CHADRON, Neb. -- October 19, 2016 -- After a 20-year hiatus, Chadron State's oldest football rivalry will be renewed Saturday afternoon, when the Eagles will visit South Dakota Mines in Rapid City.  Kickoff at O'Harra Stadium will be at 1 p.m.

The teams that became known as the Eagles and Hardrockers initially met in Rapid City 1912, just a year after Chadron State opened its doors.  (Mines opened in 1885.) They didn't play again until 1919.  There have been other gaps in the rivalry through the years, but they have met on the gridiron 64 times, including 30 straight from 1966 through 1995, the last time they played one another.

The series, otherwise known as the "Battle for the Eagle Rock Trophy", is being renewed this fall after the Hardrockers were accepted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in early 2014.  

The Eagles lead the rivalry 46-18, but Chadron State expects to have its hands full against the potent Hardrockers on Saturday.  Mines is 5-2 for the season and 4-2 in the RMAC. The Eagles' win-loss numbers are the reverse.

Mines ranks No. 2 behind only Colorado Mines in several of the RMAC offensive statistical categories, including first downs per game (25.7), rushing average (239.0 yards), total offense (516.9) and scoring (40.7).  The Hardrockers are third in passing offense per game (277.9).

Mines' losses this season have been to CSU-Pueblo 37-10 and Colorado Mines 56-28, but they defeated Dixie State 31-27 and won by four touchdowns over Black Hills State, Adams State and New Mexico Highlands.  They also knocked off William Jewell of Missouri 64-41 in a non-conference season-opener.

Chadron State and Mines are coming off opposite experiences from last Saturday.  Colorado Mines jumped out to a 35-0 first quarter lead and went on to roll up 693 yards of total offense against the Hardrockers.  Chadron State, meanwhile, broke its five-game losing streak by running past New Mexico Highlands 73-0.

The Eagles hope to keep their momentum going. They rushed for 441 yards, their third highest all-time, and added another 105 through the air for 546 yards.  They were averaging 363.5 total yards and 24.8 points prior to Saturday.

Following the Eagles' huge success running the ball against Highlands, Chadron State's offense is almost perfectly balanced through seven games. It shows 1,355 yards passing and 1,347 rushing.

Punt returns have been a big weapon for the Eagles.  Senior Cody Paul ranks top-five NCAA Division II in number of returns (16), yards (320), and return average (20.0).  His returns include 74- and 70-yarders for touchdowns.  He's the second Chadron State player after Solomon Witherspoon in 1999 to return two punts for touchdowns in the same season.

CSC coach Jay Long called Mines' offense "dynamic."  The leader is quarterback Jake Sullivan, who has completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 1,651 yards and 15 touchdowns.  He also runs well, gaining 418 yards, and has been sacked just five times. Sullivan exited the game early on Saturday versus Colorado Mines with an apparent injury, did not return, and was undergoing further examination as of the beginning of the week.

Both of the Hardrockers' leading running backs, Connor Silveria and Dorian Cowart, have rushed for 499 yards.