# 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season

The 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the ten member schools of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) as part of the 2022 NCAA Division II football season.
The Colorado Mines Orediggers won the RMAC championship with a 9–2 record (9–0 against conference opponents), led the conference in both scoring offense (46.86 points per game) and scoring defense (18.64 points per game), and was ranked No. 10 in the final NCAA Division II rankings. The Orediggers' quarterback John Matocha was selected as the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Brandon Moore of Colorado Mines was selected as the RMAC Coach of the Year. The team won in the first three rounds of the NCAA Division II playoffs and faces Shepherd in the semifinals on December 10.
The CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves finished in second place with an 8–4 overall record. CSU Pueblo defensive tacke Trey Botts was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Year.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | Points scored/game | Points against/game |
| 1 | Colorado Mines | Brandon Moore | 9–2 | 9–0 | 46.86 | 18.64 |
| 2 | CSU Pueblo | John Wristen | 8–4 | 7–2 | 36.0 | 21.9 |
| 3 | Western Colorado | Jas Baines | 7–4 | 7–2 | 31.55 | 25.64 |
| 4 | South Dakota Mines | Charlie Flohr | 7–4 | 6–3 | 31.45 | 24.09 |
| 5 | Black Hills State | Josh Breske | 7–4 | 5–4 | 28.18 | 20.91 |
| 6 | Colorado Mesa | Miles Kochevar | 4–6 | 3–6 | 36.0 | 32.7 |
| 7 | New Mexico Highlands | Ron Hudson | 3–7 | 3–6 | 20.4 | 31.9 |
| 8 | Chadron State | Jay Long | 3–8 | 3–6 | 20.73 | 32.45 |
| 9 | Adams State | Jarrell Harrison | 2–9 | 2–7 | 22.82 | 37.91 |
| 10 | Fort Lewis | Johnny Cox | 0–10 | 0–9 | 8.2 | 60.7 |

## Conference awards
### Individual honors

* Offensive Player of the Year: John Matocha, Colorado Mines
* Defensive Player of the Year: Trey Botts, CSU Pueblo
* Special Teams Player of the Year: CJ Sims, New Mexico Highlands
* Offensive Freshman of the Year: Landon Walker, Colorado Mines
* Defensive Freshman of the Year: Cooper Brown, Black Hills State
* Coach of the Year: Brandon Moore, Colorado Mines

### All-RMAC team

The following players were selected as first-team players on the 2022 All-RMAC football team.
Offense
* Quarterback - John Matocha, Colorado Mines
* Running backs - Michael Zeman, Colorado Mines; Josh Cummings, Western Colorado
* Wide receivers - Jeremiah Bridges, South Dakota Mines; Josh Johnston, Colorado Mines; CJ Sims,New Mexico Highlands
* Tight end - Dagan Rienks, Colorado Mesa
* Offensive line - Matt Armendariz, Colorado Mines; Sam Ambrogio, Black Hills State; Clayton Martin, Western Colorado; Mathyus Su’a, Western Colorado; Levi Johnson, Colorado Mines
Defense
* Cornerbacks - Mason Pierce, Colorado Mines; Eli Pittman, CSU Pueblo
* Safeties - Daniel Bone, CSU Pueblo; Doodles Quinones, Black Hills State
* Inside linebackers - Kyante Christian, South Dakota Mines; Adrian Moreno, Colorado Mines
* Outside linebackers - Mack Minnehan, Colorado Mines; Luke Conilogue, CSU Pueblo
* Defensive tackles - Trey Botts, CSU Pueblo; Tayven Bray, Chadron State
* Defensive ends - Hunter O’Connor, Chadron State; Gavin Chaddock, South Dakota Mines
Special teams
* Kicker - Gunnar Jones, Chadron State
* Punter - Cole Riters, Western Colorado
* Kick returner - Victory David, Western Colorado
* Punt returner - CJ Sims, New Mexico Highlands

