GUNNISON, Colo - October 3, 2015 - The Chadron State College football team rolled up 512 yards in total offense and led all the way Saturday afternoon while holding off Western State 31-24 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup.
               
The Eagles, who had 30 first downs and converted 10 of 18 third down situation, had a balanced attack. Derek Jackson rushed 24 times for 130 yards and Cody Paul carried 13 times for 101 yards to lead the ground game, and quarterback Matt Vinson, making his first start, completed 25 of 39 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown. 
                 
Vinson connected with seven receivers, including Danny O'Boyle who caught a five-yard pass to open the scoring late in the first period. 
               
After Western's Ryan Winke kicked a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter, the Eagles drove 78 yards in nine plays to take a 14-3 halftime lead.  Freshman Kevin Coy went the final yard for the touchdown after Vinson had connected with both Zac Bargen and Marcus Brown on 16-yard passes.
               
Paul scored on a 13-yard run to put the Eagles ahead 21-3 at the 10-minute mark in the third period, but Western responded when running back Austin Ekeler took a swing pass 48 yards to the end zone with 6:31 left in the third.
               
Late in the third period, the Eagles cashed in on a 75-yard drive, when Justyn Curtis, a former quarterback who moved to receiver this fall, threw a five-yard pass to Zac Bargen to give CSC a 28-10 lead.
               
Western State kept things interesting in the fourth period by scoring on 80- and 75-yard drives.  Quarterback Brett Arrivey hooked up with Travis Haney on a 58-yard pass for the first TD and Ekeler went the final yard on the second drive with just two minutes remaining.
               
In between, Alex Ferdinand booted a 20-yard field goal for the Eagles to give them some breathing room.
               
Chadron State coach Jay Long said he was pleased with the Eagles' performance.  He noted the Vinson was "calm and cool" and threw the ball wall after previously being on the field for just eight plays.
               
"Our defense also came through when we needed that," Long added.
               
Linebacker Dylan Furrier led the Eagles by participating in 17 tackles and twins Ryan and Brian Wood combined for 19 stops. 
               
True freshman DeAndre Barthwell, who was playing his first game, came up with one of Chadron State's biggest plays when he intercepted a pass in the end zone after the Mountaineers had driven 93 yards midway in the first period.
               
The Eagles are now 2-3 for the season and 1-2 in the RMAC. Western State is 0-5 and 0-3.