Chadron State College Athletics

Allan Schmaltz, a fifth-year wide receiver from Rapid City and also the graduate assistant in the sports information department, will offer his unique perspectives throughout the football season. Check back often for his insights into the team, as well as his football season.

November 20, 2012
 
This will be my final and lengthiest blog, so come along for the ride.
 
On Saturday my college football career ended when we lost to West Texas A&M, 38-30. It has been a tough pill to swallow and something that has been on my mind since we lost. Losing always hurts, it doesn’t matter if it’s by 30 or one; a loss is a loss. I will believe that until the day I die, however, this one was different.
 
Last Saturday was the last time I will ever put my pads and helmet on and play football. The game was a wild one and had a lot of ups and downs but we battled and never gave up. We showed heart when it would have been easy to quit in the fourth quarter. After a successful onside kick we got the ball back with around two minutes to go. I had no doubt in my mind we were going to score.
 
We moved the ball initially the last drive, but we stalled on three consecutive plays. The fourth down play called for me and Nate Ross to run curl routes to the first down marker. As I was turning around to look for the football I saw Jonn getting pressured and falling to the ground and yet somehow he threw the ball up for grabs. I was in the right place at the right time to make the catch.
 
In one way it was the perfect way to go out. I had the ball in my hands for the last play of my career. In another way it was the worst way to go out, since I ended up being six inches short of a first down. I have watched the film over and over and can’t decide if I got the first down or not. To be honest, it’s a play I’ll never forget and one that may haunt me forever.
 
It was a pretty emotional time after the game. I have never considered myself to be a very emotional person and I rarely cry. After we got our team break and the seniors got to hug all the other players, I cried as hard as I ever have in my life. I found my dad and cried on his arm like I was five years old. Immediately, I was pretty embarrassed about it, but now it doesn’t bother me. I put five years of my life into this and now it’s gone. If that doesn’t cause some emotion then I don’t know what would.
 
Playing at Chadron State has been a great experience for me and one I wouldn’t change. There have been some rough times and it has not always been easy. You put a lot of time into your career and at times it may not seem significant but winning a football game on a Saturday with your brothers makes it all worth it. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe and the reason we play the game. Winning is important, that’s why they keep score.
 
There have been other positive lessons I’ve learned while playing football here. I have met some great people and friends whom I will have for life. And for those of you who don’t know, Chadron State will turn you into a man. Playing football here will be one of the hardest things you ever do, but you won’t end your career with the regret of working too hard. I have never heard anyone say that and I doubt I ever will.
 
This season in particular has been a special one for me. I graduated in the spring and at the time I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back and play. It was a new team with a new staff and to be honest I didn’t know if I wanted to be part of that. After a meeting with the coaches in the spring, I made the decision to play my last year of eligibility.
 
Coming into the fall I knew exactly what my role would be. I would backup our two starting receivers and play on special team units. I knew that was my role and I had no problem with that. In the middle of the year I had the opportunity to start a few games because Travis Reeves hurt his shoulder. It was a role I wasn’t accustomed to and one that was quite different than being a backup. During our last six games I had more fun playing football than at any other point in my life.
 
Making plays and helping the team was an awesome feeling. Everyone on the team has a role and a job to do. At the end of the season my role changed and the expectations were higher for me than at any other point in my career. Some would think higher expectations would cause pressure but I felt the opposite. The higher the expectations went the more confident I became. No one will ever put higher expectations on me than myself.
 
This season I turned into the player and teammate I knew I could be. Statistically, it was by far my best season, but that’s not what sticks out. I developed more leadership skills this season and found myself speaking up. That surprised me because in the past I wouldn’t say a word.
 
Special teams are where I took the most pride and found myself speaking up the most. I feel this way about special teams because they were my first opportunity to play in college. I have been on our kickoff unit my entire career and I loved every second of it.
 
I need to thank many people for this experience at Chadron State. First, to my current teammates for going to battle every day, thank you. It wasn’t always easy but we made it through.  I would also like to thank all the coaches I have had here. I have become close with many of you and the Eagle nation has always done a great job of having awesome coaches.
 
There are a few past players I would like to shout out to. These players in particular have done a great deal for me in one way or another and I would just like to show my appreciation. Jared Hanson,Jay Meduna, Austin Bailey, Cory Beran, Craig Kaiser, Jeff Alcorn, Brandon Harrington, Tyler Watson, Tim Hiett, Sean McGowan, Justin Trout, Brandon Gunter, Josh Collett Joe McLain, Ice T, Maverick Churchill, Jed Herblan, Grady Goldhammer, Kevin Berg, Zach Wheeler and Steve Garcia to name a few. I apologize for others I missed, but it wasn’t intentional.
 