## Teams
### Colorado Mines

The 2022 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team represented the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. In their first year under head coach Brandon Moore, the Orediggers compiled an overall record of 13–3 with a mark of 9–0 against conference opponents, winning the RMAC championship.
Colorado Mines quarterback John Matocha was selected as the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Brandon Moore was selected as the RMAC Coach of the Year.
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | at No. 5 Grand Valley State* | | Lubbers StadiumAllendale, MI | L 22–25 | 12,250 |
| September 10 | No. 7 Angelo State* | | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | L 27–30 $^{OT}$ | 1,863 |
| September 17 | at Adams State | No. 21 | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | W 84–10 | 0 |
| September 24 | CSU Pueblo | No. 21 | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | W 45–17 | 2,922 |
| October 1 | at Chadron State | No. 22 | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | W 45–9 | 2,852 |
| October 8 | Colorado Mesa | No. 21 | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | W 48–21 | 4,090 |
| October 15 | at South Dakota Mines | No. 19 | O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | W 48–20 | 3,415 |
| October 22 | Black Hills State | No. 9/18 | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | W 38–0 | 4,578 |
| October 29 | at Western Colorado | | Mountaineer BowlGunnison, CO | W 30–20 | 423 |
| November 5 | at New Mexico Highlands | | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | W 54–16 | |
| November 12 | Fort Lewis | | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | W 80–0 | 3,192 |
| November 19 | CSU Pueblo | | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO (NCAA Division II First Round) | W 45–24 | 2,157 |
| November 26 | No. 19 Minnesota State* | | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO (NCAA Division II Second Round) | W 48–45 | 2,142 |
| December 3 | at No. 2 Angelo State* | | LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union FieldSan Angelo, TX (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal) | W 42–24 | 4,872 |
| December 10 | No. 11 Shepherd* | | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO (NCAA Division II Semifinal) | W 44–14 | 6,191 |
| December 17 | vs. Ferris State* | | McKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, TX (NCAA Division II Championship Game) | L 14–41 | 6,333 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game |||||||

### CSU Pueblo

The 2022 CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves football team represented the Colorado State University Pueblo in Pueblo, Colorado, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. In their 15th year under head coach John Wristen, the ThunderWolves compiled an 8–4 record (7–2 against conference opponents) and finished second in the RMAC.
CSU Pueblo defensive tackle Trey Botts was selected as the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year.
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | at No. 24 Midwestern State Texas* | | Memorial StadiumWichita Falls, TX | W 59–27 | 7,123 |
| September 10 | No. 5 Grand Valley State* | No. 21 | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | L 10–35 | 5,990 |
| September 17 | Western Colorado | | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | L 10–17 | 7,088 |
| September 24 | at No. 21 Colorado Mines | | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | L 17–45 | 2,922 |
| October 1 | Fort Lewis | | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | W 75–3 | 5,997 |
| October 8 | at Adams State | | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | W 52–20 | 2,387 |
| October 15 | New Mexico Highlands | | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | W 35–11 | 6,121 |
| October 22 | Chadron State | | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | W 34–12 | 5,954 |
| October 29 | at Colorado Mesa | | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | W 33–28 | 3,068 |
| November 5 | South Dakota Mines | | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | W 45–20 | 6,188 |
| November 12 | at Black Hills State | | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | W 38–0 | 1,123 |
| November 19 | at Colorado Mines | | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO (NCAA Division II First Round) | L 24–45 | 2,157 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game |||||||

### Western Colorado

The 2022 Western Colorado Mountaineers football team represented the Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. In their 12th year under head coach Jas Baines, the Mountaineers compiled a 7–4 record (7–2 against conference opponents) and finished third in the RMAC.
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | at West Texas A&M* | No. 17 | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | L 6–44 | 6,781 |
| September 10 | at Texas Permian Basin* | | Astound Broadband StadiumMidland, TX | L 31–34 $^{OT}$ | 3,278 |
| September 17 | at CSU Pueblo | | Mountaineer BowlPueblo, CO | W 17–10 | 7,088 |
| September 24 | Chadron State | | Mountaineer BowlGunnison, CO | W 56–28 | 240 |
| October 1 | at Colorado Mesa | | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | W 42–34 $^{2OT}$ | 3,691 |
| October 8 | South Dakota Mines | | Mountaineer BowlGunnison, CO | L 10–38 | 324 |
| October 15 | at Black Hills State | | Lyle Hare StadiummSpearfish, SD | W 28–27 | 1,162 |
| October 22 | at New Mexico Highlands | | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | W 30–13 | 0 |
| October 29 | Colorado Mines | | Mountaineer BowlGunnison, CO | L 20–30 | 423 |
| November 5 | at Fort Lewis | | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | W 55–14 | 1,791 |
| November 12 | Adams State | | Katy O Rady FieldGunnison, CO (Colorado Classic) | W 52–10 | 500 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game |||||||

