Spring game brings much excitement
With the sun finally shining, Chadron State’s football team stormed the field on Saturday to play in the spring football game, where the Whites made a comeback to oust the Cardinals 39-36. This year’s game yielded the highest score in the past four spring games.
Being down 29-9 early in the game, the Whites picked up the pace when sophomore Alex Ferdinand of Rapid City, S.D., made four field goals to rack up points, especially in dire times. His longest kick was for 55 yards, but also made goals of 44, 38, 37, and 27. Long was also happy to see the defense scoring in the game as well.
“I am impressed with Alex’s performance and his 55 yards field goal. He has worked so hard in the off season,” Head Coach Jay Long said.
One of the defensive scores was made by the Cardinals when Tyler Wright, senior cornerback of Arvada, Colo., intercepted the ball and ran 20-yards into the end zone. Quarterback Will Burgess, redshirt freshman of Omaha, also scored a touchdown for the Cardinals with a 20-yard dash. Burgess then later assisted on another touchdown, throwing the ball to Zac Bargen, junior of Chadron. Michael Madkins, junior tailback of Elk Grove, Calif., also scampered four yards to score for the Cardinals.
Junior quarterback of Gering, Patrick O’Boyle threw well for the Whites when he connected with two teammates for touchdowns. Antonio Thompson, junior wide receiver of Savannah, Georgia, scored on a 17-yard reception, and Isaac Holscher, junior wide receiver of Scottsbluff, caught a 33-yard pass to score again.
“Isaac has played a limited role in the past but he did a nice job,” Long said.
A redshirt freshman of Los Angeles, Calif., Cody Paul scored twice, one of his touchdowns putting the Whites ahead for the first time late in the third quarter.
“Cody Paul was definitely a redshirt standout he did a nice job,” Long said.
Ferdinand won the game for the Whites when he kicked a 38-yard field goal after Holscher caught a pass from O’Boyle, giving them the first down.
“It was a beautiful day with a neat atmosphere,” Long said.