CHADRON – Chadron State College quarterback Jonn McLain completed 28 of 43 passes for 352 yards and five touchdowns as the Eagles erased an 18-point deficit en route to claiming a raucous 48-45 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory over Western New Mexico Saturday at Elliott Field.
 
In a game that featured 1,116 combined yards, 172 total plays and 93 points, McLain, a senior who was playing in his final game at Elliott Field, said the Eagles chose to focus on the little things and not worry about the halftime deficit.
 
"We picked up first downs, moved the ball effectively and didn't beat ourselves by committing turnovers or penalties. I didn't even look at the scoreboard and I don't think any of my teammates did either. We tried to control what we could control and good things eventually happened and we were able to get the victory," McLain said. "It was a wild game, but a total team victory."
 
Wild might be an understatement. The two teams combined for 35 points in the final quarter, including three touchdowns in the final seven minutes. After trailing 31-13 early in the third period, the Eagles took their first lead on the opening play of the final quarter when McLain found Danny O'Boyle for a 4-yard touchdown (34-31). But Western New Mexico marched 75 yards in 13 plays and Cleavon Barnes helped the Mustangs regain a 38-34 lead after a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Glassman.
 
The Eagles wrestled the lead back with a 75-yard scoring drive of their own, capped off by a 9-yard run from Cody Paul. However, Western New Mexico would not be denied. The Mustangs drove 68 yards in 12 plays and converted two fourth downs before Glassman, who completed 20 of 38 passes for 253 yards and four TDs, leapt over the line for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Chadron State went 75 yards in less than one minute for the winning TD. McLain found Kyle Vinich, who had a game-high 11 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown, for gains of 15, 11 and 11 yards on three of the Eagles' first four plays.
 
McLain, who completed five of six passes for 61 yards on the drive, also hit Kyle Hooper for a 9-yard gain. Michael Madkins added a 14-yard run before O'Boyle caught his third touchdown of the game, a 15-yard strike from McLain that put CSC up 48-45 with 57 seconds to play.
 
Western New Mexico's offense, which gained 589 yards, stalled on its final drive. Glassman threw two incomplete passes before Dillon Breinig threw him to the turf on third down for a 9-yard sack. On fourth down, Glassman was pressured into the Mustangs' end zone and the CSC defense forced a final incomplete pass.
 
Chadron State College, now 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the RMAC, looked sluggish in the opening quarter. Western New Mexico (4-6, 3-5 RMAC) gained 193 yards and kept its offense on the field for nearly 12 minutes.
 
The Mustangs scored on their first three possessions while building a 17-0 lead and seemed to have the game in hand before Chadron State tailback Derek Jackson broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run. Before Jackson's season-long run, CSC had gained only 65 yards.
 
Western New Mexico's rushing attack proved difficult to stop, finishing with 336 yards on 65 carries. Freshman Marques Rodgers rushed for 205 yards on 36 carries and Barnes added 83 yards on 17 totes. Because of its successful rushing game, Western New Mexico nearly doubled CSC on the time of possession, 39:48 to 20:12.
 
Jackson led the CSC rushers with 95 yards on just four carries and Madkins finished with 84 yards. Madkins also added a 30-yard TD reception midway through the third quarter. In addition to Vinich and O'Boyle, who had seven receptions for 55 yards, Ethan Bauer had three receptions for 53 yards.
 
Four CSC defenders reached double digits in tackles. Linebacker Dylan Furrier led the charge with 19 tackles, Ryan Wood chipped in 15, Isaac Holscher had 14 and Cole Montgomery finished with 12.
 
The Eagles will close their regular season Saturday, Nov. 15, at Fort Lewis.
 
WNM    17 7 7 14 – 45
CSC        7 6 14 21 – 48
 
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
WNM – Josh McIntire 20 field goal
WNM – Marques Rodgers 6 run (McIntire kick)
WNM – Donald Byrd 24 pass from Mitch Glassman (McIntire kick)
CSC – Derek Jackson 75 run (Randy Wentz kick)
Second Quarter
WNM – Larry Young II 10 pass from Mitch Glassman (McIntire kick)
CSC – Kyle Vinich 17 pass from Jonn McLain (kick failed)
Third Quarter
WNM – Marcus Smith 47 pass from Mitch Glassman (McIntire kick)
CSC – Michael Madkins 30 pass from Jonn McLain (Wentz kick)
CSC – Danny O'Boyle 19 pass from Jonn McLain (Wentz kick)
Fourth Quarter
CSC – Danny O'Boyle 4 pass from Jonn McLain (Wentz kick)
WNM – Cleavon Barnes 25 pass from Mitch Glassman (McIntire kick)
CSC – Cody Paul 9 run (Wentz kick)
WNM – Mitch Glassman 2 run (McIntire kick)
CSC – Danny O'Boyle 15 pass from Jonn McLain (Wentz kick)