GOLDEN, Colo.- Sophomore running back Dan Palmer scored all three his team's touchdowns as the 16th-ranked Colorado School of Mines Orediggers survived a strong upset bid from the Adams State College Grizzlies, Saturday afternoon here at Campbell Field. Palmer, who now has eight touchdowns in his last three games, ran 22 times for an even 100 net yards and scored the eventual game-winner with just 15 seconds left in the third quarter of the 24-17 victory. He also had four catches for 88 yards, including a 41-yard reception for a score, as the Orediggers won for the eighth straight time while improving to 8-1 overall and to 7-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
The Grizzlies, now 3-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play, led 10-0 early but fell behind 17-10 at the half. However, they tied the game just 4:23 into the second half when sophomore linebacker Nathan Wiggins (Littleton, Colo.) scored for the first time on a "pick-6". Palmer then scored the only other second-half points as the Orediggers, who missed two potential back-breaking field goals in the fourth quarter, survived a late Grizzly rally when Alex Vigil recovered a Terjean Saffold (Stockton, Calif.) inside the red-zone in the game's final minute.
The Grizzlies had driven 66 yards on 14 plays on that drive, converting on a pair of 3rd-and-1's with Saffold carries and later a 4th-and-2 on a Trevor Eggleston (Tucson, Ariz.) to Scott Kellogg (Littleton, Colo.) strike.
The Grizzlies had gone on a similar length drive early in the game, as, after forcing an Oredigger punt on the opening possession of the afternoon, the Grizzlies marched 69 yards on nine plays going up 6-0 on a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman defensive end Chase Rogers (Springerville, Ariz.), in the game as part of the Grizzlies' goal-line offensive package. The touchdown, which preceded a David Van Voris (Elizabeth, Colo.) extra point, was the first of Rogers' career.
The Grizzlies then forced another punt and went on a 10-play drive that eventually resulted in a 51-yard Van Voris field goal, the longest of his career, putting ASC up 10-0 with 4:38 left.
The heralded Oredigger offense, which leads the RMAC, averaging more than 478 yards per game, then got moving as Palmer capped a 9-play, 70-yard drive with his first score from four yards out.
Still leading 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Grizzlies then used a 60-yard Kellogg kick return to quickly move back into Oredigger territory but managed just one first down before three straight incompletions forced the Grizzlies to settle for a 39-yard Van Voris field goal attempt which was blocked.
Oredigger quarterback Clay Garcia, an Alamosa native, then scrambled for 29 yards on the first play of the second quarter before finding Palmer for his lone passing touchdown of the day as the Orediggers suddenly went up 14-10 just 46 seconds into the second quarter.
The defenses then stepped up as each squad came up with turnovers and forced punts throughout most of the second quarter before a nice punt return by Cody Renken to the Grizzly-26 set up the Orediggers for a 31-yard Paul McVay field goal with just three seconds left in the first half.
The defensive struggle continued in the second half as the Grizzlies punted on their opening possession of the second half before James Ackel (Riverside, Calif.) forced a fumble in pursuit that Jeremiah Van Valkenburg (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) recovered.
The Grizzlies, who did win the turnover battle, were unable to do much with the ball but used a fine 59-yard punt by Bolt to pin the Orediggers deep before Wiggins intercepted Garcia's 3rd down pass on the ensuing returning it 15 yards for pay-dirt, which along with Van Voris' extra point, tied the game.
With the momentum on their side, the Grizzlies came up with a defensive stop and then went on a 12-play, 76-yard drive all the way to the Orediggers' 8-yard line but came away without any points as Van Voris' 26-yard field goal was blocked.
Garcia then led the Orediggers 80 yards on 10 plays hitting Tom Kastens for a 35-yard pass and Palmer for another 14-yard play before Palmer capped the drive with his 6-yard touchdown run breaking the 17-17 deadlock.
Garcia, enjoying the best season of any quarterback in the RMAC, was held in check and finished completing just 18 of 40 passes for 244 yards. He was also intercepted twice but did find Renken eight times for 91 yards while relying on Palmer's exploits.
Eggleston was 27 of 50 for 257 yards for Adams State. Junior wide-out Delton Prescott, Jr. (Phoenix, Ariz.) was his favorite target catching 10 passes for 97 yards. Both figures were new career-highs.
The Orediggers did finish with a 375-295 edge in total offense but were held more than 100 yards below their season average as Bryant Williams (Mesa, Ariz.) and Rocco DeLorenzo (Arvada, Colo.) each finished with 11 tackles to lead the Grizzly defense.
The Grizzlies will next face Mesa State, which came back to claim a 33-28 win at home over Western State on Saturday evening. The Mavericks, 3-5 overall, are 3-4 in conference play but are 0-4 away from home this season.
Kick-off at the Grizzlies' Rex Stadium is slated for noon next Saturday (Nov. 6) and can be heard live on KSPK-FM (104.1 in Alamosa) and via the internet at www.kspk.com.
Visit ascgrizzlies.com for the latest news and info on Adams State College Athletics.
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