CHADRON, Neb. -- September 20, 2017 -- After playing one of its best games in at least two years, the Chadron State football team will host the potent Adams State Grizzlies for Homecoming on Saturday.  Kickoff will be at 1 p.m.              

The Eagles romped past Western State 49-7 in Gunnison last Saturday while playing exceptionally well in nearly all phases of the game.  Coach Jay Long said the defense "played salty football" while coming up with six takeaways that led to five touchdowns and the offense "was consistent and found the end zone."

In addition, punter Zach Kozlik was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks.  Five of his eight punts were downed inside the Western State 10-yard line.

But Adams State has much more talent than the struggling Mountaineers, a team that the Grizzlies also demolished 51-14 the previous Saturday. 

Adams State also bested Fort Lewis 34-27 last Saturday.  The Eagles opened their season by overcoming a 16-0 deficit and beat the Skyhawks 25-19.

Both teams also have lost once.  Adams State once led Black Hills State 31-3, but fell to the Yellow Jackets 47-41 in double overtime in Spearfish to open the season.  Chadron State rolled up 515 total net yards, but had trouble getting past the Colorado Mesa 20-yard line and lost to Mavericks' 24-10 two weeks ago.

Mesa is 3-0 and ranked No. 11 by the American Football Coaches Association.

In all three games it has played, Adams State has racked up lots of yards and the points.  The Grizzlies lead the RMAC in passing offense with a 423.7-yard average, total offense at 574 yards a game and scoring offense with a 42-point average.

Chadron State on the other hand, is setting the RMAC pace in total defense, yielding only 277.3 yards a game, and pass defense, giving up just 115 yards per game.  The Eagles also lead the conference in quarterback sacks with 11 while the CSC quarterbacks have been dumped just once for only a yard loss.

The Grizzlies are definitely aerial-minded.  They have completed 95 of 151 passes for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Jorge Hernandez was at quarterback for Adams State vs. Black Hills, and he did well, throwing for 368 yards, but Nick Rooney, a 6-2, 210-pound transfer from Rochester, Minn., Community and Technical College, has taken over the past two weeks.  He has completed 69 of 96 passes for 908 yards and eight TDs against Western State and Fort Lewis.

In 2015 while he was at Rochester, Rooney, a native of Minnetonka, Minn., set a junior college record by throwing for 57 touchdowns.  He also threw for 2,100 yards and 19 TDs as a high school senior. 

Long said Adams State has "a great receiving corps" to complement Rooney.  Four Grizzlies have caught at least 14 passes, led by Marquese Surrel with 22 for 403 yards and two TDs.  James Holtop has 21 catches for 208 yards and five of the TD grabs.

The Grizzlies' top rusher is Corey Brown, a 5-11, 205-pound senior with 54 carries for 358 yards (a 6.6-yard average) and four TDs. 

The Adams defense is missing most of last year's starters, but an array of transfers have filled the vacancies well so far, CSC coaches report. 

Timm Rosenbach is in his third year as the Adams State head coach.  He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV for two years prior to moving to Alamosa in late 2014. 

Last year, sparked by a 91-yard punt return midway in the fourth period, the Grizzlies overcame a 23-7 halftime deficit to edge the Eagles 31-30 in Alamosa.  It was Adams State's first victory over Chadron State since 2005. 


Probable starters:
Chadron State Offense
                    Wide receivers—Tevon Wright, 6-2, 175, So., and Stevann Brown, 5-8, 175, So.
                    Inside receiver—Jackson Dickerson, 5-10, 170, So.
                    Tight end—Jack Dobyns, 6-3, 225, Sr.
                    Tackles—Travis Romsa, 6-4, 290, Jr., and Jared Maciejczak, 6-5, 280, So.
                    Guards—Matt Barden, 6-4, 295, Sr., and Adam Fuselier, 6-4, 270, Jr.
                    Center—Jake Geil, 6-4, 285, Jr.
                    Quarterback—Dalton Holst, 6-3, 185, RS-FR.
                    Tailback—Derek Jackson, 5-9, 180, Sr.,-Kevin Coy, 6-0, 212, Jr.
                    Placekicker—Will Morgan, 5-9, 160, So.
Chadron State Defense
                    Ends—Tyler Kiess, 6-1. 245, Sr., and Collin Eisenman, 6-4, 250, Sr.
                    Tackles—Mitch Collicott, 5-10, 265, Sr., and Truett Box, 6-2, 280, Sr.
                    Linebackers—Keenan Johnson, 6-1, 218, So., and Merritt Crabtree, 5-11, 225, Jr.
                    Cornerbacks—Trevon Mosley, 5-10, 175, Sr. and DeAndre Barthwell, 6-0, 195, So.
                    Safetys—Brian Wood, 6-0, 185, Sr., Ryan Wood, 6-1, 195, Sr. and Zech James, 5-10, 182, Jr.
                    Punter—Zack Kozlik, 6-0, 193, Jr.
Adams State Offense
                    Wide receivers—Chad Hovasse, 6-1, 215, Jr.; James Holstrop, 5-11, 175, Sr.; and Marquese Surrell, 6-3, 185, Jr.
                    Tight end—Stetson Stallworth, 6-4, 215, So.
                    Tackles—Obadiah Richardson, 6-6, 280, R-Fr., and Isaiah Briggs, 6-4, 310, Jr.
                    Guards—LaJames Milton, 6-3, 290, Fr., and Ono Tafisi, 6-1, 235, Jr.
                    Center—Riley Springs, 6-3, 280, So.
                    Quarterback—Nick Rooney, 6-2, 210, Jr.
                    Running back—Corey Brown, 5-11, 205, Sr.
                    Placekicker---Tiago Palm, 5-9, 150, Fr.
Adams State Defense
                    Ends—Kasoga Casem, 6-3, 255, Jr., and Charlie Koka, 6-2, 280, Jr.
                    Tackles—Vaega Lolohea, 6-3, 280, Fr., and Finau Kohitulo, 6-2, 255, Jr.
                    Linebackers—Isaia Rostin, 6-0, 230, Jr. and Mike Dunlap, 5-11, 220, Sr.
                    Cornerbacks—Brandon Baker, 6-2, 180, Jr., and Mike Cirino, 6-1, 200, Sr.
                    Safetys—Nick Bundy, 6-0, 180, So., and Garrett Jackson, 6-1, 200, Sr.
                    Punter—Kane Bowen, 6-1, 195, Fr.