Holst breaks career record on the road

Dalton Holst, graduate of Gillette, Wyoming, outthrew Chadron State College’s career passing yards record and scored half of the Eagles’ touchdowns to win over New Mexico Highlands University, 46-16, Saturday in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

“Dalton’s the epitome of what I feel a quarterback should be,” Jay Long, head football coach, said. “As soon as he got it (the record), the first thing he did was give the credit to his team and he’s very modest. He’s been a terrific football player for us.”

Holst threw 235 yards against the Cowboys to take Chadron State’s career passing yards record with 10,268 yards, passing John McLain’s old record of 10,115 yards.

“Honestly, I had no idea that I would even break it this season at all, let alone at home or away,” Holst said. “It does mean a lot as far as an individual, but I played with so many great players and so many great receivers, O-line men, that I really can’t think of it as an individual award because there’s so many other people that were variable in that.”

Someone had mentioned touchdowns to Holst as his next record, but he said that he can’t think about that, instead wanting to focus on wins, great opponents, and to take it one game at a time.

“When you get caught up thinking about records and stuff, you honestly don’t play as well, you’re not focused on the task at hand.”

Holst threw touchdowns to Chad Mikelson, senior of Julesburg, Colorado, and Cole Thurness, senior of Rapid City, South Dakota, in the first quarter for two of the six touchdowns scored.

Holst ran a quarterback keeper at 9:17 in the first between his two passing touchdowns to earn a six-yard rush and his third touchdown of the game.

About seven minutes into the game, Braden Sandersfeld, sophomore of Limon, Colorado, recovered a fumble and returned five yards into the endzone.

“We had a great hit, and then a great fumble recovery for a touchdown.” Holst said. “It’s a great spark play for all three phases of the game and takes some pressure off the offense to score points. It was a huge three-phase victory for sure.”

Defensively, Jeremiah Makahununiu, senior of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had a pick-six with an interception and an 88-yard run with 5:36 left in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles now hold a 2-3 record.

Holst said that New Mexico Highlands was a good team, and CSC is still working on putting four full quarters together on offense.

Chadron State’s football team hosts Colorado State University-Pueblo on Elliott Field at 1 p.m., Saturday.