a hand on and block. Later in the first, the Thunderwolves would complete a long 44-yard pass to Reggie Retzlaff and hit him again on the next play to take a 7-0 lead after the PAT. Late in the first quarter, CSU Pueblo would have another chance to increase the lead, this time missing the field goal to keep the score at 7-0.
South Dakota Mines' defense would continue to snuff out the Thunderwolves in the second quarter when
Jacob Schwab intercepted a Steven Croell pass in the endzone to keep the score the same. CSU Pueblo would strike again, however, scoring with 3:07 on the clock to take a 14-0 lead. Prior to the end of the half, South Dakota Mines was able to get some momentum going and embark on connect on an 11-play, 45-yard scoring drive that closed with a 37-yard field goal from
Connor Taylor and the two teams would go into the half with CSU Pueblo leading, 14-3.
The Hardrocker defense would continue to make big plays with
Hunter Newsom coming hard through the line from his linebacker position, sacking the CSU Pueblo quarterback, Devin Larsen, forcing a fumble which South Dakota Mines capitalized on, recovering it and then connecting on a 42-yard field goal to cut the deficit to one possession at 14-6.
For the Hardrockers, that would be as close as they would come, however, as Devin Larson would set a CSU Pueblo school record with 508 passing yards and throw three more touchdowns to defeat South Dakota Mines by a score of 35-6.
Notes – Jacob Schwab had a great game for the Hardrockers, picking off a pass and recording a sack to go along with 5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery…
Hunter Newsom also came up big on the defensive end, recording a sack fumble, four total tackles and two tackes for loss…
Kaleb Tischler and William Lester led the team with eight and seven stops…In his first start at quarterback,
Jake Martinelli threw for 164 yards and ran for 17 on the ground…
Max Hoatson led the team with five catches for 38 yards.
Next Up – In seven days, the Hardrockers start the non-conference portion of their schedule as they battle fellow STEM school, Michigan Tech for a matchup in Houghton, Michigan.
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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.
