CHADRON, Neb. -- November 5, 2016 -- Chadron State College football team fell to 3-6 (3-7 RMAC) today as Black Hills State converted three Matt Vinson interceptions into 21 points. That was all they needed to deal CSC its first loss to the neighbors to the north since 1986.

Chadron State got on the board first on its first possession after Black HIlls attempted an on-side kick with it's opening salvo which provided the Eagles with the ball across the midline to start the game. They were able to convert the favorable field position into three points on a Will Morgan 23-yard field goal.

In the second quarter a BHSU field goal attempt went wide right, and CSC took over at their own 20. Vinson hit Matt Reader for 35 yards to enter opponent territory, but on the following play the Yellow Jackets' Travis Groves made a diving interception at the 35-yard line.

A roughing penalty on CSC gave the Jackets the ball on the Eagles' side of the field, and from there the visitors went 46 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead.

Chadron State got a fourth down stop late in the first half and went 51 yards in 10 plays, but a second Vinson interception in the BHSU endzone ended the drive and the half.

Early in the third, CSC again drove into scoring range, but BHSU's Drew Hebel picked off his NCAA-leading ninth ball of the season to stop the Eagles' momentum.

Another fourth down stop by Chadron State put the Eagles back on offense, but Vinson under duress from the Yellow Jacket pass rush flipped a ball intended for the sidelines into the hands of Matt Singleton who raced down the sideline for Black HIlls' second touchdown of the day to go up 14-3.

The Eagle offense remained consistent, however, taking back 40 yards of real estate on their last third quarter drive. Yet another turnover in BHSU territory doomed Chadron State again - this time, a fumble by Cody Paul. It was only Paul's second of the season, and the team's fourth all year.

Another big 39-yard pass to Reader early in the fourth quarter flipped the field for the Eagles again, and another one to Max Gray for 17 yards took Chadron State inside the BHSU 10-yard line for the first time since their opening possession. After a Yellow Jacket holding flag, Vinson went back to Reader for a toe-dragging touchdown reception along the south sideline which gave the Eagles new life and back within striking distance. The extra point attempt bounced off the right upright, but the Eagles were surging again at 14-9.

Chadron State then had all the momentum after on BHSU's first play, quarterback Ryan Hommel threw a low ball over the CSC defensive front which was tipped by Ryan Chavez and fell along with him for an interception. 

A few plays later, Morgan hit another field goal of 30 yards to make it 14-12 with 7:50 remaining.

The next possession for each team was a four-and-out. Keenan Johnson's interception with 2:51 in Yellow Jacket territory seemed like the gift the Eagles needed to put the game away, however four passes fell incomplete and the ball went back to BHSU at their own 38.

The Eagle defense, salty as it was all day, once again stopped the Yellow Jackets in three tries, giving the Eagles another opportunity with just 53 seconds remaining, needing a field goal for the lead. However on their first play, Vinson had his fifth pass of the day picked off and returned for a score by BHSU's Damon Goldhammer.

CSC was able to get one more touchdown in the final 42 seconds, which came on a Hail Mary to Matt Reader, who corraled the jump ball to get the score to 21-19, but the ensuing on-side kick was recovered by BHSU's Hebel to effectively put the game away.

The CSC defense allowed only seven points all day holding the Yellow Jackets' Hommel to 78 yards through the air on 7-of-23 passing with three interceptions. The total yardage was 408 to 278 in favor of the Eagles, and CSC outpaced the opponents 20 first downs to 18, and 37.5 percent to 31.3 in third-down conversion rate.

Reader's totals of 144 yards receiving and two touchdowns were both season bests for the redshirt sophomore. Senior Cody Paul, playing for his last time at Elliott Field, led in rushing with 13 carries for 66 yards.

"Our defense did really well," said head coach Jay Long. "They did a really great job of executing and didn't give up points. You essentially have all 21 points that came off of turnovers, while scoring 19 that were all earned by the offense with good field position by special teams. You just don't win many six-turnover games."

Chadron State's season finale is at CSU-Pueblo Saturday, November 12, at 2 p.m.

Score by quarters        1st      2nd     3rd        4th        T
Black Hills State          0          7          7          7          21
Chadron State              3          0          0          16        19