Paxton Ritchey-CSC Sports Information
CHADRON, Neb. – The Eagle-Rock Trophy will be on the line as Chadron State and South Dakota Mines both look to get their seasons back on track this Saturday.
The Eagles (3-5, 2-4 RMAC) will host the Hardrockers (also 3-5, 2-4 RMAC) at Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for noon. Chadron State will be looking to rebound from yet another loss in the final seconds while South Dakota Mines, coming off a bye week, is trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
The game can be streamed live on the RMAC Network.
Looking Back
Chadron State missed a game-tying field goal as time expired, falling 21-18 to rivals Black Hills State in Spearfish.
DJ Ralph threw for 408 yards in the loss, but the Eagles rushed for just two net yards with sacks deducted. The Eagles trailed 14-7 at halftime, but took the lead with a Ralph rushing TD, field goal and safety to climb on top 18-14 before the Yellow Jackets ran for a game-winning 45-yard rushing touchdown with 2:46 to play.
Eagle-Rock Trophy History
by Con Marshall
The Eagle-Rock Trophy, a traveling trophy that is held by the winner of the football game between Chadron State and South Dakota Mines, was first established in 1981 “in observance of the 50th game and the good relations that have existed between the schools through the years.”
The trophy was on the line from 1981-1995, with CSC winning 12 of 15 matchups during that time frame. Starting in 1995, the rivalry stopped while Chadron State competed as an NCAA Division II member while the Hardrockers were still in NAIA.
When the Hardrockers jumped up to Division II and joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the rivalry renewed beginning in 2016. A new trophy bearing the Eagle-Rock Trophy name was created and will be on the line for today’s game. This trophy is inscribed with the year and winning school for every matchup since 2016.
In the Division II era of the rivalry, Chadron State has won eight of the nine matchups. Chadron State won every year from 2016-2021, including two wins during the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, but the Hardrockers took hold of the new trophy for the first time with a 28-7 win in 2022. Last season, the Eagles reclaimed the trophy with a 27-19 victory, highlighted by a three-yard pick-six by defensive lineman Kobe Whipple and touchdown receptions from Tommy Thomasand Jeydon Cox.
Chadron State leads the all-time series 53-20. The two schools played for the first time in 1912, just one year after CSC opened its doors. The game was played in Rapid City and a CSC professor telegraphed the score to the Chadron newspaper after each quarter so the Eagles fans could keep in touch.
The matchups between the Eagles and Hardrockers through the years are an example of how much football has changed. In 1940, the two teams combined to throw 19 passes, with Chadron attempting 10 and the Hardrockers nine. In 1980, the two teams combined to throw 52 passes. During the Hardrockers’ most recent win in 2022, the two teams combined for 86 passes, with CSC’s Heath Beemiller throwing 45 on his own.