Noah Roper scores three touchdowns in Colorado Mines rout of Colorado Mesa

Four games into RMAC play, the Colorado School of Mines football team isn’t just unbeaten, it’s untouched.

The second-ranked Orediggers cruised to yet another conference win Saturday afternoon as Noah Roper ran in three first-half touchdowns in a 52-0 rout of Colorado Mesa at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction.

The Nyikos Cup is coming home with us! #HelluvaEngineer⚒ pic.twitter.com/IWUnERMR0m

— Mines Football (@MinesFootball) October 7, 2023

The Erie High School product scored on runs of 4, 8 and 15 yards to give Mines (6-0, 4-0 in RMAC) a 21-0 lead at the break that was never challenged. Quarterback John Matocha added 197 yards on 21-of-26 passing and a pair of scores, both of which came during a 17-0 third quarter that put the game away.

With the win, Mines claimed the Nyikos Cup for the second consecutive season. Colorado Mesa’s last win over the Orediggers — 26-21 in their last visit to Grand Junction in 2021 — is also the last time Mines lost an RMAC game. The Orediggers have won 16 straight since, with each of their conference wins this season coming by margins of 28 points or more.

Roper finished with 101 yards on 14 carries, while Matocha added 74 yards on 10 runs. The Orediggers piled up 483 total yards and 33 first downs.

The Mines defense held Mesa to just 229 total yards and 12 first downs to register its first shutout of the season. Adrian Moreno, Eb Alfred-Igbokwe and Nolan Reeve had 1½ tackles for loss apiece, while Jackson Zimmerman had two of the Orediggers’ three interceptions.

The Orediggers host South Dakota Mines next Saturday at noon at Marv Kay Stadium.