Eagles’ season opens at Montana State
For the fourth time since 1997, the Chadron State Eagles football team will compete against the Montana State University Bobcats in their season opener under the lights.
It might be intimidating playing against a No. 4 ranked team in the division above you, miles away from your home field, during a night game, but the Chadron State Eagles are not too worried.
“The guys and I are excited to play Montana,” head coach Jay Long said.
The Eagles had an impressive preseason camp with few injuries occurring, and the styles Coach Long brought to the team being accepted. Enthusiasm spreads throughout the whole team as this first game could be a crucial beginning to the start of the 2012 season.
The last two times Chadron went head to head with Montana State, they came out with victories, adding to the mounting pressure on the Eagles’ shoulders. The last victory was a thrilling comeback with a 35-24 point finish.
The Bobcats do have six first-team all conference picks for the Big Sky conference. Four of them play on the defense side of the ball. On offense, junior running back Cody Kirk of Frenchtown, Mont., is the Bobcats first-team pick. Last seeason Kirk tallied 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns. Another threat on offense is Everett Gilbert, senior wide receiver of Rockwall, TX. He already has 2,538 yards in two years of play.
Coach Long has a realistic approach and has some ideas on how to counter the Bobcats strong suits.
“Montana State University has a great defense. They have multiple preseason all-conference picks. In order for us to have success we need to make sure that we control the ball and do our jobs. It is important that we play fast from the start on both sides of the ball,” Long said.
Last week, Coach Long highlighted the depth he had at quarterback. That will come in handy for the Eagle’s offense when they have to compete against Montana’s dominating defense.
Long said he has confidence in his defense to contain Montana’s quarterback, Denarius McGhee, as he is a key to the Bobcats’ success. By exploding to the ball, Montana’s offense will have troubles holding the Eagle’s defense back from getting to McGhee.
Probable starters Mike Lorenzo, sophomore of Oak Park, Calif., and Brandon Ratcliff, senior of Chillicothe, Ill., both guards, will have their work cut out for them in protecting starting quarterback John McLain, sophomore of Chadron, from the DII defense.
Another area that will help the Eagles out in their quest for victory is the special teams.
“On special teams we need to win the field position battle,” Long said.
On Saturday, Montana State University had a refereed scrimmage to see where they were at on both sides of the ball. Both defense and offense looked good, but flags were flying throughout the scrimmage. Maybe Chadron can convert those errors to work in their favor.
Kick off is set for 7:05 p.m. in Bozeman, Mont. The game will be aired on KQSK 97.5 FM and KAAQ 105.9 FM.