With only a few Division I walk-on offers, John Matocha seriously considered giving up football after high school. He wasn’t quite ready, though, and decided to pursue a small-school option that took him far from home. It was a good decision. He enters his fourth season as Colorado Mines’ starting quarterback and is bidding to win a second straight Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II. Last year, Matocha passed for a nation-leading 4,778 yards and 52 touchdowns and led the Orediggers to 13 straight wins and the national championship game following an 0-2 start. Mines brings back 18 starters and begins the season ranked a program-best No.