### South Dakota Mines

The 2022 South Dakota Mines Hardrockers football team represented the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Charlie Flohr, the Hardrockers compiled a 7–4 record (6–3 against RMAC opponents) and finished fourth in the RMAC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | at Missouri S&T* | Allgood–Bailey StadiumRolla, MO | W 43–20 | 2,796 |
| September 10 | Truman State* | Dunham Field at O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | L 20–27 | 1,955 |
| September 17 | at Colorado Mesa | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | W 31–17 | 3,876 |
| September 24 | New Mexico Highlands | Dunham Field at O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | W 41–27 | 3,584 |
| October 1 | Black Hills State | Dunham Field at O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD (Black Hills Brawl) | L 17–24 | 4,985 |
| October 8 | at Western Colorado | Mountaineer BowlGunnison, CO | W 38–10 | 324 |
| October 15 | No. 19 Colorado Mines | Dunham Field at O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | L 20–48 | 3,415 |
| October 22 | at Fort Lewis | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | W 65–20 | 2,179 |
| October 29 | Adams State | Dunham Field at O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | W 23–20 | 1,320 |
| November 5 | at CSU Pueblo | ThunderBowllPueblo, CO | L 20–45 | 6,188 |
| November 12 | Chadron State | Dunham Field at O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | W 28–7 | 2,200 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game ||||||

### Black Hills State

The 2022 Black Hills State Yellow Jackets football team represented Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Josh Breske, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 7–4 record (5–4 against RMAC opponents) and finished fifth in the RMAC.
Cooper Brown was selected as the RMAC Defensive Freshman of the Year.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | at Dickinson State* | Henry Biesiot Activities CenterDickinson, ND | W 17–2 | |
| September 10 | William Jewell* | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | W 38–19 | 1,226 |
| September 17 | at Chadron State | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | W 32–23 | |
| September 24 | Colorado Mesa | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | W 31–28 | 2,763 |
| October 1 | at South Dakota Mines | O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | W 24–17 | 4,985 |
| October 8 | at New Mexico Highlands | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NV | L 28–30 | |
| October 15 | Western Colorado | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | L 27–28 | 1,162 |
| October 22 | at No. 9/18 Colorado Mines | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | L 0–38 | 4,578 |
| October 29 | Fort Lewis | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | W 75–0 | 1,394 |
| November 5 | at Adams State | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | W 38–7 | 1,598 |
| November 12 | CSU Pueblo | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | L 0–38 | 1,123 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game ||||||

### Colorado Mesa

The 2022 Colorado Mesa Mavericks football team represented Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Miles Kochevar, the Mavericks compiled a 4–6 record (3–6 against RMAC opponents) and finished sixth in the RMAC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | at William Jewell* | Greene StadiumLiberty, MO | W 37–14 | |
| September 17 | South Dakota Mines | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | L 17–31 | 3,876 |
| September 24 | at Black Hills State | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | L 28–31 | 2,763 |
| October 1 | Western Colorado | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | L 34–42 $^{2OT}$ | 3,691 |
| October 8 | at No. 21 Colorado Mines | Marv Kay Stadium at Alumni FieldGolden, CO | L 21–48 | 4,090 |
| October 15 | Fort Lewis | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | W 70–10 | 1,975 |
| October 22 | at Adams State | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | L 31–45 | 1,376 |
| October 29 | CSU Pueblo | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | L 28–33 | 3,068 |
| November 5 | at Chadron State | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | W 38–37 $^{OT}$ | 1,741 |
| November 12 | New Mexico Highlands | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | W 56–36 | |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game ||||||

### New Mexico Highlands

The 2022 New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football team represented New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football season. Led by first-year head coach Ron Hudson, the Mavericks compiled a 3–7 record (3–6 against RMAC opponents) and finished seventh in the RMAC.
New Mexico Highlands punt returner CJ Sims was selected as the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | Eastern New Mexico* | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | L 18–34 | |
| September 17 | Fort Lewis | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | W 27–3 | |
| September 24 | at South Dakota Mines | Dunham Field at O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | L 27–41 | 3,584 |
| October 1 | at Adams State | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | W 23–21 | 1,769 |
| October 8 | Black Hills State | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | W 30–28 | |
| October 15 | at CSU Pueblo | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | L 11–35 | 6,121 |
| October 22 | Western Colorado | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | L 13–30 | 0 |
| October 29 | at Chadron State | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | L 3–17 | 1,236 |
| November 5 | Colorado Mines | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | L 16–54 | |
| November 12 | at Colorado Mesa | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | L 36–56 | |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

