CHADRON – After scoring touchdowns on its opening three possessions, it appeared Chadron State College's football team would be in cruise control during its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game with Black Hills State Saturday at Elliott Field. However, the Yellow Jackets put on the brakes and took the Eagles to the wire before CSC earned a raucous 33-28 victory.
 
With the win, Chadron State improves to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the RMAC. Black Hills State falls to 2-6 and 1-5 in the league.
 
Since Black Hills State joined the RMAC in 2012 and renewed its longtime rivalry with the Eagles, the games have been a one-sided affair. Saturday's game went down to the final play.
 
Black Hills State quarterback Ward Anderson, who completed 29 of 55 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns, connected with Bradley Adamson on a 13-yard completion to cut the Eagles' lead to 33-28 with 26 seconds remaining. Anderson, who added 49 yards on the ground and a TD, drove the Yellow Jackets 80 yards in 1:15 with no timeouts to give them a chance.
 
On the ensuing onside kick, Black Hills State's Allan Stubbs recovered the ball on the CSC 46-yard line to set the Jackets up for their final drive. However, the Eagles' defense forced four-straight incomplete passes – the final one in the end zone – to preserve the victory.
 
"It feels good to get the win," head coach Jay Long said. "Both teams played incredibly hard and my hat is off to Black Hills State. They never gave up and our guys just found a way to win at the end of the game."
 
The opening three quarters weren't nearly as dramatic as the final stanza. The Eagles' offense made things look easy in the first quarter when Cody Paul and Michael Madkins both scored rushing touchdowns. Paul burst through the left side of the offensive line for a 17-yard scoring dash and Madkins, who led the team with 96 yards rushing, broke free for a 25-yard sprint.
 
Also in the first quarter, Austen Stephens added a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jonn McLain, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 193 yards.
 
Black Hills State kept pace in the first quarter when Anderson completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Eboreime, who led the Jackets with seven receptions for 129 yards.
 
Following Stephens' TD catch, the Yellow Jackets scored early in the second quarter when Anderson hooked up with Luke Whalen on a 27-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles took a 24-14 lead into the locker rooms at halftime when Randy Wentz booted a 22-yard field goal.

Black Hills State opened the second half with an effective 75-yard drive, capped off by Anderson's 1-yard scoring plunge. The Eagles answered with three straight field goals from Wentz, who provided the remainder of the scoring for Chadron State. His kicks covered 32, 20 and 37 yards. Wentz, a sophomore from Scottsbluff, is now 11-for-11 kicking field goals this season.
 
While Wentz stole the special teams show, the Eagles also benefited from Zach Smith's punting. The sophomore from Gering placed the Yellow Jackets inside the 20-yard line three times and averaged 42 yards on six punts.
 
Eleven different receivers had a reception for the Eagles. Antonio Thompson, who was making his first career start, led the way with five receptions for 22 yards. Danny O'Boyle added three receptions for 34 yards and Ethan Bauer had four catches for 25 yards.
 
Defensively, Collin Eisenman had 10 tackles, Dylan Furrier finished with eight and Clay Cundall had six, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
BHSU     7 7 7 7 – 28
CSC        21 3 3 6 – 33
 
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
CSC – Cody Paul 17 run (Patrick O'Boyle pass failed)
BHSU – Anthony Eboreime 41 pass from Ward Anderson (Steven Soderstrom kick)
CSC – Michael Madkins 25 run (Randy Wentz kick)
CSC – Austen Stephens 10 pass from Jonn McLain (Patrick O'Boyle rush)
Second Quarter
BHSU – Luke Whalen 27 pass from Ward Anderson (Soderstrom kick)
CSC – Randy Wentz 22 field goal
Third Quarter
BHSU – Ward Anderson 1 run (Soderstrom kick)
CSC – Randy Wentz 32 field goal
Fourth Quarter
CSC – Randy Wentz 20 field goal
CSC – Randy Wentz 37 field goal
BHSU – Bradley Adamson 13 pass from Ward Anderson (Soderstrom kick)