GUNNISON, Colo. – Despite three field goals from Shay Prichard, including a 50-yarder, and three takeaways by the defense, Chadron State football endured a 30-9 loss at the hands of No. 8-ranked Western Colorado to open the RMAC season on Saturday night from Mojo Field at the Mountaineer Bowl.
The loss dropped Chadron State to 1-2 with an 0-1 RMAC record. Western Colorado remained undefeated at 3-0 and is 1-0 in conference play.
Western Colorado accumulated 433 total yards of offense compared to 157 by CSC, with the Mountaineers outgaining the Eagles 356-109 after the first quarter. The score was tied 3-3 after 15 minutes of play and the Eagles were within a score at halftime, 13-6, before WCU extended its lead throughout the second half.
The defense produced highlight-reel plays, with two fumbles recovered by the Eagle defense while Jahmir Everett picked off WCU quarterback Josiah Roy early in the second quarter, but the offense was unable to move the ball. Offensively, Chadron State had only two drives longer than six plays and only one drive that gained more than 30 yards.
Chadron State took an early lead when Western running back Damien Nevil fumbled and Ryder True recovered on the Mountaineers' third play from scrimmage on their opening possession. The Eagles received the ball with a short field at the WCU 30 and two Devon Rivers rushes for 19 yards put the Eagles in position for Shay Prichard to convert a 26-yard field goal for a 3-0 Eagles lead.
Roles reversed later in the quarter, as quarterback Aidan Thompson fumbled on a sack while the Mountaineers recovered at the Eagle 19-yard line. CSC's defense made a red-zone stand as the hosts kicked a 34-yard field goal.
Chadron State converted another turnover into points early in the second. Everett, a senior from Miami, Florida, snared his second career interception, the first of the year for Roy.
In response, the CSC offense embarked on a nine-play, 38-yard drive, its longest in both plays and yardage, that ended on another 26-yard field goal for Prichard. Chase Nelson rushed twice on the drive for 29 yards.
Western tallied the next five scores. The Mountaineers found the end zone on a 10-yard rush by Roy, then kicked a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the half to go into the locker room with a seven-point, 13-6 lead.
After halftime, WCU converted its first second-half possession into a touchdown and continued to add on. By Roy's second touchdown pass, a 14-yard toss to Nevil that was the longest scoring play on the day, Western Colorado led 30-6 with six minutes to play.
The third Western Colorado turnover led to the third CSC field goal. Reigning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Jarred Marquez forced and recovered a fumble, giving CSC possession on the Western 34-yard line.
Chadron State could only gain one yard in the next three plays, as the Eagles had only 35 yards of offense in the second half, but Prichard converted a career-long field goal from 50 yards out to bring the score to the final margin of 30-9.
Aidan Thompson and Wyatt Sprague split time at quarterback. Sprague completed 5 of 12 passes for 57 yards while Thompson was only 3-for-9 for 11 yards. Western Colorado sacked Chadron State quarterbacks seven times.
Devon Rivers was CSC's leading rusher with 33 yards on eight carries. Daytuawn Pearson (8 carries, 17 yards) and Thompson (10 carries, 16 yards) also did heavy lifting in the rushing game while Chase Nelson provided a spark with 30 yards on three carries.
Garet Schlabs caught three passes for 15 yards, leading the team in receptions, while Pearson and Koye Gilbert each hauled in a 19-yard reception apiece with their only respective catches.
Aiden Kuester (10 tackles, five solo), Jarred Marquez (nine tackles, six solo) and Cooper Walton (nine tackles, seven solo) were the team's defensive leaders. Walton had two tackles for loss. William Stemler contributed a sack for CSC.
Reigning D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week Triston Hite had another strong performance punting the football, averaging 42.9 yards across nine boots, placing three inside the 20 with a long of 65.
After tallying 144 receiving yards last week, Devon Sundgren did not record a catch, but returned two kickoffs for 50 yards with a long of 27.
Chadron State will play its second top-10 opponent in as many weeks next Saturday, September 19, when the Eagles host CSU Pueblo (3-0, 1-0). The ThunderWolves, ranked No. 5 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 7 in the D2Football.com poll prior to Saturday, defeated Colorado School of Mines 45-17 in their first conference game.
