The 2023 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team was an American football team that represented the Colorado School of Mines in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach Pete Sterbick, the team compiled a 14–1 record (9–0 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 656 to 150, and won the RMAC championship. The team was led on offense by quarterback John Matocha who broke the NCAA record for career touchdowns, won the 2022 Harlon Hill Trophy and was a finalist for the award again in 2023.
The 2022 Orediggers advanced to the national championship game where they lost to Ferris State. Coach Sterbick noted that, having lost the 2022 championship game, the Orediggers have "an extra chip on our shoulders" to win the school's first national championship in 2023. The team opened its season ranked No. 2 nationally and defeated No. 3 Grand Valley State and No. 4 in its first two games. The Orediggers finished the regular season ranked No. 1 and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they received a bye in the first round, and defeated (56–10) in the second round, (38–14) in the quarterfinals, and (35–7) in the semifinal. They lost to No. 3 Harding, 38–7, in the Division II national championship game.
The team plays its home games at Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium in Golden, Colorado.
Schedule
Rankings
Personnel
Game summaries No. 3 Grand Valley State
Statistics GVSCSM First downs 23 23 Total yards 431 430 Rushing yards 122 103 Passing yards 309 327 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 29:44 30:16 Team Category Player StatisticsGrand Valley State Passing Cade Peterson 18/35, 295 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Cade Peterson 14 rushes, 51 yards, TD Receiving Cody Tierney 8 receptions, 151 yards, TDColorado Mines Passing John Matocha 27/41, 327 yards, 2 TD Rushing Noah Roper 13 rushes, 60 yards, TD Receiving Max McLeod 11 receptions, 157 yards
At No. 4 Angelo State
Statistics CSMASU First downs 21 22 Total yards 383 354 Rushing yards 138 76 Passing yards 245 278 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:59 30:01 Team Category Player StatisticsColorado Mines Passing John Matocha 17/34, 245 yards, TD Rushing Landon Walker 12 rushes, 66 yards, 2 TD Receiving Max McLeod 6 receptions, 147 yards, TDAngelo State Passing Gerald Gardner 26/46, 278 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Kason Philips 9 rushes, 55 yards Receiving Kyle Bradford 7 receptions, 94 yards, TD
Adams State
Statistics ASUCSM First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsAdams State Passing Rushing Receiving Colorado Mines Passing Rushing Receiving
At CSU Pueblo
Statistics CSMCSUP First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsColorado Mines Passing Rushing Receiving CSU Pueblo Passing Rushing Receiving
Chadron State
Statistics CSCCSM First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsChadron State Passing Rushing Receiving Colorado Mines Passing Rushing Receiving
"College football's nerdiest contender" Colorado Mines' football team, drawn from its student body of engineering students, has gained attention both for its ability on the field and for its nerdy and colorful characters. In November 2023, The Wall Street Journal profiled quarterback John Matocha, a computer science major, as the leader of "college football's nerdiest contender." 5280 magazine profiled the team's official headshots including Matocha in pigtails and a drawn-on blue mustache; safety Blake Ramsey sporting a tonsure, friar-style haircut; linebacker Owen Marnell in Harry Potter cosplay; and tight end Kenny Wright with emo-style black bangs combed over one of his eyes.
Statistical achievements and honors Through their December 9 semifinal match with , the Orediggers have scored 691 points, an average of 49.36 points per game, and have gained an average of 520.6 yards of total offense per game. On defense, they have held opponents to 157 points (11.21 points per game) and 247.1 yards of total offense per game. The team's individual statistical leaders include: Redshirt senior quarterback John Matocha won the Harlon Hill Trophy, considered the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, in 2022, and was a finalist for the award in 2023. On November 11, 2023, Matocha broke the NCAA record for career touchdowns at all levels of play, as he tallied four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), bringing his career total to 181. Through the first 14 games of the 2023 season, Matocha has tallied 4,028 passing yards and 42 touchdowns. Redshirt senior wide receiver Max McLeod leads the team with 1,503 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Redshirt senior running back Noah Roper leads the team with 951 rushing yards. Redshirt senior placekicker Hunter Pearson leads the team with 114 points scored. Redshirt junior outside linebacker Jaden Healy leads the team with 63 total tackles. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Jackson Zimmerman leads the team with six interceptions and nine pass breakups. Redshirt senior outside linebacker Nolan Reeve leads the team with ten sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.
References