GOLDEN, Colo. -- October 29, 2016 -- Chadron State College football lost two turnovers in each half as Colorado School of Mines found their usual efficiency on offense, as the Orediggers cruised to a 40-14 win at home on Saturday.

"They're a good football team," said head football coach Jay Long. "We thought we had a great game plan coming in. Those first two drives really dictated the game. We were moving the ball downfield, and then they turned the ball over with a weird play. We had four turnovers, and you can't give the ball away to a team with that kind of offense. You need to keep the momentum."

CSM gained 644 yards of total offense on 89 plays, for a 7.2 yard-per-play average, balanced between 48 rushes and 41 passes. They converted 10 of 16 third downs for a rate of 62.5 percent.

Chadron State began the game showing off a productive offense of their own, running their opening possession down to the Mines 24-yard line on a 10-play drive. Unfortunately for CSC, a hit by Mines defensive lineman Tommy Hoskins on Eagle quarterback Matt Vinson sent the ball floating in the air, and Colorado Mines managed to wrestle it out of the ensuing jumpball situation.

It was after that Mines went on three straight touchdown drives, culminating in a 19-0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Eagles put together another nice drive with three first downs which again ended with a tip ball interception. CSM's quarterback Justin Dvorak threw his third scoring pass of the game directly afterwards.

"When you get down like that at the beginning of the game," said Long," you get one-dimensional really quick. When that happened, it didn't go welll for us."

Redshirt freshman Jackson Dickerson, a Chadron native, got a nice touchdown grab of 16 yards from Vinson late in the second quarter which pulled CSC to within 19-7, and the Eagles seemed to have grabbed some of that momentum back, if not all.

On the next drive by CSM, Dvorak engineered an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took the game back to a three-score margin going into half 26-17.

The only other score for the Eagles was a late fourth-quarter scamper by Cody Paul that delivered the game's final score.

CSC's Vinson had an efficient game at quarterback, completing 23 of 39 passes for 59 percent complete and 205 yards, but was credited with three interceptions in the game.

Eagle tight ends Jack Dobyns and Colt Foster were on the receiving end of five Vinson passes apiece to lead the team. Dobyns led in receiving yardage with 47 yards while Foster tallied 40.

Leading the Eagle rushers was Derek Jackson with nine carries for 55 yards. The team finished with only 98 yards on 25 attempts, as game situations forced the team into passing the ball 42 times.

Joey Hopkins finished with a career-high 15 total tackles, which was also the most by an Eagle player this season. Keenan Johnson had 11. Devante Thomas recorded six tackles including the only tackle for loss.

Demetrius McFadden came up with a nice interception midway through the third quarter stopping a CSM drive deep in Eagle territory, and he returned it 32 yards.

The Eagles fall to 3-6 (3-5 RMAC) while Colorado Mines improves to 7-2 (6-2 RMAC). CSC is back at home next Saturday with a Senior Day matchup against Black HIlls State.

Score by Quarters            1              2              3              4              Score
Chadron State                  0              7              0              7              14
Colorado Mines                13           13           7              7              40