Eagles block their win
CSC’s special teams blocked two field goals in the first half, but the Eagles couldn’t fend off a late Angelo State University surge, losing 28-24, Saturday at Elliott Field.
“The special teams really dominated the game,” Head Football Coach Jay Long said. “I was really happy with our special teams, and something we need to lean on as a team as the season goes on.”
CSC had multiple chances to take back the lead with under ten minutes remaining in the game but failed to convert on two red-zone drives, one set up by a blocked punt from Brendan Brehmer, junior of Alliance, that placed the Eagles around the ten-yard line with under eight minutes remaining.
Brehmer’s punt block was one of two in the second half.
The Eagles held the Rams to just six points in the first half, but its offense faltered in the second. ASU outscored CSC 21-0 when they returned to the final two quarters.
“Angelo State is ranked 22nd in the country and I think their defense is one of the top in the country,” Long said. “We found some things to exploit in the first half and then in the second half, we didn’t exploit them as well. We had two fourth downs that we didn’t convert on. Those were two factors of the game.”
Along with one of the blocked punts, Brehmer recorded 10 total tackles, five solo and five assisted.
“I’ve been playing football now for about 13 years and that was the great feelings I’ve had playing the game,” Brehmer said. “I feel blessed to be able to be one of those statistics in a dominant special teams’ game.”
Jeremiah Makahununiu, senior of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, led the Eagles with eight solo and eight assisted tackles for a total of 16. He also recorded two sacks for a loss of nine total yards.
Gunnar Jones, senior of Florence, Alabama, kicked a 45-yard field goal which was his career high and the longest successful field goal attempt by a CSC kicker since 2014. He made all three extra point attempts, earning six points in the game andwas announced as Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
Dalton Holst, graduate of Gillette, Wyoming, completed 16 throws for 159 yards and two touchdown passes. The longest throw of the game was a 72-yard pass to Montel Gladney, junior of Flowood, Mississippi, which lead to one of the team’s touchdowns.
Cole Thurness, senior of Rapid City, South Dakota, was the leading receiver with six catches for 37 yards.
Elijah Myles, junior of Hawthorne, California, attempted 17 rushes with net yards of 29 and rushed a touchdown into the end zone.
“It was great to be back playing in front of everybody at Elliot Field,” Brehmer said. “Playing at home just adds so much energy to our game and to our sideline. It means a lot to our team when we have a great crowd like we did on Saturday.”
The Eagles will be playing for the Eagle-Rock Trophy against South Dakota School of Mines at 6:30 p.m., Saturday on Elliott Field.