Con Marshall
CHADRON, Neb. – Following a similar script to several other games this season, the Chadron State football team put up a valiant fight but endured another disappointing setback Saturday, falling 21-17 to the nationally-ranked Western Colorado Mountaineers in Gunnison.
The Eagles led 17-7 late in the third period, but Western, which entered the game ranked 11th in NCAA Division II and is now 9-1 for the season and 7-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, escaped with a come-from-behind victory. It was the Mountaineers’ smallest margin of victory this season.
Now 3-7 for the season and 2-6 in the RMAC, CSC has now lost five games by a total of 18 points—once by one, two by three, another by seven and this contest by four.
“We played really hard against a really good team,” Chadron State Coach Jay Long said. “The game had lots of big plays and we made our share. We gave it a great shot.”
Primarily because of injuries sustained in the previous week’s game, the Eagles played without five starters and then lost starting running back Jake Marschall on his first carry Saturday. The Eagles were also without starting quarterback DJ Ralph for the second straight week.
Interceptions played a big role. On the first play from scrimmage of the game, Chadron State’s pass was swiped by free safety Drea Thompson and taken 25 yards to the end zone to give Western an instantaneous 7-0 lead after the extra point was added. Despite that and another Chadron State first-half interception in the end zone five minutes later, the Eagles led 10-7 at halftime.
Even though a 23-yard field goal attempt by CSC’s Wilson Yee was blocked by Western cornerback Kevon Carr late in the first quarter, Yee nailed a 55-yarder for the Eagles’ first points with 2:47 remaining in the second period. Just over two minutes later, Eagles corner Jadon Bowen, seeing his first extensive action of the season, intercepted Western quarterback Drew Nash’s pass and took it 45 yards to the end zone for a pick-six of his own to give Chadron State the lead.
The Eagles went ahead 17-7 with 3 ½ minutes left in the third quarter when quarterback Preston Pearson, who did not throw either of the first two interceptions, hit wide receiver Tommy Thomas with a short pass that he took down the sideline for a 47-yard touchdown.
The Mountaineers scored on long drives during their next two possessions to rescue their win. They initially went 75 yards in eight plays with Nash hitting Victory David on a 29-yard pass for the touchdown with six seconds left in the third period. It cut the Eagles’ lead to 17-14.
On their next possession, the Mountaineers put together a 14-play, 93-yard drive. David caught two passes for 30 yards before Nash hit Elias Zarate with a 22-yard pass that he took to the end zone to put the hosts ahead 21-17 with 6:33 remaining.
Confronted with a fourth down on their next possession, the Eagles ran a fake punt from their own 24-yard line and converted after punter Brodie Eisenbraun connected with tight end Peter Krohn on a 28-yard pass that carried out to the Western 48-yard line.
Although the Eagles turned it over on downs after that, they got new life immediately afterwards when defensive tackle Tanner True recovered a Drew Nash fumble on a QB rushing attempt and took it 17 yards to the Western 23-yard line with 2:47 still to play. Spurred by a 10-yard pass from Pearson to Krohn, the Eagles reached the nine before running out of downs with 71 seconds remaining.
Western tried to run out the clock, but Chadron forced a three-and-out and burned their time outs to force the Mountaineers to punt with 56 seconds still on the clock. The Eagles fielded the punt at midfield and picked up one first down, but on the final play of the game, Pearson’s “Hail Mary” pass was intercepted by Kevon Carr in the end zone.
Led by Nash’s 23 of 38 passing for 251 yards, Western finished with 334 total net yards. David caught five tosses for 70 yards to lead all receivers.
For Chadron State, Preston Pearson finished 8-23 with 129 yards passing while also carrying 21 times for 63 yards. He was the game’s leading rusher. Thomas had three catches for 55 yards and a touchdown while running back Chase Nelson had two receptions for 51 yards.
CSC defensive end William Stemler was the game’s leading tackler with 10 stops while teammates Xavier Harrell, Reed Henkel, Hunter O’Connor and Dax Yeradi all had six.
Chadron State will host CSU Pueblo in the regular season and home finale next Saturday, November 16 at Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium. Kickoff is slated for noon. The ThunderWolves (9-1, 8-0 RMAC) have clinched a share of the RMAC title and will be seeking to win the league outright with a win Saturday.