Side Notes About My Career.
 
Most memorable win: Beating Colorado Mines this season in the snow.
 
Most memorable individual moment: Forcing a fumble on punt against Angelo State that led to a touchdown. (Scoring a game winning touchdown against New Mexico Highlands in a close second.)
 
Funniest teammate: Keifer Burke and it’s not even close.
 
Funniest moment: Shane Dennehy eating 19 deviled eggs at a buffet.
 
Best teammate: It’s tough to say because there have been so many great ones, however, Sam Parker, our starting center, comes to mind.
 
Worst Loss: 1. West Texas in 2012 2.CSUP in 2012 3.Colorado Mines in 2011. All the losses hurt but these three stick out the most to me.
 
A few last words: Playing football at Chadron State was the best decision I have made in my life. The lessons I have learned playing football will carry over into the real world and I feel fortunate to call myself an Eagle.
 
P.S. Thanks to Alex Helmbrecht for being my editor all season.
 
#82 

November 14, 2012
 
This past weekend we beat Colorado School of Mines, 20-14 in the snow.
 
It was an interesting game and we had a lot to play for. If we won, we were guaranteed a playoff berth and it was Senior Day. The weather was great the entire week, a little cold but that’s to be expected in early November. In our pregame warm-ups the weather wasn’t too bad. I expected it to rain or potentially snow, but once the game started I was in for a rude awakening.
 

The pregame scene is to the left. The second picture was taken at halftime.

The game kicked off and it began to snow at a pretty good rate. Five minutes into the game it was obvious the snow was going to stick and we were going to have to deal with it. It didn’t seem to matter as we took a 14-0 lead into halftime after Jonn McLain threw two touchdown passes-one to Glen Clinton and one to me.
 
We had to wait to start the second half so the snow crew could properly sweep the hashes and sidelines. Midway through the third quarter, Jonn threw his third touchdown pass of the game to Nate Ross on a fourth down play. After a failed extra point we were up, 20-0. This would be the last time we had the momentum until late in the fourth quarter.
 
For about a 15 minute stretch our team couldn’t get anything going. Offensively we weren’t moving the football and we were leaving the defense in bad situations. The defense couldn’t seem to get a stop and Colorado Mines scored two quick touchdowns to make it 20-14. To make matters worse our kicking game was also poor.
 
Midway through the fourth quarter I was the most nervous I had been all season. Mines had the football and were driving to potentially take the lead. The defense did a great job and stopped them on consecutive fourth down possessions.
 
We got the ball back but were quickly forced to punt. Our punting unit did a great job of covering down and Josh Borm had his most important punt of the entire season. He kicked the ball exactly where he was supposed to place it on the numbers on the far sideline and gave our coverage unit a chance to make a play.
 
With about two minutes left, the defense again got a key stop that ended with Trelan Taylor’s seventh interception of the season. The offense got on the field to run the best play in our playbook: a quarterback kneel.
 
The game was an emotional one and we felt fortunate to win. All season we have been preaching “find a way to win.” and we did that. It was a team effort and we wouldn’t have won that football game without all three units making plays throughout the game.
 
This weekend we host West Texas A&M for a playoff game. West Texas is a really good football team and extremely explosive. Their offense is one of the best in the country and they have only been limited under thirty points one time this entire season. Their defense is fast and aggressive and they really get after the quarterback.
 
Playing at home two weeks in a row is an awesome feeling. I can speak for everyone in that we are sick of traveling and a few home games are great. Hopefully, it will be a packed house as we take on West Texas.
 
Side Notes
 
Would like to give a shout out to Shea Koch. Shea is one of our starting linebackers and he has been playing well all season. However, I am giving him this shout out for the excellent job he did long snapping in the snow. Snapping when it’s dry can be tough, let alone when you can’t feel your hands and the ball is soaked.
 
I think Dom Morris also deserves a shout out. We had a few injuries and he had to carry the load in the backfield for our offense. The yards may not show it, but he was running hard the entire game. Dom is another perfect example of what Chadron State is all about, filling in when your number is called.
 
I would also like to shout out to the fans that made the game. I know it was cold and wet but we really appreciate the support you showed us in less than ideal conditions.
 
The last shout out I need to give is to the coaches who thought of putting our hand warmers in the dryer. Call me a sissy but I had to change my socks, shoes and put on tights at halftime.
 
#82 

November 6, 2012
 
Although it can be tough, you still have to play when no one is watching.
 
