By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Chadron State College quarterback Aidan Thompson and linebacker Logan O’Brien are joined by New Mexico Highlands University kick returner Mike Jones as the Week 3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Players of the Week, presented by Genesee Nutrition, announced Monday.

Thompson was responsible for four touchdowns, while O’Brien had a big fourth quarter to help Chadron State upset nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines for its first win against the Orediggers since 2012. Jones’ 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown provided much-needed insurance late in regulation as New Mexico Highlands improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011 with a victory against South Dakota Mines.

Offensive

Aidan Thompson, Chadron State (Junior (RS), Quarterback, Abilene, Texas)
Making his first start, Thompson passed for three touchdowns and ran for another as Chadron State upended Colorado School of Mines 34-28 on Saturday in Golden. With his arm, he completed 17-of-27 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. On the ground, Thompson had 110 net yards on six carries. His 73-yard rushing touchdown was the longest by a Chadron State quarterback since 1977 and put the Eagles up 14-0 midway through the first quarter. After Colorado School of Mines took a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, Thompson led Chadron State to touchdowns on its next two drives to build the 31-20 lead that held up.  

Others Nominated: Danny Davis, Black Hills State; Reggie Retzlaff, CSU Pueblo; Bryson Brown, Colorado Mesa; Jeffery Jones, New Mexico Highlands; Gage Baker, South Dakota Mines; Drew Nash, Western Colorado.

Defensive

Logan O’Brien, Chadron State (Senior (RS), Linebacker, Kearney, Nebraska)
O’Brien repeats as the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week after recording eight tackles in Chadron State’s 34-28 RMAC victory at Colorado School of Mines on Saturday. His eight-tackle (four solo) outing included 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, as well as another two hurries. O’Brien came up big in the fourth quarter with a stop for no gain on 4th-and-1, a sack, and a hurry. His stop for no gain came after the Eagles took a 24-20 lead in the final frame, with the resulting turnover on downs near midfield setting up another Chadron State scoring drive for a 31-20 lead. O’Brien then recorded a sack on 2nd-and-10 on the next Orediggers drive that helped stall the drive. On the game’s final drive, his hurry on 3rd-and-10 forced an incomplete pass, again stymieing the drive.

Others Nominated: Sebastian O’Farrell, Black Hills State; Bryson Torrie, CSU Pueblo; Lex Leany, Colorado Mesa; Jake Penney, Fort Lewis; Keenan Carter, New Mexico Highlands; Zachary Young, South Dakota Mines; Kade Musser, Western Colorado.  

Special Teams

Mike Jones, New Mexico Highlands (Senior, Kick Returner/Wide Receiver, Fort Worth, Texas)
Jones’ 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown just as the third quarter ended proved pivotal as New Mexico Highlands outlasted South Dakota Mines’ fourth-quarter rally to win 48-42 in overtime on Saturday. After South Dakota Mines scored on a 96-yard fumble return, Jones repaid the favor by returning the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. That proved crucial as it was the Cowboys’ last touchdown in regulation, putting the hosts ahead 42-21. Jones also handled punt return duties (2 returns, 8 yards) and scored three touchdowns as part of a 7-reception, 116-yard effort. He finished the game with 221 all-purpose yards against South Dakota Mines.

Others Nominated: Quinton Pacheco, Adams State; Mason Crosby, Black Hills State; Regan Baker, CSU Pueblo; Brodie Eisenbraun, Chadron State; Jackson Hansen, Colorado Mesa; Sam Eccles, South Dakota Mines; Adam Tasei, Western Colorado.

About the RMAC

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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