CSC, 1-1, prepare for RMAC play

CSC traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to play in front of a full house against Missouri State, now 1-1, Saturday. The Eagles played well against the FCS school but ended up losing, 21-13.

CSC, also currently 1-1, started off the game in a seven-point hole, but quickly came back courtesy of a 14-yard touchdown run from Derek Jackson, sophomore of Pueblo West, Colorado.

Jackson wasn’t done dazzling the crowd as later in the quarter he helped the Eagles go on top with a 73-yard run that resulted in a field goal. Unfortunately, that was the last time the Eagles would gain the lead, as the Bears went on a 76-yard drive ending with a touchdown that gave them the 14-10 lead going into halftime.

“It was a big game and my teammates and coach motivated me and my offensive line gave me good holes to run through and I took advantage,” Jackson said.

The Eagles started the second half with another impressive drive but could only manage another field goal from Randy Wentz, junior of Scottsbluff. Shortly after, Missouri State’s quarterback Breck Ruddick, redshirt freshman of Marion, Arkansas, showed off his speed with a 55-yard touchdown run. That run proved to be the finisher as the Eagles were unable to assemble another scoring drive.

Jackson finished the day with 133 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman quarterback TD Stein, of Chadron, completed 17 of 31 passes for 167 yards and two interceptions. This was only Stein’s second start of his career. The Eagles finished with 381 total yards in the loss.

Defensively, CSC gave up 407 yards but did manage to get two sacks and a forced fumble recovery.

The Eagles, now preparing for their third straight road game, against a tough team in Colorado School of Mines, Golden.  Saturday’s match-up will also be CSC’s first conference contest.

“Mines rarely makes any mistakes or penalties so we have to play our game, and we will be ok,” Jackson said.

The Orediggers were picked to finish second in the RMAC this season, right behind Colorado State University-Pueblo. Mines has scored over 100 points in just two games.

Part of that is attributed to the RMAC Preseason Player of the Year, quarterback Justin Dvorak, junior of Tomball, Texas. With a high-powered offense and a solid defense, the Eagles will be put to the test in every aspect of the game.

“Everyone is going to have to do their job for four quarters,” Jackson said. “The offense needs to finish drives and defense will make stops.”