By Con Marshall
SPEARFISH, S.D. – With both teams entering the game with 3-4 overall records and 2-3 marks in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, it was anticipated that the 80th football game between Chadron State and Black Hills State would be dramatic. It proved to be that and more, with Black Hills running back Cam Goods’ 45-yard jaunt for a touchdown with 2:46 to play giving the Yellow Jackets a 21-18 victory over the Eagles Saturday evening in Spearfish.
It was a heart-breaker for the Eagles. Led by quarterback DJ Ralph, who completed 33 of 47 passes for 408 yards, Chadron State had a chance on the game’s final play to tie the score and send it into overtime, but their 43-yard field goal attempt missed. The loss was CSC’s third loss by three or fewer points this fall.
Ralph’s 408 yards were a season-high for the Chadron State quarterback. The Eagles passed the ball 47 times, with Ralph completing 33 of those attempts. Two Chadron State receivers went over 100 yards on the day, with Tommy Thomas catching 11 passes for 146 yards and Grant Swenson catching seven passes for 102.
Trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Eagles scored 11 unanswered points and went ahead 18-14 after being awarded a safety when Black Hills State was called for intentional grounding on a pass thrown out of the end zone, but Chadron State was unable to hang on to the lead.
For Black Hills State, Goods also scored the game’s first touchdown on a one-yard plunge in the opening period to cap an 11-play, 60-yard drive. It saw Yellow Jackets quarterback Luke Duby complete four of five passes for 48 yards. Ryan Ewing added the extra point.
Chadron State tied the score at 7-7 with just under four minutes left in the second quarter with an eight-play, 88-yard march that was highlighted by Ralph’s 50-yard pass to wide receiver Grant Swenson. Two plays later, Ralph hit tight end Peter Krohn with a six-yard toss for the touchdown. Wilson Yee kicked the extra point.
Black Hills regained the lead at 14-7 with 50 seconds left in the first half. A 33-yard pass from Duby to Damien Boozer was the big gainer, carrying to the 12-yard line. Alternate quarterback Kade Weber then entered the game, ran the ball twice and scored from the five. Ewing again added the PAT.
An interception and 32-yard return by safety Dax Yeradi set up Chadron State’s second touchdown with 10:48 left in the third quarter. An 18-yard pass to wide receiver Tommy Thomas was the big play before Ralph carried a keeper the final three yards. It was Yeradi’s fourth interception of the season and also Ralph’s fourth rushing touchdown of the year.
In a significant play, Jackets’ defensive tackle Isaiah Morales blocked the extra point attempt, leaving the score 14-13 in favor of the hosts. That was one of four missed kicks on the day for the Eagles, who failed to convert two other times after lining up for field goals before the game’s final play. The first was on the game’s opening possession when problems with the snap and hold at the 47-yard line prevented the kick from being attempted. The second was in the second quarter when a 42-yard effort missed the mark.
Kicker Wilson Yee did make a 35-yarder to give Chadron State its first lead of the game with 5:10 left in the third period. A 22-yard pass from Ralph to running back Chase Nelson was the key play in the 61-yard drive. Early in the fourth, a punt from Brodie Eisenbraun pinned BHSU inside the 10-yard line, while Yellow Jackets personal foul and false start eventually backed the home team up to the two-yard line. On second down, Duby was pressured in the end zone and desperately got rid of the ball, leading to an intentional grounding call and a safety for Chadron State, pushing the score to 18-14.
After the Eagles took the lead with the five points provided by the field goal and the safety, Ewing punted the ball 77 yards, forcing CSC to take possession on its own 17. After picking up two first downs, Ralph was intercepted by Black Hills safety Nicc Quinones at midfield. Three plays later, Goods broke loose on his long touchdown jaunt that put Black Hills ahead 21-18, the eventual final score.
There was still 2:40 left to play when the Eagles took possession on their own 23. Ralph hit Thomas for gains of 32 and 17 yards to help move the ball to the Yellow Jackets’ 20. The Eagles eventually reached the 13 before defensive end Matt Lofaso sacked the CSC quarterback for a 13-yard loss.
It was fourth down and the Eagles were forced to try the 43-yard field goal with hopes of playing in overtime, but Yee’s kick was slightly wide to the right, ending the game.
The Eagles finished with 410 yards of total offense despite having only two net rushing yards after five sacks for minus 44 yards were deducted.
For Black Hills State, Damian Boozer had seven catches for 89 yards. Goods, who finished with 98 yards on 19 carries, led all game rushers by a large margin.
The Eagles will host another long-time rival, South Dakota Mines, this coming Saturday at home at Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.