This past Saturday we beat Fort Lewis, 45-20 in front of less than 1,000 fans. It was an odd game and one where I felt we didn’t play well. Statistically, we didn’t play poorly but as a team we expect to play great each and every week. Against Fort Lewis, we started flat. That being said, the offense still scored 45 points and the defense forced four turnovers.
 
There was never a moment of panic during the game - it just took us time to get the ball moving. After a timely turnover by the defense and Nate Ross’ second touchdown we had things under control.
 
The second half the starters played sparingly and the backups got their time to shine. I enjoy watching the other guys play. They put in just as much time as everyone else and them getting a chance to play is a good thing.
 
This weekend we host Colorado Mines. The Orediggers are a good team. They are 6-4 and have played most of their games competitively. Their offense scores points in bunches and the defense is extremely confusing. The last four times we have played, each team has won twice and the games are always close. I wouldn’t expect anything less this weekend.
 
This is the biggest game of my career and probably everyone else’s. Put simply, if we win, we go to the playoffs, if we lose we don’t. As we stressed on Sunday, this is a playoff game for us and we will treat it like one.
 
Being 8-2 and nationally ranked is a great accomplishment for our team. The season has gone fast and to be honest its gone great. We have won a lot of football games and gotten better every week. None of this matters if we don’t take care of business this weekend, though. We expect to win this game and keep our season moving.
 
This week is a weird one as it could be the last time I step on a football field. It’s a scary thought and one that I don’t like thinking about. Execution will be key and hopefully we take care of business.
 
Side Notes:
 
Would like to shout out to Kyle McCarthy for stepping in and playing some D-Line… he is about a biscuit away from being there permanently… just kidding.
 
Would also like to give a shout out to my mother, Patricia Horlock, for making the trip to Durango. She decided to come all the way from Texas for my birthday and to see the game. Thanks Mom.
 
Food Notes:
 
Got Taco Bell after the game, pretty awesome if you ask me.
 
#82 

October 30, 2012
 
Finish. We preach it all the time and last Saturday we got the job done.
 
Our game against Western New Mexico was by no means pretty. We started out flat and struggled to get anything going in the first half. Offensively, we were kicking too many field goals and putting ourselves in bad positions. The defense was sluggish as well, allowing 17 first half points.
 
The third quarter was some of the same as Western New Mexico took a 23-20 lead. The offense finally came alive in the fourth quarter and scored a quick touchdown to give us the lead.
 
The following drive the Mustangs drove to our 1-yard line. This was the biggest series of the game. If they scored a touchdown, they regained the lead. However, our defense did a great job of stopping them on four consecutive plays and that gave us the ball back.
 
Starting a drive deep in your own territory gets everyone a little nervous, let alone when you are starting at the 1-yard line. Our first play we did what most teams would do and ran a simple handoff up the middle. The second play was again a run up the middle and Glen Clinton broke it for 63 yards with the help of the offensive line.
 
Nate Ross caught his sixth touchdown of the season on the next play to give us a 34-23 lead and more importantly a huge point swing. Finally, midway through the fourth quarter, we were in control of the game. It took longer than we would have liked but you will never hear any of us complain about a victory. 
 
Going into this week’s game we are ranked No. 19 in the country while also being ranked third in our region for playoff standings. Being ranked so high in both polls is awesome, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t take care of business this Saturday.
 
We play Fort Lewis this week and while their record may not indicate it, they are a tricky team to play. Offensively, they throw the ball all over the yard and on defense they run some odd schemes that can confuse an offense.
 
We always get other team’s best games and we seem to have a target on our backs. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way because if you have a target on your back than obviously you have been doing something right.
 
Side Notes
 
I have to give a shout out to Pierre Etchemendy. The guy made plays all day on our special teams and is the definition of putting a team first.
 
Also, would like to shout out to Charles Ho Ching. Charles had seven tackles and a sack on Saturday. For those of you who don’t know Charles, he is the nicest guy you will ever meet during the week but he’s the scariest one on Saturdays.
 
I’m excited for our last regular season road trip - a 13-hour trip through the mountains sounds awesome. Also, I’ll be curious to see what movies we watch because I’m pretty sure the team has seen every new release that Mr. Movies has to offer.
 
#82

October 24, 2012
 
“Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.” Laird Hamilton
 
Finding a way to win has been our motto all season. This past weekend was no different as we got a victory against New Mexico Highlands. It was a tough one. To be honest, we didn’t play well but we were also playing a talented team on the road. We will take playing poorly and still coming away with a win any week.
 
