CHADRON – Chadron State's final football game of the season will be a big one. The Eagles have a tough opponent in Colorado Mines and it's a "must win" situation if CSC is to make it to the playoffs. Kickoff is set for noon in Golden, Colo.
 
Despite victories of 59-17 and 34-10 in their last two games, the Eagles have slipped to eighth in the Super Region 4 rankings after being seventh the previous two weeks. The decision on which of the six teams from the region will advance to the playoffs will be made Sunday after the regular season schedules have been completed.
 
All of the teams in the top nine last week won this past Saturday except Midwestern State of Texas, which was defeated 40-21 by Eastern New Mexico, the same team that trumped West Texas A&M the previous Saturday, 39-38.
 
Midwestern was fourth in the regional rankings last week, but is now ninth. However, both Tarleton State and West Texas A&M moved ahead of the Eagles and are now sixth and seventh, respectively, on the list.
 
The region's top 10 and their season records follow: 1, CSU-Pueblo (10-0); 2, Ohio Dominion (9-0); 3, Saginaw Valley (9-1); 4, Indianapolis (9-1); 5, Grand Valley (8-2); 6, Tarleton State (7-2); 7, West Texas A&M (8-2); 8, Chadron State (8-2); 9, Midwestern State (7-2); and 10, Ferris State (7-3).
 
While Chadron State is playing at Mines in Golden, Grand Valley hosts Saginaw Valley and West Texas plays at Midwestern State. Tarleton also has a tough customer on its schedule. The Texans will host North Alabama, which has a 7-2 record, is third in the Super Region 2 ranking and 20^th on American Football Coaches Association's top 25 list this week.
 
The Orediggers are 7-3 for the season and 6-2 in the RMAC. Except for a 25-22 upset at Western New Mexico on Oct. 5, Mines would likely be a strong contender to be among the top 10 in Super Region 4.
 
Mines' other losses have been to Carson-Newman of Tennessee 27-24 on Sept. 14 and to CSU-Pueblo 48-28 on Oct. 19, the next week after the ThunderWolves had downed the Eagles 51-42.
 
Since the loss at Pueblo, the Orediggers have won three games, defeating Colorado Mesa 27-10, Western State 14-13 and Adams State 45-10.
 
Coach Bob Stitt has started three quarterbacks this fall with redshirt freshman Justin Dvorak getting the call the last three contests. Junior Matt Brown started the first five games and was replaced by sophomore Joe Schneider for two games before Dvorak was put in charge.
 
No matter which one of the trio is under center, the Orediggers are expected to throw the ball a lot.
 
"They're definitely a pass-oriented team," said CSC defensive coordinator Jeff Larson. "They may be running it a little more lately, but they're mostly a passing team. Coach Stitt is patient. His teams will mix the run and use short passes for a while and then, all of the sudden, throw the long one on you. We'll have to remember our assignments and not let them go deep on us."
 
Brown has completed 133 of 203 passes for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns, Schneider has hit on 87 of 158 for 924 yards and nine TDs while Dvorak has clicked on 84 of 130 for 898 yards and seven TDs. Each of the quarterbacks has been intercepted three times.
 
Although he's seen limited action at quarterback lately and has gotten some playing time at wide receiver, Brown remains the Orediggers' leading rusher with 492 yards and six TDs. Tevin Champagne, a 5-11, 190-pound junior, and Dan Palmer, a 6-2, 235-pound senior, have shared most of the running back duties. Champagne has carried 105 times for 446 yards and Palmer has 107 carries for 432 yards. Both have scored three touchdowns.
 
Like the Eagles, Mines uses an array of receivers. Nine players have caught at least 17 passes, led by Jimmy Ellis, a 5-9, 140-pound sophomore, with 69 for 588 yards and Ty Young, who has 42 for 623. Diamond Gillis, 6-0, 170-pound junior, is also a dangerous receiver. He has 33 receptions for 427 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns.
 
Mines leads the nation in first downs with 298, while CSC is second with 278. The Eagles are the national leader in third down conversions, converting 53 percent of the time (87-163).
 
The Orediggers' punter, Avery Llewellyn, leads the nation in net punting at 40.9 yards a punt. The foes have managed just 79 yards on 13 returns this fall. Llewellyn also has hit on 11 of 16 field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder last week against Adams State.