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FBvSDM-261031-JamesL_085404
6
South Dakota Mines SDM 5-4 , 3-4
37
Winner Western Colo. WCU 9-0 , 7-0
South Dakota Mines SDM
5-4 , 3-4
6
Final
37
Western Colo. WCU
9-0 , 7-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SDM South Dakota Mines 0 0 6 0 6
WCU Western Colo. 3 21 6 7 37

Game Recap: Football | | Gregg Petcoff

Western Extends Win Streak Over Hardrockers

GUNNISON, Colo.  Sixth-ranked Western Colorado added to its win streak over South Dakota Mines by taking a 37-6 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win over the Hardrockers on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Mojo Field in Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex.

The win improves the Mountaineers' series lead – which began in 2016 – to 7-3 overall, as Western has now won the last four meetings and scored at least 34 points in each of them.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. South Dakota Mines, 37-6
Records: Western 9-0 overall (7-0 RMAC), SDM 5-4 (3-4)
Location: Mojo Field in Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Mountaineers broke open the game with three touchdowns in the second quarter, turning a narrow 3-0 lead after the first quarter into a 24-0 advantage heading into the halftime break.
  • The opening touchdown drive in that big second quarter was a long drive on just a few plays as quarterback Josiah Roy found Ramon Ruiz behind the defense on the fourth play of the drive for a 56-yard touchdown.
  • Western worked hard for the second scoring drive of the quarter, going 91 yards in 15 plays on a drive that erased 6 minutes and 54 seconds from the clock.
  • The key plays on the drive were a 22-yard catch by Damien Nevil from Nolan McCullough on a third and 5, a 10-yard run by Isaiah Jones on fourth and 1 at the SDM 34, and Roy's 9-yard touchdown pass to Caden Measner in the back left corner of the end zone.
  • The Mountaineers pushed the 'Rockers off the field on their next possession and took over on their own 14 with 57 seconds remaining in the quarter.
  • With 12 seconds left and a third and 5 at the SDM 40, it looked a field goal was soon to be the call of choice, but Lamonte James axed those plans, taking a pitch from Roy around the right corner, skimming the sidelines then getting a key downfield block by DJ Allen Jr. to hit paydirt untouched with a 40-yard touchdown run.
  • Allen Jr. tip-toed along the back edge of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown catch from Roy in the third quarter, and Nevil added a 1-yard plunge shortly before the midpoint of the fourth quarter to finish off the Mountaineer scoring.
MOJO TURF NOTES
  • The Mountaineer defense held a South Dakota Mines rushing attack – averaging 174 yards per game – to just 64 yards, the Hardrockers' lowest single-game total this season. And SDM converted just six of its 16 third-down opportunities.
  • The Mountaineer offense was a fairly balanced attack as they rushed for 214 yards, a figure that increases their season average, and threw for 267 yards, while converting 9 of 14 third-down chances.
  • Nevil, James and Roy each rushed for more than 40 yards apiece, Nevil leading the way with 60, and both James and Roy rushing for 47 yards each.
  • Ruiz caught three passes for 68 yards, an average of just under 23 yards per reception, while Measner caught 4 for 62.
  • Roy finished with 225 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, while McCullough hit on all three of his attempts for a total of 42 yards.
THEY SAID IT


UP NEXT
Western will close out it's 2026 home schedule with Senior Day at 1 p.m. on Nov. 7 against Colorado School of Mines.
    
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