The score was 20-10 in their favor at halftime and there was a weird vibe amongst the team. I don’t know if that was because we were losing at halftime for the first time in seven weeks or if it was because we couldn’t get anything going.
 
During the second half, the defense did a good job in limiting an explosive offense to field goals and the offense woke up and started putting points on the board. With less than nine minutes to play Jonn McLain found Chapman Hamm in the back of the end zone to give us a 27-26 lead.
 
A few possessions later, we had a four point lead after a field goal from Alex. The defense got us the ball back with four minutes left but we had to punt on fourth down. A miscue on the punt allowed Highlands to receive the ball deep in our territory. A few plays later, Highlands scored a touchdown to go up 33-30 with a little over two minutes left to play.

Personally, I wasn’t that nervous. Things were happening too quickly to sit and think about the situation we were in. We practice going fast as an offense all the time and I think that helped us in the two minute drill. Logically, we had to go half the distance of the field to get in field goal range.
 
The last drive shows the type of offense we can be since we drove the ball 75 yards in 1:21 and only faced one third down when all the chips were on the table.
 

The last play of the drive was designed for myself and the other outside receiver, Nathan Ross, to go to the end zone. Off the line of scrimmage I made a subtle inside move before breaking my route back outside. Once I snapped my head the ball was in the air and I was looking to make a play on it. The cornerback guarding me did an excellent job recovering defensively and tipped the pass. However, instead of going to the ground the ball came up and I got lucky enough to bobble it four times before completing the catch. It was an awesome feeling but one that went away quickly as soon as I began to think about my duties on kickoff.
 
To be honest I didn’t want to take my spot on kickoff; I was tired and didn’t feel good. I was initially going to have someone else take my rep for me but a few players and coaches convinced me to get out there. It was only one play and you can do anything for one play. I have seen guys be in way worse shape than I was and still be playing. Thankfully, Josh Borm did me a favor and kicked the ball out of the end zone and made the experience less painful for me.
 
This was a great victory for us as a team. We didn’t quit and people continued to make plays even when things were not going our way. The defense held Highlands to four field goals and forced three turnovers. Coming into the game the Highlands quarterback was leading the country in total offense and the defense did a great job of containing him.
 
This week we host Western New Mexico for Homecoming. This is a scary team as they have played with and beaten some good teams in our conference. If we come out flat we will again be in a hole because this team is talented and we are going to have to play well to win.
 
Offensively and defensively, we have minor things to clean up. The big concern this week was how poorly our special teams played last week. It wasn’t just one unit either, it was all of them. With how bad our kicking game was last week, we were lucky to win. It must be better this week for us to be successful.
 
Side Notes

Movie Notes
 
Good movies are becoming scarce after six road trips and I don’t feel the need to comment on any of them other than Goon, the story of a bouncer turned hockey player. If you like fighting and terrible pickup lines, then this is a movie for you.
 
Food Notes
 
We ate at an Asian buffet and I don’t think they were ready for us. After round one of the team eating, there was NO food left. The restaurant would make more only to see it gone the moment it was put down. We also got to eat at this little diner that looks like nothing special from the outside…with that being said, the burgers and pasta we ate there were awesome.
 
Would like to give shout out to Tyler Wright, who is one of our better special teams players and has been making plays for us all season.
 
I would also like to shout out to our secondary. Our receivers have had a few good weeks and that is partially because the best pass defense we see is you guys in practice.
 
Also, would like to shout out to Con Marshall for making the trip. Although he may be a few generations older, he fit in nicely. Con said our current team has as much talent as he has seen at CSC. Hopefully, we continue to win and prove him right.
 
#82

October 16, 2012
 
I went to the movie Argo last night and a quote really stuck out to me: “If I wanted to hear clapping I would have joined the circus.”
 
College football is all about opportunity and making the most of them once they present themselves. Making plays is expected; everyone on the field has a job to do. I started my first game this past weekend because my amigo, Travis Reeves, was out with a shoulder injury.  To be completely honest, I never thought much about starting. I consider myself a team-first guy and as long as we are winning games you will never hear a complaint out of my mouth.
 
During our Friday walk through I didn’t practice well and as Jonn McLain says “I have seen better hands on a clock.” It didn’t help my nerves when Coach Stein changed the opening play before the game and I knew there was a good chance I would be getting the football. On that play, I ran a deep route and Jonn found me for a 48-yard gain. After that play, though, the nerves went away and I was back to playing a game I’ve played my whole life.
 
Scoring two TDs and playing well in front of my family and friends was an awesome feeling and it is one I’ll never forget. After the game I received numerous phone calls and text messages congratulating me, which I appreciated very much. Normally, after home games I come back to the office to do homework, but it was more difficult after this game with my phone ringing off the hook.

