Eagles hunt down Grizzlies, 26-0
The Eagles pushed their way to a 3-3 record in the Homecoming game against the Grizzlies of Adams State University, Saturday, with a 26-0 score at Elliott Field. The Eagles are now 2-2 in RMAC play.
Defensively, the Eagles only gave up 10 first downs to the Grizzlies, holding them to just 176 yards of total offense. Grizzly quarterback Johnny Feauto, freshman of Frederick, Colorado, completed six passes for 110 yards. Feauto also threw an interception to Ryan Wood, junior of Stockton, California.
“Our D-line did a good job of pressuring the quarterback,” Wood said. “The interception I got was because of our line. I just do my job, our coaches do a great job of play calling which helps me in spots to make plays.”
Collin Eisenman, sophomore of Sheridan, Wyoming, who recorded two sacks and a forced fumble against ASU, was awarded the Wilson/RMAC Defensive Player of the Week. He also jumped to second in the RMAC for sacks with 5.5. Eisenman is the first defensive player from CSC to receive a player of the week award since Kyle McArthy in 2013. Redshirt freshman Kirk Durtsche, of Casper, Wyoming, led the Eagles in tackles with 10, four of which were solo.
The ground game for the Eagles led the charge once again, stacking just over 300 yards between three tailbacks. Sophomore Derek Jackson, of Pueblo West, Colorado, rushed for 176 yards on 24 attempts. Kevin Coy, redshirt freshman of Davenport, Florida, did not lose a single yard, running for 78 yards on 14 carries and a 16-yard touchdown. Cody Paul, junior of Seal Beach, California, averaged over six yards per carry, totaling 79 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown.
In his second career start and first at Elliott Field, sophomore quarterback Matt Vinson, of Box Elder, South Dakota, completed 17 passes for 194 yards and an 18-yard touchdown toss to Marcus Brown, junior of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Brown led the team with 50 yards off three catches. Redshirt freshman Max Gray, of Arlington, Washington, turned heads while he snagged three passes for 34 yards.
CSC’s next game will be against the defending D-II champions, CSU-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves, 5-1, 4-0 RMAC, are currently ranked third in the conference behind Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa University.
Pueblo running back Cameron McDondle, senior of Littleton, Colorado, leads D-II in total rushing yards with 1,079, and is tied for second in touchdowns with 13. McDondle also leads the RMAC in touchdowns, 13; average yards per game, 179.8; and total yards, 1,079. Jackson is ranked third, averaging 126 yards per game.
“We have to stop their running back,” Wood said. “He is number one in the nation for rushing. We have to eliminate our mistakes. We need to have good run fits and just focus on our jobs individually. Pueblo has the skilled players that can score if anyone on the defense makes a mistake.”
Morgan Fox, senior defensive end for the ThunderWolves, of Fountain, Colorado, leads the RMAC in tackles for loss, averaging 2.9 per game, and sacks with 2.3 per game.
Game time is set for noon, Saturday, at Elliott Field.