Eagles clip Skyhawks’ wings

Chadron State’s football team trampled Fort Lewis College, 60-7, allowing Eagles’ second and third string players time on the field and they contributed to the team’s eight touchdowns, Saturday. 

“Fort Lewis has been struggling, and we knew that if we could get on them early that it definitely takes a mental toll on that team,” Long said. “Our guys went out and executed the game plan which was exciting and fun for our guys.” 

The Eagles started the game with a touchdown within their first play. 

Chad Mikelson, senior of Julesburg, Colorado, caught the 67-yard pass from Dalton Holst, graduate of Gillette, Wyoming, and rushed into the end zone.  

Mikelson contributed two other touchdowns, catching one and punt returning another for 55 yards. 

Cole Thurness, senior of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Jeydon Cox, redshirt freshman of Jackson, Wyoming, also contributed touchdowns, putting 43 points onto the scoreboard before the end of the first half. 

Due to the Eagles’ start, younger players were able to experience time on the field. 

Mason Hamilton, redshirt freshman of Gillette, Wyoming, took over the quarterback role for Holst in the third quarter. Hamilton completed four passes for 64 yards. 

Hamilton said that the experience to play and get some reps was great and it allowed him to see what he can improve individually and the most important thing to do is to carry the experience and criticism into following games and seasons.

“Nothing could be done without the offensive line, wide receivers and running backs all performing the way they did,” he said. “It makes the quarterback position easier to play when you are surrounded by amazing players and supporters.” 

Brock Ping, freshman of Billings, Montana, also made it to the field, rushing his first college career touchdown in the second quarter with 5:40 left in the half. 

Ping rushed another touchdown in the third quarter and finished the game with seven rushes for 56 total yards. 

Dorian Collier, freshman of Tallahassee, Florida, who has played in previous games, attempted 15 rushes for 120 yards. 

Long said that both Collier and Ping averaged eight yards per carry and were able to have experiences that they can learn from and use later. 

While underclassman gained experience, the Eagles’ defense kept Fort Lewis College out of the end zone the entire game.

“It’s a great feeling to be a part of a defense that held a team to under 30 yards of total offense and not allowing them in the end zone,” Bobby Peele, senior of Fresno, California, said. “This has been our standard all season and I’m glad we were able put together a historical four quarters.”

In the second quarter, Kobe Whipple, junior of Rosebud, South Dakota, and Travis Wilson, senior of Fresno, California, each recovered a fumble, both in the second quarter.  

The Skyhawks only touchdown was a pick-six in the third quarter. The Eagles had seven sacks for 52 yards and pushed Fort Lewis backward for -25 rushing yards. 

“Our defensive line is extremely talented and that showed on Saturday,” Hamilton said. “It is not easy by any measure for a defense to shut out a team at this level, but they played phenomenally the entire game limiting them to no yards and performing a defensive shut out.” 

The Eagles had a 553-yard game of total offense. They now have a 4-4 record, and a 4-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record. 

Chadron State College travels to play its next game against Colorado School of Mines with kickoff scheduled for noon, Saturday, in Golden.