Jake McCrary showing his surprising strength with Nate Ross after a touchdown.

Getting a win last Saturday was important because we needed it to get back on track. Saturday’s game made me nervous for a few reasons because in previous years after losing to Pueblo we lost our following game as well. Also, our Friday practice was not as sharp as it usually is. I could feel it.
 
The game was a different story, however. We competed well for all four quarters and dominated. Offensively, we started fast and kept it going throughout the game. Our defense forced turnovers and we had guys making plays all game. While we scored 62 points and only gave up 14, the best unit on the field was our special teams. The average fan doesn’t pay attention to the kicking game but as we always say it’s the quickest way to victory and the quickest way to lose. We had guys flying around and looking to make plays, and that culminated in having our first punt return for a touchdown in three years by Trelan Taylor. His 86- yard scamper is a school record.
 
This week we travel to Las Vegas, N.M., to play New Mexico Highlands. This is a team that is 6-1, while also being 5-0 in conference play. To say they are athletic is an understatement as they have loads of team speed and play physically. This is an important game for both teams since we both have a realistic chance to make a playoff push with a win.
 
Keeping our composure and being disciplined will be important for this game. The environment will be hostile and Highlands is a team that can make plays in a hurry. It’s a big game for us and something we are looking all forward to.
 
Side Notes
 
Would like to give a shout out to Austen Stephens, he joined the club of receivers after catching his first touchdown pass. Austen showed his blazing speed in a footrace to the end zone.
 
Would like to shout out to Bryce Huebner as well. Anyone who has seen Bryce without pads on probably thinks he is just your Average Joe. While looking like an average guy he is a heck of a player. Bryce has been making plays for our team all season long and I don’t think that should go unnoticed. On Saturday alone, he had nine tackles, a pick and a forced fumble.
 
Jonn McLain completed 21 consecutive passes last Saturday, I find this ironic since he can’t complete 21 in a row in warm ups. Talk about a gamer.
 
This was the most difficult blog I have had to write up to this point. Writing about myself is difficult and something I’m not used to. With that being said, I had six receptions for 130 yards and two TDs. There, I got it out of the way. I recommend Argo, by the way.
 
#82 

October, 8 2012

“I hate to lose more than I like to win.” Larry Bird

Knowing how to react after a win is easy. The true test for any team is how it deals with a loss and what to do about it.
 
Losing to Pueblo this past weekend hurts. I have been fortunate to have won a lot of football games in my career but the losses stick with us much longer than the wins do.
 
I have been asked repeatedly over the last few days why I think we lost. The answer: we didn’t make enough plays down the stretch as a team. It had nothing to do with effort or our desire to win.
 
We had our chances offensively and defensively to put them away, and we didn’t get the job done.  Two first downs at the end of the game by our offense and that game is over. One stop by our defense and the game is over. If our special teams block the extra point, the game is over.
 
If I have learned anything playing college football it’s that you win and lose as a team and there is never one play that determines the outcome of a football game. With that being said, it still hurts tremendously.
 
As a team we need to do a better job of executing down the stretch and finishing games. We have played three close games this season and in all three we had big leads just to let the opponent creep back in.
 
 I normally write this blog on Wednesday during a home week, but after that game I decided the earlier I get done thinking about Pueblo, the better.
 
This weekend we have our second game at home, Black Hills State. The Yellow Jackets are a team that knows us well. Coach Reiners, their head coach, was an assistant coach here for 15 years, while Coach Tetrault, their secondary coach, finished his graduate assistant position here last fall. They have played many of the same conferences foes as we have and played them all in close games. They are a new and dangerous team in the conference. To be successful we will have to execute the whole game.
 
Playing in front of a home crowd will be nice since this is our seventh game of the season and only our second home game.
 
Side Notes
 
For those of you who don’t already know, Glen Clinton is a MAN. Over the past two weeks he has 60 rushing attempts for 403 yards. Glen came to play Saturday and the team feeds off the effort he shows.
 
Also, Trelan Taylor showed the type of player he is during this game, finishing with 14 tackles and two interceptions… Last but not least, I would like to give a shout out to Cole Montgomery. Cole is a freshman safety who does most of his work on special teams, but the guy flies around and shows great effort when his is on the field. Playing hard doesn’t go unnoticed, keep it up.
 
Food Notes:
 
One of the better trips for food as far as I’m concerned, got to eat Qdoba and Subway in the same weekend, plus our normal buffet.
 
#82
  
October 2, 2012

Winning is never easy. Doing it on the road is even harder.

