Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Wide Receiver Kyle Hooper, sophomore of Alliance, stiff arms his opponent, defensive back Donnie Butler, junior of Mathis, Texas, Saturday during the football spring game. —Photo by Ashley Swanson
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Defense dominates at spring football match-up

Eagle Staff
Wide Receiver Kyle Hooper, sophomore of Alliance, stiff arms his opponent, defensive back Donnie Butler, junior of Mathis, Texas, Saturday during the football spring game. —Photo by Ashley Swanson
Wide Receiver Kyle Hooper, sophomore of Alliance, stiff arms his opponent, defensive back Donnie Butler, junior of Mathis, Texas, Saturday during the football spring game. —Photo by Ashley Swanson

Chadron State College’s annual Cardinal vs. White spring game took place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Elliot Field.

The morning was cloudy, chilly, and fun-filled. The event began with interviews and quips from players and coaches. Quarterback Patrick O’Boyle, senior of Gering, spoke with both coaches and fellow players, including defensive lineman Zach Sandstrom, senior of Chadron, during this time.

The White team, composed of CSC’s defense, achieved a 23-16 victory over the Cardinal team, CSC’s offense. Points were awarded not only through touchdowns and field goals, but through turnovers, a punt, pass, and kick series between drives, and when linemen caught punts.

O’Boyle, along with fellow quarterback Jonn McLain, senior of Chadron, were not in uniform for the game. Instead, quarterbacks Creighton Reed, freshman of Juniata, Chris Conroy, junior of Gordon, and Justyn Curtis, freshman of Richmond, Indiana, led the offense.

The offense scored only one touchdown and one field goal against the defense.

Tailback Cody Paul, sophomore of Seal Beach, California, scored the only touchdown of the game. The scoring series consisted of three carries by Paul: two carries for 73 yards total, and one final carry to gain the remaining seven yards.

Wide receiver Antonio Thompson, senior of Savannah, Georgia, caught passes on the drive that lead to the offense’s only field goal. Randy Wentz, sophomore of Scottsbluff, kicked the field goal from the 35-yard line. The offense’s final three points were scored by linebacker Dylan Furrier, junior of Tuscon, Arizona, on a field goal during a punt, pass, and kick competition.

Clay Cundall, junior of Greybull, Wyoming, scored points for the defense by recovering a fumbled snap during the game. Cole Montgomery, junior of Casper, Wyoming, also recovered a fumble during the game. The plays resulted in 12 points for the defense. The defense scored the rest of their points through the punt, pass, and kick competitions between the series, with the help of punter Zach Smith, sophomore of Gering.

“The spring game is all about the next guy stepping up,” said Head Coach Jay Long. “I feel like the players showed a lot during the game. Our football program is all about tradition; it’s very important for the next group of seniors to continue these traditions.”