Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines’ John Matocha is one of nine finalists that was announced Wednesday for the prestigious 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy. This award is given to the most outstanding player at the Division II level and has been awarded since 1986.
 
The Little Rock Touchdown Club, along with the Great American Conference, oversees the voting and presentation of the award named after the late Harlon Hill, a 1950s North Alabama football player who dominated on both sides of the ball. Hill went onto play for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League.
 
Matocha received 178 points last year to become the third Colorado School of Mines signal caller to win the Harlon Hill Trophy and makes a strong case to win the award again. He leads Division II in passing efficiency (180.0), second in completion percentage (70%), second in yards per pass attempt (9.34) and third in passing touchdowns (39). Matocha is the sixth Harlon Hill finalist in school history and will attempt to be the fifth player to garner consecutive Harlon Hill Trophies. The quarterback from Magnolia, Texas would be the second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference player to win back-to-back accolades with Chadron State’s Danny Woodhead doing so in 2006 and 2007.
 
Matocha and his Oredigger teammates continue their quest to reach their second consecutive Division II National Championship game, as they welcome Central Washington to Golden, Colo. on Saturday in a quarterfinal matchup. The results of the Harlon Hill Trophy will be announced on Friday, Dec. 15.