Running back Max Barnes evades a tackle by teammate Brock Zanetell
Running back Max Barnes, center, evades a tackle by teammate Brock Zanetell, right, during the Colorado School of Mines football team's April 19 spring game. Due to a unique scoring system, the offense beat the defense 42-21. Credit: Corinne Westeman

Like watching a construction project, the 2025 Colorado School of Mines football team still has a long way to go before it’s ready for primetime.

But the Orediggers have laid the foundation for their fall season over the last two months, and based on what they’ve seen so far, they’re confident they’ll be a major competitor come August.

“Expect a gritty team,” senior wide receiver Flynn Schiele said. “We’re going to be scoring a lot of points, playing great defense, flying around, making plays (and) get the crowd into it the best we can. It should be a great culture here.”

Among their goals, Schiele and senior free safety Joel Diaz said the Orediggers want to return to the NCAA Division II playoffs and win the program’s first national championship.

“The mission hasn’t changed,” Diaz said. “Mines football is here to compete.”

The Orediggers showcased their competitive spirit and the results of their spring training for family, friends and fans during the annual spring game April 19.

Thanks to a unique scoring system that awards points for major plays or stops, the offense defeated the defense 42-21.

The offense received points for touchdowns, plays that went 20-plus yards, fourth-down conversions and more. Meanwhile, the defense received points for three-and-out sequences, fourth-down stops, turnovers, etc.

At center, the Mines defense's Duke Butler celebrates his interception against his teammates on offense during the Colorado School of Mines football team's April 19 spring game
At center, the Mines defense’s Duke Butler celebrates his interception against his teammates on offense during the Colorado School of Mines football team’s April 19 spring game. Due to a unique scoring system, the offense won 42-21, but the defense racked up two interceptions and other major stops. Credit: Corinne Westeman

Both the offense and defense started with their first- and second-string players in the first half, but third- and fourth-string players had more playing time in the second half.

The defense led early, but the offense gained momentum throughout the game and racked up more points to take the lead. The defense had the final points of the game, though, thanks to Duke Butler nabbing an interception.

Coach Bob Stitt said he was pleased there were “good things on both sides” of the ball, saying a lopsided spring game would be a bad sign.

He highlighted Schiele’s big receptions, including two touchdowns, as well as the offensive line and quarterbacks’ efforts. Stitt explained how, for much of the game, he let the quarterbacks call the plays, and he felt it worked well.

Schiele likewise felt that the quarterbacks and receivers had good chemistry, saying they’ll keep building on that during the offseason.

For the defense, Diaz highlighted defensive backs Kai Brown and Niko Auerbach, describing them as talented freshmen who hit hard and work harder but just need a little more experience. He recommended Mines fans keep an eye on them, saying they’ll be making big plays in the coming years.

Colorado School of Mines defenders, in white, move to tackle wide receiver Pierce Richards (84) during the team's April 19 spring game
Colorado School of Mines defenders, in white, move to tackle wide receiver Pierce Richards (84) during the team’s April 19 spring game. The Orediggers’ annual spring game capped off their spring season, which kicked off in early March. Credit: Corinne Westeman

One thing Stitt said players on both sides of the ball must work on is penalties, as the officials called dozens throughout the April 19 spring game. Stitt said he appreciated having officials there to hold the players accountable, adding that Mines will be working on that during the offseason and during preseason camp in August.

He thanked the 300-plus fans who braved the recent snowfall and chilly conditions to watch the spring game, saying, “I’m really excited for next season.”

‘We’re not taking any steps backward’

Preseason camp is roughly 100 days away, and the Orediggers expect that time to fly by.

This offseason, Stitt said the coaching staff will focus on recruiting for the 2026 team. Meanwhile, the players will be taking their spring finals and then working on their physicality over the summer.

“I told the kids after (the spring game) that we want to have a more physical team,” Stitt said. “We want to see a different group of guys physically when we show up in August.”

Diaz and Schiele described how their summers are typically filled with trips to the weight room, team-bonding activities and other items that build team culture.

Wide receiver Flynn Schiele attempts to catch a long pass while being guarded by one of his teammates during the Colorado School of Mines football team's April 19 spring game
Wide receiver Flynn Schiele attempts to catch a long pass while being guarded by one of his teammates during the Colorado School of Mines football team’s April 19 spring game. Schiele dropped the pass a few seconds later, but had a strong performance otherwise, helping the offense rack up points to win 42-21. Credit: Corinne Westeman

Schiele said that usually involves smaller groups working on their chemistry, like the receivers and quarterbacks, but the entire team also gets together frequently.

“We compete against the defense in practice, but the instant the whistle is blown, we’re hanging out (together),” Schiele said.

Although he believed the Orediggers struggled with their team culture in 2024, Schiele said it improved over the spring. He expected it to improve even more over the summer and once practices resume in August.

Diaz emphasized how the Orediggers must “stay focused on the mission” and “keep working on our craft” over the summer. Because August isn’t that far away and the team has to hit the ground running at preseason camp, he said, “We’re not taking any steps backward.”

Both Diaz and Schiele plan to graduate in December and remarked how the last four seasons have flown by. They couldn’t believe 2025 will be their final season at Mines, but both were looking forward to stepping up this fall and eventually passing the torch to the next set of Orediggers.

Offensive guard Ben James (56) and his teammates huddle with one of their coaches during the Colorado School of Mines football team's April 19 spring game
Offensive guard Ben James (56) and his teammates huddle with one of their coaches during the Colorado School of Mines football team’s April 19 spring game. The Orediggers’ annual spring game capped off their spring season, which kicked off in early March. Credit: Corinne Westeman

Diaz remarked how his class is in a unique situation, as he and his fellow seniors were underclassmen in 2022 and 2023 when Mines made back-to-back national championship appearances.

“It was a privilege … to see the caliber of team and player that’s required to get there,” Diaz said. “And then, last year, we fell a little short of some of our goals. All the pieces were still there. It’s really about putting them back together and realizing what it takes for us as a team to get to those places again.”

Diaz said he saw echoes of the 2022 and 2023 seasons this spring, saying the competition and the energy was back to the level it was when the Orediggers made those deep postseason runs.

“I’m happy to see what we did here in the spring, because I think that’s going to translate well for the fall,” he continued. “So, I’m excited to see (my) last fall. If it’s going to be the last, might as well make it the best.”

Click through additional photos from the April 19 spring game:

  • Wide receiver Aksel Richard, in blue, jumps to catch a pass over defender Bryce Jewell during the Colorado School of Mines football team's April 19 spring game
  • Colorado School of Mines running back Landon Walker, in blue, attempts to power through as four of his teammates tackle him during the team's April 19 spring game
  • The Colorado School of Mines offensive linemen, left, and defensive linemen, right, face off against each other as the ball is snapped during the team's April 19 spring game
  • While guarded by one of his teammates, in white, Colorado School of Mines wide receiver Declan Forde (17) fails to catch a pass in the end zone during the team's April 19 spring game.
  • Colorado School of Mines quarterback Joseph Capra, right, hands the ball off to running back Konnor Mickelsen during the team's April 19 spring football game
  • Colorado School of Mines football fans take photos during the annual spring game April 19
  • With bits of snow still covering the ground during the April 19 spring game, Colorado School of Mines kicker Preston Kyle retrieves a ball he kicked through the uprights that landed behind the field
  • Running back Max Barnes evades a tackle by teammate Brock Zanetell

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