### Chadron State

The 2022 Chadron State Eagles football team represented Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. In their 11th season under head coach Jay Long, the Eagles compiled a 3–8 record (3–6 against conference opponents) and finished eighth in the RMAC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | at No. 7 Angelo State* | LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union FieldSan Angelo, TX | L 0–35 | 2,676 |
| September 10 | at Utah Tech* | Greater Zion StadiumSt. George, UT | L 10–56 | 4,169 |
| September 17 | Black Hills State | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | L 23–32 | |
| September 24 | at Western Colorado | Mountaineer BowlGunnison, CO | L 28–56 | 240 |
| October 1 | No. 22 Colorado Mines | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | L 9–45 | 2,852 |
| October 8 | at Fort Lewis | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | W 56–3 | 1,796 |
| October 15 | Adams State | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | W 29–27 | 1,912 |
| October 22 | at CSU Pueblo | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | L 12–34 | 5,954 |
| October 29 | New Mexico Highlands | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | W 17–3 | 1,236 |
| November 5 | Colorado Mesa | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | L 37–38 $^{OT}$ | 1,741 |
| November 12 | at South Dakota Mines | O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | L 7–28 | |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game ||||||

### Adams State

The 2022 Adams State Grizzlies football team represented Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. In their second year under head coach Jarrell Harrison, the Grizzlies compiled a 2–9 record (2–7 against conference opponents) and finished ninth in the RMAC.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | at Western New Mexico* | Ben Altamirano FieldSilver City, NM | L 20–34 | 1,057 |
| September 10 | No. 23 West Texas A&M* | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | L 19–34 | 1,543 |
| September 17 | No. 21 Colorado Mines | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | L 10–84 | |
| September 24 | at Fort Lewis | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | W 52–17 | 1,903 |
| October 1 | New Mexico Highlands | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | L 21–23 | 1,769 |
| October 8 | CSU Pueblo | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | L 20–52 | 2,387 |
| October 15 | at Chadron State | Don Beebe StadiumChadron, NE | L 27–29 | 1,912 |
| October 22 | Colorado Mesa | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | W 45–31 | 1,376 |
| October 29 | at South Dakota Mines | O'Harra StadiumRapid City, SD | L 20–23 | |
| November 5 | Black Hills State | Rex FieldAlamosa, CO | L 7–38 | 1,598 |
| November 12 | at Western Colorado | Katy O Rady FieldGunnison, CO | L 10–52 | 500 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game ||||||

### Fort Lewis

The 2022 Fort Lewis Skyhawks football team represented Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, during the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) football season. Under head coach Johnny Cox, the Grizzlies compiled a 0–10 record (0–9) against conference opponents) and finished last in the RMAC. In July 2022, Spencer Brown was appointed as the team's new defensive coordinator. With Brown as defensive coordinator, the Skyhawks gave up an average of 60.7 points per game.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 10 | Arizona Christian* | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | L 12–52 | 2,130 |
| September 17 | at New Mexico Highlands | Sanchez Family StadiumLas Vegas, NM | L 3–27 | |
| September 24 | Adams State | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | L 17–52 | 1,903 |
| October 1 | at CSU Pueblo | ThunderBowlPueblo, CO | L 3–75 | 5,997 |
| October 8 | Chadron State | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | L 3–56 | 1,796 |
| October 15 | at Colorado Mesa | Stocker StadiumGrand Junction, CO | L 10–70 | 1,975 |
| October 22 | South Dakota Mines | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | L 20–65 | 2,179 |
| October 29 | at Black Hills State | Lyle Hare StadiumSpearfish, SD | L 0–75 | 1,394 |
| November 5 | Western Colorado | Ray Dennison Memorial FieldDurango, CO | L 14–55 | 1,791 |
| November 12 | at No. 11/8 Colorado Mines | Marv Kay StadiumGolden, CO | L 0–80 | 3,192 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game ||||||