It doesn’t matter whether the game is close or a blowout, the necessary work that goes into each week’s game plan is always different. Every team utilizes a different scheme and has different strengths and weaknesses.

Adams State is a good football team and we knew that going into last Saturday’s game. Playing them in a tight game didn’t surprise me because it seems our games with them are always close.

As a team we started fast and had all the momentum going into the second half, leading 16-0. The second half was a different story, though, and we let down our guard. Adams State took full advantage of that and marched back into the game.

With the score 16-14 in our favor, the offense had an impressive drive in the fourth quarter to make is a two-possession game after Cody Roes caught a TD pass from Jonn McLain.

After a quick Adams score we regained the football with two minutes and 36 seconds remaining. Everybody and their dog knew we were going to run the football and we did it anyway.

On a key third down Glen Clinton had one of the most incredible football runs I’ve ever seen. We needed eight yards. Glen helped us get 20. The run itself was impressive, but the situation in which he did it is what stands out to me. Sometimes you just have to make plays and that’s what he did.

Watch the video. Check out (No. 6) Travis Reeves’ block.

Offensively, we need to do a better job. The defense did theirs and started strongly in the first half by forcing Adams State to four three-and-outs and six punts.

Scoring 16 points with that kind of defensive effort is unacceptable and I feel I’m speaking for everyone on the offense. When the defense is flying around making plays we need to do a better job of executing and putting points on the board.

This week we play the No. 2-ranked team in the country: CSU Pueblo. To say the ThunderWolves are a good team would be an understatement. They have beaten us three years in a row and won the conference title last season.

This game is one of the reasons I came back to play this season. I get a chance to play a great team in their house in a hostile environment. The last three years have been tight games and we had opportunities in all of them. This is an important measuring stick for us and we will need to execute in all phases of the game to be successful.

Keifer Burke being tackled from behind by an offensive lineman.

Side Notes

Shout out to the offensive line against Adams State. The Grizzlies knew we were going to run the football all day and our big front five dominated the line of scrimmage.

Also, would like to give a shout out to Clint Sasse for stepping in and making plays. Guys like him are the reason Chadron State is successful.

Movie notes

Good movies are becoming pretty scarce, as we have been on the road four times in five weeks.

War Horse, Redemption, Safe, 13, Cabin in the Woods, Due Date, Felon and This is War are a few we watched.

I have seen War Horse twice and it didn’t get better the second time.

Due Date and This is War are both funny and 13 was really cool if you’re interested in Russian roulette. The best show we watched was Felon, a nice prison flick.

Food notes

Had food catered to us by a different hotel, which included a fajita bar. I know I’m not alone when saying, I can’t complain.

#82 

September 25, 2012

Having a home game was a little odd this week since we’ve been on the road for three straight games.

It seemed like I personally had more time to relax and get things done. During home games, we have more time to meet as a team during the week.

On road trips, I usually watch re-runs of Sports Center over and over; this week I had the luxury of going to a movie the night before the game.

At home, everyone prepares differently. Big shock here, I like to get ready as late as possible. We meet as a team at 10:30 when there’s a noon kickoff and I usually get in the locker room at 10 or so. I get nervous if I sit too long, so I try to stay at home as long as possible. Once in the locker room it’s all business. If you can’t get yourself ready to play college football you probably chose the wrong sport.

As I wrote last week there is no place like home and that proved to be true last Saturday. Our team started fast and never looked back once we gained a lead. Offensively, it seemed like we started a little flat, though. I don’t know if that’s because we stalled on our first two drives or because the defense had our first two touchdowns. However, the offense certainly came alive in the second quarter scoring 21 points.

The game was well executed from a team standpoint. We moved the ball well after a couple early hiccups and our defense played lights out holding the Mountaineers to seven points.

Kicking was also better this week as Alex Ferdinand made a 47-yard field goal, which is a career long for him. We limited penalties this week and it was our first game where we had fewer penalties than our opponent.

This week we’re back on the road to play the Adams State Grizzlies. Adams is a team that always plays us close (our last four meetings have been decided by two touchdowns or less).

Adams has a fast and aggressive defense and it plays hard. Since I’m on offense I don’t know much about their offensive unit, other than in previous years they can score points in a hurry.

We are getting into the heart of our conference schedule and this game is a good measuring stick to see how we stack up for the rest of the season. A good week of preparation and practice will hopefully lead to a positive outcome Saturday.

Congrats to Deion Sanders ... Wait, I mean Lane Haller on his interception return. I didn’t know Primetime was so popular on the mean streets of Gordon where Lane learned how to run.

