The Chadron State College defense is expected to have its hands full Saturday when it takes on the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference clash in Las Vegas.
 
The Cowboys are a pass-happy team that can put up the points. Fired by quarterback Lance Orender, a 6-foot-6 senior, they are second in the conference behind only Colorado Mines in scoring offense at 35.2 points a game and total offense at 536 yards a game.
 
But as Highlands' 3-5 record indicates, the Cowboys also give up lots of points and yards. Their opponents are averaging 38.9 points and 478.9 yards. They are last in the RMAC in scoring defense and eighth among the 10 teams in total defense.
 
Chadron State, 5-3 for the season and 4-2 in the RMAC, is averaging 31.1 points while giving up 27.1 points a game. The Eagles have rolled up 446.9 yards a game and yielded 406.8 yards game, second lowest behind Colorado State-Pueblo in the RMAC.
 
Orender is the conference's passing leader. He has completed 298 of 447 tosses for 3,326 yards and 31 touchdowns. His favorite receiver, Tyler Slavin, has 100 receptions for 1,171 yards and 15 touchdowns to lead the RMAC in catches, yards receiving and scoring.
 
Highlands doesn't bother to run the ball much. Its 99.5 yards per game on the ground is last in the conference. Chadron State, meanwhile, leads the RMAC in rushing at 205.1 yards a game and is third in rushing defense, giving up 148.8 yards a game on the ground.
 
The Eagles had to go all out to beat the Cowboys last year. All-star tailback Glen Clinton uncorked a 58-yard touchdown jaunt with 4:40 to play to help CSC break a 24-24 tie and win 31-24.
 
Highlands out-yarded the Eagles 466 to 342 a year ago, when the New Mexico team was more ground-oriented. Tailback Dominque Ferrell carried 29 times for 168 yards against the Eagles.
 
The Cowboys' wins have been over Western New Mexico 59-38, Fort Lewis 45-10 and Western State 46-43. They lost to Adams State 41-34 Saturday.
 
Orender was the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week after the victory over Western New Mexico, when he completed 56 of 78 passes for 620 yards and eight touchdowns. His completion total broke the old conference record by 13.
 
Two weeks ago when the Cowboys beat Western State, their senior placekicker, Zach Tapia, was the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week after he'd booted four field goals and four extra points. Three of the field goals were at least 45 yards long.
 
Chadron State coach Jay Long admits that he's expecting a shootout in Las Vegas.
 
"It should be a good game," he said. "Highlands has been in every game and does things different than most teams. They like to throw long passes and come up with big plays."
 
Long added that he was pleased by his team's effort while holding off Black Hills State during the 33-28 win Saturday.
 
In particular, Long said the Eagles received lots of help from reserves who played more than usual, largely because of injuries. In particular, he cited linebacker Clay Cundall and safety Trevon Mosley for filling vacancies at their positions.
 
While none of the Eagles apparently has a disabling injury, he said a number of them are not at 100 percent.
 
"At one time Saturday, we had 10 starters who were unavailable," Long said. "That often happens late in the season. But the bench took up the slack."