Colorado Mines football makes closing argument with rout of Fort Lewis

All the Colorado School of Mines football program can do now is wait.

The Orediggers did what they could in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Marv Kay Stadium, steamrolling Fort Lewis 67-9 in their last chance to make a closing statement for inclusion in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Mines (8-3, 6-3 RMAC) piled up 622 yards of offense and even got a touchdown from its defense in an all-phases rout. Four players ran in touchdowns and Flynn Schiele and Nick Stone caught scoring passes as well. Jake Sype had 89 yards on 8-of-9 passing in his first career start, and Denver South product Joseph Capra threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns while splitting time at QB.

The Orediggers allowed just 135 yards of offense for Fort Lewis (3-8, 2-7), compiling seven sacks and three turnovers while holding the Skyhawks without a single conversion on third (0 of 14) or fourth (0 for 2) down.

CSU Pueblo (10-1, 9-0) put the finishing touches on its outright RMAC championship with a come-from-behind 38-21 win over Chadron State. Mines finished tied for third in the conference with Colorado Mesa (7-4, 6-3), while Western Colorado (10-1, 8-1) was second.

The Orediggers entered Saturday ranked 10th in the region and need to rise into the top seven in order to reach the postseason. They will learn their fate when the selections are announced Sunday afternoon.

RMAC football

Saturday’s scores

South Dakota Mines 44, Adams State 6

Western Colorado 37, Colorado Mesa 7

CSU Pueblo 38, Chadron State 21

Black Hills State 48, New Mexico Highlands 31

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