CHADRON, Neb. - October 7, 2015 - After defeating Western State 31-24 last Saturday, the Chadron State football team will strive to even its season record this Saturday, when it entertains Adams State during the Eagles' Homecoming contest. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m..
The Eagles, who are 2-3, have fared well while playing before the old grads the past several decades. They are 32-13-1 on Homecoming since 1969 and 21-4 since 1990. Their only Homecoming setback this century was in 2011, when CSU-Pueblo prevailed 38-28.
By nearly every account, the Eagles played well at Western State. Their 512 total net yards was a season high and they turned the ball over just once. The defense gave up a season-high 387 yards passing, but held the Mountaineers' vaunted rushing attack to a season-low 108 yards.
"We cleaned up some things that hurt us the previous game against Colorado Mesa," CSC coach
Jay Long said. "The offense moved the ball a lot better. Two of our running backs (
Derek Jackson and
Cody Paul) each ran for over 100 yards and we threw the ball for a season-best 271 yards. These stats mean that the offensive line was playing well."
Sophomore quarterback
Matt Vinson completed 25 of 39 passes while making his first start after the previous starter,
TD Stein, sustained a hand injury late in the prior game against Colorado Mesa.
Long also noted that after having to attempt 11 field goals in the first four games, the Eagles scored touchdowns four of the five times they drove into the Western State red zone. He added that both placekicker
Alex Ferdinand and punter
Zach Smith had excellent games.
Ferdinand sent four of his six kickoffs into the end zone and four of Smith's punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Adams State is 1-4 on the season. The Grizzlies' victory was the dynamic 52-51 double overtime triumph at Western State's expense on Sept. 26. Western led 42-6 until Adams State scored on the final play of the first half when the Grizzlies scored a touchdown.
Adams State then rang up 29 points in the second half while holding the Mountaineers scoreless to send the contest into overtime and won it in the second extra session.
Western State isn't the only opponent to score lots of points against the Grizzlies. The foes are averaging 50.8 points against them. The losses have been to Texas A&M-Commerce 48-17, Eastern New Mexico 44-30, Colorado Mesa 55-16 and CSU-Pueblo 56-0.
Through the five games, Adams State's opponents have netted 1,533 yards on the ground and 1,190 through the air for a total of 2,723 yards, an average of 544.6 a game. The Grizzlies have accumulated 636 yards rushing and 1,323 passing, a total of 1,959 yards and 391.8 per game.
The Eagles have rushed for 1,119 yards and passed for 945 for a total of 2,065, or 412.8 per game, and given up 875 on the ground and 1,015 through the air for a 1,890 total and 378.0 a game.
CSC defensive coordinator
Jeff Larson noted that Adams State's second half surge against Western State illustrates the Grizzlies' offensive potential. Those scoring drives covered 85, 86, 66 and 84 yards.
Adams State finished the game with 619 total net yards.
Larson noted that junior Auston Hillman is a capable quarterback. He has completed 99 of 160 passes for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns. In addition, he's the team's second leading rusher with 150 yards, despite losing 122 yards while being sacked.
Hillman has been intercepted 12 times, half of them last week against Pueblo. The ThunderWolves will be CSC's opponent the following Saturday, Oct. 17.
