Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference was well represented among the 2023 Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) Super Region Four rosters. Eighteen RMAC student-athletes were honored from four of the league’s institutions, led by Colorado School of Mines’ John Matocha, who was named the region’s Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Matocha is the Super Region Four Offensive Player of the Year ahead of the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Football Championships, marking the third consecutive semifinal appearance for the No. 1 Orediggers. The reigning Harlon Hill Award winner currently ranks third in the nation with 39 passing touchdowns, sixth in passing yards (3,736) and first in passing efficiency (176.94). Matocha was named the 2023 RMAC Offensive Player of the Year and received a First-Team All-RMAC selection following a stellar showing in conference play. The Magnolia, Texas, native has also been named a finalist for the 2023 Harlon Hill Award, setting up the possibility of becoming the fifth honoree in the award’s prestigious history to win in consecutive seasons.
 
Colorado School of Mines leads the way among All-Region selections with 11 honorees, including 10 first-teamers. Joining Matocha among the first-team offense is Levi Johnson, who was named the Gene Upshaw Award winner earlier this week, an honor bestowed upon the best lineman, offense or defense, in NCAA Division II. Johnson and Matocha are joined on the first-team offense by teammates Steele Petty, Max McLeod and Hunter Pearson. On the defensive side, the Orediggers boast five first-team honorees, including Kyle Bahnsen, Adrian Moreno, Nolan Reeve, Jackson Zimmerman and Blake Doud. The Orediggers also take home one All-Region Defensive Second Team honor for safety Jaden Williams.
 
Western Colorado stamps four all-region honors, including one offensive first-team selection, one offensive second-team selection, and two defensive second-team honorees. Deyvon Butler claims the lone first-team selection for the Mountaineers after leading the conference in rush yards (1,032) and rushing touchdowns (17). Joining Butler on the all-region rosters for the Mountaineers are Tanner Tomlinson, Ricky Freymond and Kendall Lightfoot.
 
South Dakota Mines claims two all-region nods for wide receiver Ben Noland and tight end Henry Dryden. Noland earns a first-team honor after an impressive year with the Hardrockers in which he collected 92 receptions for 1,184 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. Dryden claims a second-team nod after boosting the South Dakota Mines offense with 34 receptions for 422 yards.
 
Daniel Bone represents Colorado State University Pueblo on the all-region roster as a second-team honoree at the wide receiver position. Bone makes his second consecutive appearance on the all-region roster after racking up 84 tackles, 50 solo and 34 assisted, and two interceptions for the ThunderWolves.