CHADRON, Neb. -- September 23, 2021 -- Following an impressive performance while downing South Dakota Mines 31-20 at home Saturday night, the Chadron State College football team will take on Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction this Saturday afternoon.  Kickoff will be at 1 o'clock.

The Mavericks are off to a 2-0 start.  They rambled past the William Jewell Cardinals in their opener 40-3 on Sept. 4, did not play the next week, but launched their RMAC season by scoring 14 points in each quarter and defeating New Mexico Highlands 56-37 in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The Eagles played one of their four games last fall in Grand Junction. The Eagles managed only 266 yards of total offense, but tied the score 7-7 on a pass play and extra point with 25 seconds remaining.  However, the Mavs' Lucas Ruis Diaz kicked a 37-yard field goal in overtime for a 10-7 verdict.

Mesa has made some significant changes since then. The starting quarterback, Karst Hunter, and top running back, Avian Thomas in the first two games are both still classified as freshmen after transferring from South Dakota State.

Against New Mexico Highlands, Hunter completed 18 of 25 passes for 314 yards and Thomas carried 11 times for 130 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown jaunt in the opening two minutes. Hunter also has rushed 19 times for 130 yards in the first two games.

The Mavericks apparently think highly of Thomas because the roster still contains Jesse Rodriguez, who carried the ball 22 times for 173 yards against the Eagles in last year's game, and scored Mesa's only touchdown on a 61-yard run.  

Another newcomer is senior wide receiver Lionell McConnell, a transfer from Abilene Christian. He caught five passes for 165 yards against Highlands. One of them went 70 yards to the end zone.

The Mesa defense gave up a lot of yards against Highlands. The Cowboys rushed for 200 yards,  threw for 335 and scored four TDs through the air.  

Things went well for the Eagles against South Dakota Mines. Quarterback Dalton Holst completed 22 of 29 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard fling to Chad Mikelson, who caught five passes for 149. The Eagles also converted on 11 of their 15 third-down situations and had no turnovers.

Coach Jay Long was particularly pleased that the CSC offense put together a 15-play, 95-yard touchdown drive that saw Holst complete eight of nine passes and take nine minutes off the clock.  The Eagles actually moved the ball 115 yards during the drive because they were assessed 20 yards in penalties along the way.   

The Eagles, now 1-2 for the season, finished with 487 yards of offense and limited the Hardrockers to 284.

Chadron State and Mesa have split their last 10 games. The Mavericks have won four of the last five, but CSC leads the all-time series 20-10.