Eagles rock Mountaineers 40-7
The Chadron State football team opened its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game with a solid 40-7 win against the Western State College Mountaineers of Gunnison, Colo., last Saturday at Elliott Field for the 2010 Family Day.
The day started off with the introduction of the parents of Chadron State players.
Within the first 5 minutes of the game, the Eagles made their way to the 20 yard line for Michael Ziola, redshirt freshman of Columbus, to kick the first 3 points of the game.
Although the game started with a few quick points for Chadron, the Mountaineers put up a fight all the way through the fourth quarter.
Starting quarterback, Jonn McLain, redshirt freshman of Chadron, threw a total of 178 yard for the game. A completed 23-yard end zone pass from McLain to Jeremy Sondrup, junior of Pleasant Grove, Utah, pulled the Eagles to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, a four-yard touchdown pass to Allan Aguilar put the Mountaineers back in the game.
The Eagles struggled with 11 penalties throughout the game, most of which took place in the second and third quarters.
During halftime, the cheerleaders and their parents were announced and lined up on the sidelines for more 2010 Family Day festivities.
Despite the stumbling blocks of penalties and Western’s defense, Ziola managed to widen the gap by the end of the third quarter to 19-7, kicking three field goals at 29, 44, and 24 yards.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Eagles eliminated their errors and pulled out three touchdowns before the Mountaineers took a knee with 40 seconds left to end the game.
After an interception by Kevin Berg, senior of Longmont, Colo., the Eagles were placed at 45 yards from the goal line. Glen Clinton, redshirt freshman wide receiver of Cody, Wyo., rushed the next two plays resulting in a 40-yard run for a touchdown.
In spite of the 5 yard penalty for a false start, quarterback Garrett Treffer, junior of Scottsbluff, threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jared Hanson, junior wide receiver of Broken Bow, with seven minutes left.
John Ritzen, senior of Chadron, scored the last 6-yard touchdown, making the final score of 40-7.
Sophomore Kevin Lindholm, linebacker of Eads, Colo., had a stellar defensive game, with 10 tackles, including one sack.
Coach Bill O’Boyle was satisfied with the effort and win of the first RMAC game.
“It’s good to get to open in conference play with a win and I’m happy with how we played in the second half,” O’Boyle said.
The Eagles play Adams State Saturday in Alamosa, Colo., and Colorado State University-Pueblo. Oct. 2, before their next home game versus the University of Nebraska-Kearney at noon Oct. 9.