Game 2
ANGELO STATE RAMS (1-0) at COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m., Marv Kay Stadium, Golden, Colo.
Live Stats | Live Video
 
The sixth-ranked Rams look to continue their winning ways this weekend as they travel for a top-15 matchup against Colorado School of Mines on Saturday in a rematch of last year's NCAA Division II Super Region 4 final.
 
RAMS BLANK CHADRON STATE TO OPEN THE 2022 CAMPAIGN:
Hosting Chadron State in the first game of the season, the Rams pulled off a 35-0 shutout of the Eagles in front of a packed home crowd. Quarterback Zach Bronkhorst facilitated the offense while throwing for 233 yards with two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. The Rams tallied 424 total yards of offense without giving up a turnover with Alfred Grear and Nate Omayebu III combining for 198 rushing yards. ASU's secondary collected two interceptions while allowing only 60 yards passing on six completions and holding the Eagles to 224 yards of offense. K'hari Watson collected a team-high seven tackles while Jordan McKinney returned an interception 41-yards for a touchdown.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Angelo State vs. Colorado School of Mines
All-Time Series: Mines leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 4, 2021 – Mines, 34-26
This will be the second meeting between these two squads and the first in the regular season. Mines picked up a win over the Rams in the playoffs last season, holding off a late comeback by the Rams to win 34-26 and advance to the semifinals of the NCAA DII National Championship.
 
SCOUTING THE OREDIGGERS:

• Mines is coming off a 25-22 loss to No. 5 Grand Valley State after allowing a touchdown in the final minute of the game. A late Hail Mary pass by the Orediggers came up just short, landing at GVS's five-yard line.
• This season marks the first under new head Brandon Moore, named the successor to Gregg Brandon last winter after he announced his retirement.
• Quarterback John Matocha led Mines with 26 completions and 350 yards against Grand Valley State, throwing for two touchdowns with zero interceptions.
• Michael Zeman leads the rushing attack for the Orediggers after rushing for 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns a season ago.
• Linebacker Jaden Healy led Mines last week with 10 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

 
 
CLIMBING IN THE RANKINGS:
After the win against CSC, the Rams moved up in the AFCA Coaches' Top 25 Poll to No. 6 overall. D2Football.com also moved the Rams up a spot in its poll to No. 7.
 
LSC DEFENSIVE HONOR:
After recording three tackles, an interception, and a defensive touchdown, Jordan McKinney was named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week in the first release of the season.
 
MASS-EY EFFECT:
Noah Massey led the receiving core for Angelo State, collecting five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.
 
TWO-HEADED RUSHING ATTACK:
Alfred Grear and Nate Omayebu picked up where they left off a season ago, rushing for 198 yards and a touchdown. Grear finished with an average of 8.5 yards per carry while Omayebu ended with 5.4 yards per carry and a score.
 
BALL HAWKIN':
The Rams picked off two passes against Chadron State with Andrew Pitts and Jordan McKinney each collecting one. Pitts now has six interceptions in his career after collecting a team-high of five last year.