Eagles lose in overtime heartbreaker, 3-7 on season

By Eben Rosentrater

The CSC football team dropped their seventh game this season as a great first half on both sides of the ball by the Eagles was not good enough to hold off a game-winning comeback by the Colorado Mesa Mavericks last Saturday.

“It was a heartbreaker for our guys, and particularly, the 15 seniors who were playing their last game at home,” CSC Head Football Coach Jay Long told CSC Sports Information. “I feel horrible for them.”

Hopes were high for the Eagles to find their fourth win of the season against the lower-ranked Mavericks after a tough defensive 17-3 win over the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands. Despite an amazing first half, the Eagles hopes were swept away, losing 38-37 on two-point conversion in overtime.

The game started off very slowly. The Eagles received the opening kickoff and preceded to be shut down by the Mavericks going three-and-out to start. The Mavericks received the ball and methodically pushed down the field with a combination of quick passes and strong runs, however, the Eagles were stout and held Mesa to a 40-yard field goal which was drilled by Lucas Ruiz Diaz, senior of Montrose, Colorado, giving the Mavericks their only lead of regulation.

After that, the entire first half was all Eagles. The following drive, the team was able to take the ball down to the seven-yard line to set up a 22-yard chip shot field goal for kicker Gunnar Jones, graduate student of Rogersville, Alabama. After the kick, the game was tied.

The Eagles seemed unstoppable for the second quarter. Quarterback Heath Beemiller, junior of Chandler, Arizona, drove the ball down to the one-yard line where running back Jalen Starks, senior of Chicago, rumbled in for the first touchdown of the game. The next Eagle drive ended the same way with a 12-yard passing touchdown to receiver Ahlonte Hair, junior of Live Oak, Florida, which was his fourth touchdown of the year. Starks rumbled in for another touchdown on the next drive to end the quarter leaving the score 24-3 going into halftime. An amazing first half for the Eagles, scoring on every drive of the second quarter.

The tide turned heavily against the Eagles in the second half. The Mavericks opened up the third quarter throwing a 46-yard touchdown, scoring in six seconds, and making the score 24-10. The Eagles next drive was stuffed after Jalen Starks’s footwork wasn’t good enough to gain one yard on fourth down. The Mavericks threw another long 47-yard touchdown after that to bring the score within seven points.

The Eagles weren’t done though and drove the ball down the field for a six-yard touchdown pass to Grant Swenson, sophomore of Broomfield, Colorado, making the score 31-17. However, the Mavericks offense was steadfast and scored two more touchdowns in the fourth, tying the game and sending it to overtime.

The Mavericks received the first possession of overtime. The Eagles’ defense was tough and held Mesa to a field goal’s distance. However, an unnecessary roughness penalty by Tayven Bray, graduate student of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, bailed out the Mavericks, who scored a touchdown on third and goal from the one.

The Eagles quickly responded back and scored a touchdown. The Mavericks, however, received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, leaving the Eagles with a choice. Tie the game on an extra-point or win on a one-yard two-point conversion. The Eagles chose the ladder, and were stuffed at the one, losing 38-37.

Offensively, the Eagles were led by Beemiller, who passed for 191 yards on 24 completions and two touchdowns. The rushing game was led by Dorian Collier, sophomore of Tallahassee, Florida, who ran for 80 yards on 13 attempts, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The receiving corps was led by Tommy Thomas, redshirt freshman of Fort Collins, Colorado, who recorded 68 yards on six receptions.

Defensively, the Eagles were led by Hunter O’Connor, sophomore of Broomfield, Colorado, who recorded seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and two sacks. Joey Geil, junior of Casper, Wyoming, also recorded another nine tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and one sack.

The Eagles will take the field for the last time this season against the Hardrockers of South Dakota Mines, in Rapid City, at noon Saturday, at O’Harra Stadium.