GOLDEN, Colo. – South Dakota Mines Football could not complete a second half comeback as they fell 17-10 at Colorado School of Mines Saturday.
The Hardrockers started the game ahead as they forced a three-and-out and cashed in with a touchdown. After the three-and-out, the Rockers went on a 12-play touchdown drive. A 29-yard pass from
Gage Baker to
Joshua Morales put the Hardrockers in the red zone. Baker found
Blake Borchers for a five-yard touchdown pass.
Both defenses would stand tall the rest of the quarter as the Rockers led 7-0 after 15 minutes. Following a drive that started on the Rockers 40-yard line, the Orediggers tied the game on a two-yard run with 10:47 left in the second quarter.
Colorado School of Mines forced a Hardrocker three-and-out and would go up 14-7 with 4:09 remaining in the half. The Orediggers closed out the first half with a 50-yard field goal to go up 17-7 at the break.
To start the third quarter, the Hardrockers went on an 11-play drive, but could not convert on a field goal. The Rockers defense forced a punt, but the offense could not put up any points the rest of the quarter.
South Dakota Mines would make a 43-yard field goal from
Sam Eccles midway through the fourth quarter to make the score 17-10.
Lang Gappelberg snagged an interception at the Orediggers 34-yard line, but the Hardrockers went four-and-out with 6:51 left.
After another Orediggers punt, the Hardrockers attempted to go 78 yards to tie the game. The Rockers made it to the Orediggers 45-yard line at the two minute timeout before they were sacked twice. That would end the game as the Orediggers held on to win 17-10.
Baker was 13-for-27 with 151 yards and one touchdown.
Dawson Dunbar ran for 46 yards, while Morales caught four passes for 44 yards.
Charlie Johnson led the defense with 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and one pass breakup.
Zachary Young recorded a sack and seven tackles, while
Gabe Frerichs tallied two quarterback hurries.
With the loss, South Dakota Mines dropped to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the RMAC.
What's Next
The Hardrockers will stay on the road to take on #6 Western Colorado on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. They return home on Nov. 7 for a matchup with #4 CSU Pueblo on Nov. 7.
