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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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Eagles plan for successful ground attack

Preston Goehring
The CSC football team runs through plays at the practice fields on Wednesday.—Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
The CSC football team runs through plays at the practice fields on Wednesday.—Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

After an injury-ridden 2015 season, the Eagles took the offseason as a chance to recover, rebuild, and replace the 14 seniors that graduated.

“We came out of spring a lot more healthy,” Head Coach Jay Long said. “The good news is that a lot of young kids played because of those injuries. This year they can rely on those game reps that they got as freshman.”

A big part of the team’s offensive game-plan will be the strong backfield. Three returners that saw substantial game time will once again carry a large workload. Derek Jackson, junior of Pueblo West, Colorado; Kevin Coy, redshirt freshman of Davenport, Florida; and Cody Paul, senior of Seal Beach California, will be the main ground attack for CSC. The trio combined for over 2,00 yards last season, averaging more than five yards per carry.

“Our running back situation is terrific,” Long said. “I’m excited about that position. It comes down to what kind of back we want. DJ (Jackson) is an all-around back that can really do it all. Coy is a hard downhill runner. I don’t think he has lost a yard in camp. And Paul is a guy that can get in space and do some great things.”

Long also said that there are two more freshmen running backs that will become well-known early on this season.

The offensive line only lost one senior to graduation, Daniel Sotelo. According to Long, redshirt sophomore Travis Romsa, of Burns, Wyoming, has been taking the majority of reps but Jared Maciejczak, redshirt freshman of Box Elder, South Dakota, will also see game reps.

The quarterback battle continued during fall camp between junior Matt Vinson, of Box Elder, South Dakota, and redshirt sophomore TD Stein, of Chadron. The coaching staff announced that Stein will get the starting nod for the season opener against Fort Lewis College, Saturday, Sept. 3 at Elliott Field.

“Stein and Matt (Vinson) are both capable quarterbacks,” Long said. “It just comes down to consistency and making plays. I thought that both of them did a great job, both improved from last fall. Ultimately, we know that we have two quarterbacks that are capable that we can win with.”

Collin Eisenman, junior of Sheridan, Wyoming, as a returning All-Conference player, will be a huge asset on defensive.

Long said that the defense will rely on the defensive line.

“We finally have some age and experience in that group,” Long said. “I think we have multiple guys that have the opportunity to be All-Conference.

“Our expectation is always to out-hit, out-work, and out-play our opponents. If do that our other goals will fall in line.