Colorado School of Mines’ John Matocha Named 2022 Harlon Hill Winner
MCKINNEY, Texas – For the fifth time in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football history, the league claims the prestigious Harlon Hill trophy, an honor awarded to the most valuable player in NCAA Division II football. Colorado School of Mines quarterback John Matocha is the recipient of the 2022 Harlon Hill honor after leading his team to the NCAA DII Football championship game for the first time in program history. The senior play caller is now the third Colorado School of Mines player to earn the distinguished honor, following Chad Friehauf (2004) and Justin Dvorak (2016).
Matocha claims his latest honor, the highest honor in NCAA Division II football, after leading his team to 13 consecutive victories and a berth in the NCAA DII title game. The Magnolia, Texas, native has been lights out for the Orediggers throughout the 2022 campaign, ranking among the nation’s top-five performers in nine separate categories. Heading into Saturday’s title bout, Matocha has thrown for 4,570 yards and 50 touchdowns, ranking second and first in the nation, respectively, in each of those categories. On average, he is responsible for 22 points per game this season and registers an incredible 304.7 passing yards per game.
In the postseason alone, Matocha has completed 88 of his 135 passes for a 65.2-percent completion average. He threw four touchdowns in each of the Orediggers’ first three postseason contests and added in another five passing touchdowns in Mines’ latest victory, a 44-13 shelling of the 2021 runner-up, Shepherd University.
While the Harlon Hill trophy is perhaps the most prestigious honor on Matocha’s illustrious resumé, it is merely the latest. In the days leading up to the Orediggers’ championship game, Matocha was named the Division Two Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Ron Lenz Offensive Player of the Year. He was also tabbed an All-American by the Associated Press and the D2CCA and was also named the RMAC’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Matocha and the Orediggers will now look to secure the first NCAA DII Football Championship in program history on Saturday in a matchup against reigning champion Ferris State University. Kickoff between Mines and Ferris State is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17, at noon CT, and will be televised on ESPNU and ESPN+.
The Hill Award is named for the late Harlon Hill, the former University of North Alabama standout who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. The award is presented by the Great American Conference and Little Rock Touchdown Club, and Matocha will be presented with the trophy on January 13 at the LRTC's annual banquet.