Practice begins with familiar and new faces

The Eagles start their season with a large group of new and returning players, following a four-game season in 2020. 

“Last year was really a difficult season and time for everybody,” Head Football Coach Jay Long said. “It was also difficult for our players who did a lot to play in those four games. They’re looking forward to being able to play this fall.” 

CSC finished their 2020 season with a record of 2-2, with only one game on Elliott Field. 

The Eagles were handed losses from Colorado Mesa and University of Nebraska-Kearney, while they came out victorious against South Dakota School of Mines both times they met. 

CSC finished third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) preseason poll with 62 points, falling behind Colorado School of Mines with 76 points and CSU Pueblo, with 70 points. 

With a schedule currently consisting of 11 games, Long said their focus is the same as it always is and that’s to get better and to prepare the team to compete in the RMAC.

“Just the more we can get back to normal the better, in my opinion,” Long said. “I’m excited for the season. I have some key returners and we’re excited to come out and compete.” 

Elijah Myles, junior of Hawthorne, California, remained in California due to the uncertainty of fall 2020, but has returned as an Eagle. 

Having started all four games, Dalton Holst, senior of Gillette, Wyoming, recorded 63 rushing yards, and threw for 1,060 yards, throwing seven touchdowns. He also punted twice for 54 yards.  

On specials, Cole Thurness, senior of Rapid City, returned six punts for 65 yards and three kickoffs for 39 yards. He rushed for 34 yards with no loss, and scored a touchdown on a rush. The wide receiver caught 15 passes for 241 yards, securing two touchdown passes.  

Jeydon Cox, redshirt freshman of Jackson, Wyoming, played all four games and netted 242 yards with 32 carries, earning an average of 7.6 yards per carry. The running back also caught three passes for 17 yards. 

Christopher Busby, junior of Scottsbluff, earned two touchdowns and gained 47 yards throughout the four games. Montel Gladney, junior of Flowood, Mississippi, played three matches and received 135 yards with six catches. 

Jahani Wright, redshirt freshman of Miami, Florida, recorded 127 receiving yards with eight receptions with one touchdown, and returned a kickoff for 12 yards. Due to an injury in 2019 and being redshirted in 2018, Wright still has four years of eligibility.

Last year’s starting tackles, Justin Calderon, senior of Levittown, New York, and Juan Estrada-Sanchez, junior of Denver, will be joined by returning guards, Austin Rapp, senior of Moville, Iowa, and Jake Norris, senior of Fort Morgan, Colorado; and Center Michael DeCamillis, sophomore of Broomfield, Colorado, on the offensive line.  

Leading the team with 37 tackles, Jeremiah Makahununiu, senior of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had 16 solo and 21 assisted tackles and broke up one pass. 

Jeremiah Gutierrez, senior of Compton, California, recorded 12 solo and nine assisted tackles. Bobby Peele, senior of Fresno, California, intercepted a pass for three straight games in 2020. Peele broke up five passes and gained 22 tackles, 14 solo and eight assisted. 

Travis Wilson, senior of Fresno, California, played in all four games as linebacker and recorded 30 total tackles, with two for a loss of four yards. Wilson also intercepted a pass, assisted on a sack and returned a kickoff for 33 yards. 

Drake Holdren, junior of Greeley, Colorado, totaled 119 yards with two kickoffs and kicked a 36-yard field goal at South Dakota School of Mines. Holdren also made 15 extra points of 16. 

“We had really good leadership this summer,” Long said. “We had the most kids stay here over the summer than we have ever had in the past. Coach Kreis and Coach McLendon did a terrific job over the summer going to the weight room. I’m excited to see the kids’ strengths and conditioning show how they practice.” 

CSC will start their fall season, Saturday, Sept. 4, against Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. 

The last time the Eagles faced the Mountaineers was Oct. 5, 2019, and CSC took the loss, 33-32.