Side notes

Thanks to the fans for the support at our first home game. I’m glad the team was able to play well in front of a great crowd. I also want to thank all the parents and others who made the trip for Family Day.

Shout out to a few more receivers catching their first college pass: Isaac Holscher, Nolan Britian and Andrew Rios.

It was also good to see Patrick “Gunslinger” O’Boyle throw his first career TD pass to former Class B rival, Rios. Glad to see they put their high school hatred aside. Well, at least they did last week.
 
#82

Sept. 19, 2012

Sometimes the hardest thing during a game isn’t securing the win, it's weathering the storm that goes along with it.

We played Colorado Mesa University this past weekend and we were up 14-0 after the first five minutes. Obviously, we started off quickly and were playing well in all phases of the game.
 
Each game has its share of ups and downs, though. Last Saturday was no different.
 
After a mistake on a kickoff and a few stalled drives, the score was tied at 14-14. As Coach Long put it on the sidelines: “We’re in a dog fight.”
 
As the game continued, we would gain a lead, only to see it wither away. At the start of the fourth quarter we were down 30-28. I wouldn’t say we were panicked, but we had a heightened sense of urgency.
 
A few big plays by the offense - kudos to Jonn and Nathan - and several key stops by our defense, in particular an interception in the end zone from Lane Haller and a great tackle by Bryant Miller on the goal line, helped us gain a 41-30 lead that we would not surrender.

While there were positives to the game, there are still improvements that need to be made. Penalties are something that really stick out to me, along with our kicking game.
 
This week we play Western State for our second conference game. And FINALLY, the game is at home. In the last three weeks we have driven over 5,000 miles and been through eight different states. Truly, there is no place like home.
 
Last season we had a tough game with Western and they are a good team. I know for a fact the Mountaineers are well coached by Coaches Bains, Aimone, Case and McDonough - all CSC dudes. To be successful in this game we again will have to play well for four quarters and limit our mistakes.
 
Side Notes:
First of all, I must congratulate fellow wide receivers Kyle Vinich and Danny O’Boyle on their first collegiate catches. I see several more in both of your futures, fellas.


Movie Notes:
Some of the ones we watched were The Hunter, Snow White and the Huntsmen, The Dictator and Bad Teacher.

The movie selection was decent this trip. The Hunter had potential but failed in the end. I had previously seen Snow White, but it was good the second time around. Bad Teacher is quite outrageous but pretty funny.

Food Notes:
For our post game meal, we received Arby’s sandwiches instead of pizza. I have to give a shout out to Coach Stein on that one.

I also have to thank Sean McGowan's folks for some good cookies. Looks to me like Sean can eat a few more of those himself.

#82

Sept. 11, 2012

Winning cures all problems. It’s as simple as that.

Just watch how happy Chapman Ham and Jonn McLain are following Saturday's win.

Beating Angelo State 19-7 this past weekend was a wonderful feeling and definitely a team victory.

There were things going against us - we were away from home (again), we suffered through a 20-hour bus trip and, of course, we were playing a talented football team in Angelo State. While all of those things are true, you still have to put the pads on and play. You can use the excuses you want, but that’s not how we run things around here.

It was 86 degrees at kickoff, so that was a benefit to everyone who was playing. We practiced Friday afternoon and it was 102. It was so hot that my feet were burning through my cleats.

Jonn McClain or Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber? What’s even more interesting about this photo is he lost the cap for his tooth while he was sleeping, NOT when we were playing… talk about some violent dreams.

On Saturday, we did good things in all three aspects of the game. Offensively, we moved the ball when we needed to and came up with key third down conversions. I thought the defense played well, but I don’t know enough about their schemes or how the defensive coaches think they played, so I won’t comment on it too much. We had some big plays on special teams, but we also got lucky on a few things. All in all, if we can clean up the penalties and tighten up our kicking game we will continue to improve.

The bus trip back was as bad as it gets. The first few hours were not terrible because you are still excited from the game. I knew it was going to be bad at about 1:30 a.m. That’s when we were just getting out of Texas.

I was fortunate enough to get a solid three hours of sleep with my feet diagonal and backwards from my body. We did stop and get some fantastic breakfast sandwiches on the way home, though. We arrived in Chadron a little after 10 a.m. Just in time for the NFL football to start.

This week we will play Colorado Mesa University. I know this will be a tough game because every year the Mavericks play us close. Regardless of either of our records it is always a tight and physical football game.

