CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State and Colorado School of Mines played a one-score game for the third time in as many seasons, and like the previous two, the road team prevailed, with the Orediggers taking a 16-12 victory over the Eagles at Elliott Field.
Chadron State (1-4, 0-3 RMAC) has now lost three straight to begin RMAC play, but the Eagles were picked fourth in the RMAC Preseason Poll and have faced the three teams selected above them so far. Colorado School of Mines improves to 2-2-1 and 2-1 in RMAC play.
Defense and special teams were a theme on the day. Neither team averaged over five yards per play and both teams caused significant momentum swings with special teams plays.
Chadron State's defense made multiple stands as the Orediggers only gained points from two of their five trips to the red zone. The Eagles, who entered the game with three sacks on the season, brought down Mines QB Joseph Capra six times, including three alone by
Ryder True and two by
William Stemler.
The teams combined to kick five field goals but also combined to miss four. Preston Kyle missed two kicks for the Orediggers while
Shay Prichard had his first two misses of his career, although one was a 50-yarder blocked by Mines. Chadron State also blocked a punt deep in Oredigger territory in the third quarter.
After two field goals through three quarters, Chadron State found the end zone for the first time in RMAC play on the final snap of the game when
Aidan Thompson threw to
Devon Sundgren in the end zone from 19 yards out with 0:00 on the clock.
That trimmed the Mines lead from 16-6 to 16-12, and since the point-after could not affect the outcome of the contest, it was not attempted and the officials ended the game.
Mines outgained the Eagles 354-277, including a 158-39 disparity on the ground. Max Barnes rushed for 110 yards for the Orediggers while Braelon Tate chipped in 55.
Chadron State set a new 2026 season-high with 238 passing yards, more than Mines's 196.
Aidan Thompson played the entire game and completed 19 of 38 passes with one TD and one interception. Both teams had one turnover for the game.
The Eagles received the ball on the game's opening possession and immediately had what would eventually be their longest play from scrimmage out of the gate when Thompson completed to
Garet Schlabs for 36 yards. A 27-yard pass to
Chase Nelson on a wheel route out of the backfield set CSC up in the red zone, and Prichard punched it through the uprights from 22 yards out to give CSC a 3-0 lead.
After the teams exchanged punts, Mines kicked a field goal to make it 3-3. On the ensuing possession, Chadron State tried to go for it on 4th-and-1 from its own 34-yard line, and an Eagle rush was stuffed for no gain. After gaining the ball on downs, Mines wasted no time, throwing deep on the first play to Aksel Richard for a 34-yard touchdown and the lead, which the Orediggers would not relinquish.
The Eagles got within Prichard's range to attempt from 50 yards early in the second quarter, but Mines got a hand to the attempt and it was no good. The Orediggers drove methodically, going 47 yards in 13 plays, only for Kyle to miss a 38-yard field goal at the other end.
Then, it was Chadron State's turn for a 12-play, 47-yard drive, ending with another 50-yard attempt for Prichard. This time, the junior knocked it through, tying a career-long and making the score 10-6. Kyle missed another kick from 41 yards for Colorado School of Mines with two seconds left in the first half, and the two teams went to the locker room separated by four points.
The third quarter featured big play after big play on either defense or special teams, all adding up to zero offensive production from either side. Kyle kicked a field goal early to give Mines a seven-point lead at 13-6. On the ensuing drive, Thompson threw a short pass to the far side of the field and Mines corner Braden Keith jumped the route for an interception.
Just two plays later, however,
Ryder True tracked down Capra for a sack-fumble, with
William Stemler recovering to give the Eagles the ball right back.
With just over three minutes to go in the quarter, the Eagles bull-rushed the Mines punt shield and caused a block, with
Mason Kiewiet recovering to give CSC the ball at the Mines 21. But again, the momentum quickly swung in the other direction – after one first down, the CSC drive fizzled and Prichard missed a 25-yard field goal to keep the score where it was.
Chadron State's best drive came in a two-minute-drill situation in the fourth quarter. The Eagles got the ball back down 10 points with only 1:04 to play in the game, but drove 84 yards in a hurried 12 plays to score at the buzzer. Thompson completed 7 of 11 non-spike passes on the drive, completing for 16 yards to
Richard Okuno and 23 yards to
Garet Schlabs before the 19-yard TD throw to
Devon Sundgren.
Schlabs was CSC's leading receiver with six catches for 89 yards.
Chase Nelson (2 catches, 37 yards),
Camden Walker (3 rec., 36 yards) and Sundgren (3 rec., 34 yards) also had productive days.
Devon Rivers was CSC's leading rusher with 29 yards on 12 carries.
Cooper Walton and
Reese Jacobs had 14 tackles each to lead the way defensively while
Jarred Marquez had 13 and
Ryder True had 10 in addition to his three sacks.
Chadron State plays next weekend at Colorado Mesa (2-3, 1-2 RMAC) in Grand Junction at 6 p.m. The Mavericks fell 35-23 to CSU Pueblo on Saturday.
