Mavericks defeat Eagles in overtime
Chadron State’s late-game momentum came to a stop in overtime as Colorado Mesa’s Lucas Ruiz-Diaz kicked the game-winning 38-yard field goal as the Eagles fell 10-7 against the Mavericks, Saturday, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
“At the end of these losses, the players all know,” Head Football Coach Jay Long said to CSC Sports Information. “If it doesn’t, you’re not working hard enough. The part I’m happy about is that our team is fighting for each other. That’s what got us into the overtime to begin with.”
After trailing 7-0 with 1:29 remaining in the fourth quarter, Quarterback Dalton Holst, senior of Gillette, Wyoming, led the Eagles on a seven-play 58-yard drive capped by a nine-yard touchdown pass from Holst to Jalon’e Rice, freshman of Aurora, Colorado.
However, with third-and-goal from Mesa’s five in overtime, Holst’s end zone pass was intercepted by Mesa’s Jordan Ellis, junior of San Diego, California. Gaining just four yards in its overtime possession, the Mavericks saw Ruiz-Diaz, junior of Montrose, Colorado, seal the game with a kick after missing attempts from 45 and 28 yards.
The game remained scoreless throughout the first half as the Eagles were without top-receiving target Cole Thurness, senior of Rapid City, South Dakota, while the Mavericks saw starting Running Back Isaac Maestas, junior of Clifton, Colorado, exit with an injury on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
But Jesse Rodriguez, sophomore of Bennett, Colorado, seized the moment as Mesa’s ball-carrier as he rushed for 173 yards and a score. Rodriguez’s 61-yard run early in the third quarter led the game’s first touchdown as he followed up the long run with a one-yard rush.
CSC’s special team peaks were overmatched by its valleys. Following Mesa’s lone touchdown, Ethan Fray, sophomore of Denver, returned a kickoff 77 yards to the opponent’s 16-yard-line. But on the ensuing 31-yard field goal attempt by Drake Holdren, freshman of Greeley, Colorado, the Mavericks blocked the kick and kept the Eagles scoreless through the third quarter. Holdren had another kick blocked midway through the second quarter and missed from 37 yards in the first.
Though CSC’s defense gave up 228 yards rushing, the unit held Quarterback Aaron Howard, junior of Chandler, Arizona, to 118 passing yards off 37 attempts. Bobby Peele, junior of Fresno, California, created the Eagles’ only turnover after intercepting Howard in the first quarter. Travis Wilson, senior of Fresno,
California, and Jeremiah Makahununiu, junior of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, each led with 13 total tackles. The defense also registered two sacks.
“Defensively, our scheme really worked,” Long said to CSC Sports Information. “We gave up one big play, but otherwise we put together a really good game. Our defensive line needs a real shout-out. Their goal is to knock the offensive line back and force the ball to our linebackers, and that’s what they did.
Holst finished the game with 208 yards, one touchdown, one interception and was sacked four times. Junior Chad Mikelson, of Julesburg, Colorado, led both team with seven catches for 82 yards. As a team, the Eagles rushed for 58 yards.
Chadron State hosts South Dakota School of Mines and its high-powered rushing offense at five p.m., Saturday, at Elliott Field.
Led by 166 yards and two touchdowns on the ground by Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week Ahmad Lewis, junior of Tacoma, Washington, the Hardrockers defeated Black Hills State University 34-14. As a whole, South Dakota Mines ran for 293 yards and held the Yellow Jackets to 218 yards of total offense.
Chadron state won its last four contests against South Dakota Mines. In the last matchup, the Eagles and Hardrockers combined for 101 points during a 53-48 CSC victory.