DURANGO, Colo. -- October 8, 2022 -- The Chadron State Eagles scored four touchdowns in each half while claiming their first victory of the season, a 56-3 verdict over Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., on Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

The Eagles dominated every phase of the game, piling up 592 total net yards, including 367 rushing, while holding the Skyhawks to just 116 total yards, after their minus 11 yards rushing is deducted.   

CSC Head Coach Jay Long said it felt good to win, and commended his team for playing well in each phase of the game. He added that this past week he and his staff simplified the offense, and the players executed it well.  He also said the Eagles' defense turned in an outstanding team effort, giving up no running plays longer than six yards and only two passes longer than 10 yards.

Chadron State finished with 32 first downs and Fort Lewis just seven.

Fort Lewis scored first after the Eagles made one of their few mistakes. It was a fumbled punt return that gave the Skyhawks possession at their own 40-yard line. But after picking up two first downs, Fort Lewis had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Hunter Villavicencio midway in the opening quarter.

The Eagles scored their first touchdown just 80 seconds later when former Mitchell standout Rylan Aguallo ran the final 11 yards after another young running back, Dorian Collier, had dashed 34 yards and the Skyhawks were flagged for pass interference.

Chadron State scored three touchdowns in the second period, the first two on runs of three and five yards by massive Jalen Starks and the other a 22-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Preston Pearson to true freshman Tommy Thomas. 

The first of the three TDs was set up by 16-yard passes from Pearson to Collier and Jamal Browder. A fumble recovery by linebacker Heamasi Latu, followed by a 13-yard keeper by Pearson set the stage for the second score.  Runs of 11 yards by Aguallo and eight by Jeydon Cox and an 11-yard pass to tight end Peter Krohn preceded the third of the second quarter TDs.

Already ahead 28-3, the Eagles opened the second half with their biggest play. Browder carried a jet sweep 70 yards to the end zone with no one coming close to catching him after he turned the corner.

Chadron State went ahead 42-3 with 1:15 left in the third, when senior receiver Ali Musa made a one-handed catch over his outside shoulder for a 22-yard gain and Starks went the final three yards to the goal line for his third TD of the day. 
Long said Musa's reception ranks among the best he has ever seen.

Early In the fourth quarter, Pearson threw his second touchdown pass, an eight-yard strike to Ahlonte Hair in the end zone to cap an 80-yard drive on the ninth play. A 22-yard run by Aguallo and a 19-yard pass to Krohn were the big gainers.

The Eagles posted their final touchdown on a two-yard pass from alternate quarterback Trevor Wehman to tight end Ro Abercrombie after Cox ignited the drive with a 19-yard ramble and end Jackson Hesford carried for 12 yards.

Gunnar Jones made all eight of his extra point attempts and averaged 46 yards on three punts.

A southpaw from Kearney, Pearson completed 18 of 24 passes for 218 yards. Nine Eagles caught passes, led by Krohn with six receptions for 56 yards.
 
Cox had 16 carries for 103 yards to pace the Eagles' ground game.  Aguallo rushed nine times for 65 yards, Starks 11 times for 58 and Collier three for 50, to go with Browder's 70-yard sprint to open the second half. 

Fort Lewis quarterback Braden Wingle completed 17 of 32 passes for 127 yards.

The Eagles will be at home this coming Saturday to host Adams State for a noon kickoff.

Cougars win close match in four

CHADRON, Neb. – October 8, 2022 – The Chadron State College volleyball team dropped its fourth straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match on Saturday night against Colorado Christian in four sets (16-25, 25-23, 28-30, 18-25). The Eagles are now 7-12 overall, and 5-5 in the RMAC.

"We battled the last couple matches, said CSC Head Volleyball Coach Jennifer Stadler, "and we're working hard throughout our sets. We have to work to finish those tight sets, when the score is close, or when it goes to extra points."

CSC started off slow in the first set, finding itself down 3-7 early, and it never got close to Colorado Christian. The closest the Eagles got was four at 7-11. CCU was able to go on a 6-2 run to separate themselves from the Eagles. The Cougars were able to score the final three points to take the set off a kill from sophomore setter Izzy Jones.

The second set started off better for the Eagles as they traded blows with the Cougars, tying seven times before either team was able to get to double digits. The Eagles were able to separate themselves at 19-14 with the help of kills from sophomore middle Aiyana Fujiyama, freshman setter Kiley West, and junior outside hitter Lexi Hurtado. CCU tied the set again at 23, however the Eagles were able to scrape two points and took the set off a kill by sophomore outside Amber Harvey.

CCU captured the momentum to start off the third set, but CSC was able to fight back, led by Hurtado, to tie the game at 11. CSC led eight times, including five set points. The set went past the normal 25 points, decided by a kill from CCU's sophomore middle Lilly Woods, as CCU took the third set.

The Cougars carried that momentum into the fourth set, going up 4-0. CSC was able to fight back and tie the game four different times, but was never able to take the lead from CCU. A late Cougar run of 9-2 put the set, and the match, away.

Mayson Fago led the Eagles in hitting percentage of .421, but Lexi Hurtado led the Eagles with a total of 15 kills. Fago had 10 kills to add to the total of 50. As a team the Eagles hit .183, recording its best set in the third with a .280 clip.

The Eagles totaled 19 blocks with Amber Harvey, and Bella Adams leading the way with five each. Aiyana Fujiyama had four.

Kiera Alfred had 15 digs with Fago adding 13. Rylee Greiman had 11 to help out the defensive effort.

The Eagles will travel to Colorado School of Mines on Tuesday October 11.

No. 2 MSU Denver downs Eagles in three sets

CHADRON, Neb. – October 7, 2022 – The Chadron State College volleyball team lost on Friday night to No. 2 MSU Denver in three sets (16-25, 25-27, 17-25) at the Chicoine Center. The Eagles fell to 7-11, and 5-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The Eagles were able to hang around with the high-powered Roadrunners early, at 5-5 in the first set. MSUD was able to pull away from CSC with a 11-2 run, and the two points for the Eagles were service errors by the Roadrunners. The Eagles bounced back and closed it to 17-13, off a service ace from Fago, but MSUD was able to recapture the momentum and finish the set on a kill from Kaylee Corsentino.

The second set opened up much like the first one, and the Eagles hung on and kept it close throughout. MSUD largest lead was seven. With their backs against the wall, the Eagles were able to crawl back from a 13-20 deficit and tie the game at 24. The Eagles took the lead and set point on a Fujiyama kill, but MSUD scored the next three points to go up 27-25 in the match.

The Eagles opened the third set competitively as well, trailing by only one point at 6-5. CSC was able to stay with MSU Denver up until 19-17, following an ace from West, but the Roadrunners explosive offense took advantage and scored the final six points to win the match.

The Eagles offensive attack was led by junior Lexi Hurtado with nine kills, with sophomore Amber Harvey recording eight. The Eagles totaled 24 kills on the night with a .124 hitting percentage. Out of the three sets played, the Eagles best hitting percentage was .179 in the third set.

Defensively, sophomore Aiyana Fujiyama and freshman Bella Adams totaled three total blocks each, with CSC totaling six team blocks.

The Eagles had a total of 40 digs, with sophomore Mayson Fago getting 13, and junior Rylee Greiman pitching in for nine. Freshman libero Kiera Alfred had seven to add to the total.

Chadron will host Colorado Christian on Saturday, October 8 at the Chicoine Center at 6 p.m. for Pink Out night to bring awareness to breast cancer patients and survivors.