Another thing that makes this game out of the ordinary is former CSC coaches are now working at Mesa. Coach O’Boyle, Coach Auer and Coach Martin are all assistants at Mesa and, like a majority of our team, I’m sure they’ve gone through changes. However, I have nothing but the utmost respect for these three men, particularly Coach OB and Auer who have done a lot for me.

With that being said it’s not going to change our teams thought process about this game. We are going to Grand Junction to get a win. On Saturday, nothing else is matters.

The squad hanging out at McDonalds…. I need to throw a shout out to Glen Clinton for hooking me up with a No. 1.

Movie notes
We watch random movies on the way to a trip and we watch comedies after a victory on the way home.

Project X, 21 Jump Street, Passenger 57, Chain Reaction, 7 Below, The Fighter, The Women in Black.

Project X was a little rough. It had lots of laughs but I wouldn’t recommend it to those who are easily offended.  Passenger 57 came out in 1992. So that means I am one of about nine on our team who were born when it came out…7 below ranks among the worst movies I have ever seen…21 Jump Street is quite funny.

Food notes
Nothing too spectacular last week on the food side of things. We ate at a few more buffets which are always a good time. However, once we got to our hotel we had the rest of our meals catered there.

Hotel notes
Sleep number beds in Angelo, Texas at the Clarion hotel. Big upgrade from the usual hotel bed, my number is 35.

#82

Sept. 5, 2012

Playing in front of 20,000 fans at Montana State last Thursday is an experience I’ll never forget.

As Jonn McLain said: “This is what college football is all about.”

I couldn’t agree more because I feel fortunate to have been able to play in a game like that. Even though we lost the game, there were positives gained from it. Montana State is one of the best football teams we are going to see all season and we still have a minimum of 10 games to play.

With that being said, I personally don’t believe in moral victories. The only victory on Thursday night was the one Montana State earned.  Losing is unacceptable; definitely something we won’t make a habit of.

There is too much effort and work put in each week to take a loss and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth until the next game. The best time in the season is when the clock strikes zero and your team is ahead.

This Saturday we will play at Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas. It’s a 2,000-mile round trip to San Angelo and I know we’ll be ready to play once we get off the bus.

Last season we lost to the Rams 49-42 in the closing seconds of the game. They are a good football team and we are going to have to play well to be successful against them. The temperature will probably be approaching triple digits and it will be another hostile environment.

Losing to Angelo last season was as tough of a loss as I have experienced. I’m sure the rest of the team agrees with sentiment. We owned a lead in the fourth quarter and we didn’t put them away. Because of that it’s a game that definitely sticks with you.

Side notes from the trip to Montana State

Trelan Taylor might be the most popular player on our team. After I posted this picture (left) of him sleeping on the bus on Facebook it immediately had 30 likes/comments. Quite impressive.

Food Notes:
Golden Corral and KFC buffet in the same day.  Best trip ever.

KFC did a wonderful job of helping vegan Tyler Wright with his food, tofu chicken sounds delicious.

Baja Fresh/ Canyon Burgers is absolutely delicious. If you happen to be in Bozeman, I highly suggest going there.

Movie Notes:
Battleship, The Grey, Hunger Games and Act of Valor. Not a bad selection in my opinion. I have seen much worse if I must admit. If you like blood thirsty dogs I suggest The Grey.
 
#82

Aug. 28, 2012
Preparation before the season is extremely demanding, not only physically but mentally.

The Chadron State football team has been in season for 20 days, which is a long time. Most players are ready for the season to begin so we can all get in a routine and finally hit someone other than our teammates.

Camp was difficult this year. Soreness is normal in football, but to me, I don’t think anyone could ever get used to it. My feet and legs seem to be sore all the time and I have it easy compared to most other players. As an outside receiver there are very few instances where I am getting crushed or hit hard on consecutive plays. However, there are positions like tailback and defensive end who receive contact every play. How those guys can still function day after day is amazing to me.  

This was my fifth fall camp at CSC and I am still learning things about our offense and team. You can play football for your entire life and still learn new things about the game. I guess that’s why people always try to stay involved with it. Late nights studying and thinking about football are routine but balancing those things with your life is key.

To be a successful player you have to put in the time when no one is watching you. That can vary from how you’re taking care of your body, film study, proper rest and knowing your assignments on the practice field. A player does all these things every week to earn three hours of excitement and passion on Saturdays.

Football is a game of emotion. I’ll admit that it’s a lot of hard work, but nothing will give you more satisfaction than getting a win after a long week of practice and individual preparation. With that being said, I couldn’t be more excited for our first game Thursday. I feel like all of us have put in the effort to be successful. Hopefully, that will lead to a positive outcome at Montana State.
 
#82