By: Con Marshall
CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State and New Mexico Highlands had an old-fashioned shootout during their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football game Saturday afternoon. It included 951 yards of total offense and four lead changes in the fourth quarter before the homestanding Cowboys hung on for a 33-30 victory.
With just seconds remaining, the Eagles had a chance to send the clash into overtime, but they missed a 40-yard field goal by a few inches, much to the delight of the Cowboys' homecoming crowd. It is the second-straight one score game between the two schools, as the Eagles pulled out a 24-21 victory by connecting for a touchdown with 71 seconds left on the clock a year ago.
The Eagles are now 2-4 for the season and 1-3 in the RMAC. New Mexico Highlands (1-5, 1-3 RMAC) earned Head Coach Kurt Tuafa'asau's first victory with the program and snapped a 13-game Cowboys losing streak dating back to midseason last year.
Statistically, Highlands dominated the first half Saturday, taking an almost four-to-one margin in time of possession while running 44 plays for 242 yards compared to Chadron State's 22 plays for 113 yards, but Highlands led by just two points at halftime. Chadron State moved the ball better in the second half and finished with 488 total yards while Highlands finished with 463.
Each team had numerous standouts. Both quarterbacks, Joey Cave for Highlands and DJ Ralph for Chadron State, completed over 70 percent of their passes, threw for three touchdowns and ran for one. Neither was sacked. The Eagles' Jake Marschall was the game's leading rusher with 16 carries for 131 yards, while the Cowboys' Teita Valeti carried 26 times for 116 yards and one TD.
While eight Eagles caught passes, Highlands utilized just four receivers. One of them, senior Teneil Nichols, caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the Cowboys, both of which were among the game's four lead changes in the final quarter. Nichols finished with seven catches for 124 yards.
New Mexico Highlands jumped out to a lead by scoring two touchdowns, but Chadron State stopped the Cowboys on a two-point conversion after the first touchdown before blocking the extra point after the second, keeping the score 12-0. At that point, Highlands had possessed the ball more than 19 minutes and the Eagles less than four.
Chadron State's Tucker Peterson returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards and Ralph hit Marschall with a 15-yard pass to help set up a 46-yard field goal by Wilson Yee to put the Eagles on the scoreboard. With barely a minute left in the second quarter, Peterson blocked a Highlands punt at midfield. Ralph threw a 12-yard pass to Chase Nelson and ran for seven yards before wide receiver Tommy Thomas took a short toss 19 yards to the end zone. Yee kicked the extra point to make the score 12-10 at halftime.
Each team scored once in the third quarter. The Cowboys moved ahead 18-10 on Cave's four-yard pass to Cayden Walton to cap a 10-play, 48-yard drive. The Eagles answered just two minutes later by going 94 yards in just five plays. Ralph hit wide receivers Grant Swenson and Rollin George with lengthy passes, then dashed the final 12 yards up the middle to the end zone for a rushing touchdown to pull within two points at 18-16. The Eagles went for two to try and tie the score, but a double pass attempt from Swenson was intercepted in the end zone.
The Eagles had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, but a short field goal attempt was foiled by a bad snap to the holder and blocked when it was finally kicked. Chadron State's defense forced a punt, however, and the Eagles finally took their first lead at 23-18 while needing just five plays again to go 74 yards. Ralph connected with passes to Swenson and tight end Peter Krohn, pass interference was called on the Cowboys and George took Ralph's toss the final two yards into the endzone with nine minutes left to play.
The lead didn't last long. Nichols soon carried Cave's pass 61 yards to the end zone after the CSC cornerback slipped on the turf. The Cowboys were ahead again, this time 26-23.
The Eagles promptly fought back. They needed just six plays to drive 71 yards and regain the lead 30-26 with 4:08 left to play. Ralph and Marschall had runs of 16 and 19 yards, respectively, and the CSC quarterback threw a pass to tight end Peter Krohn, who went the final 20 yards.
Three minutes later, Highlands took the lead again by going 75 yards in nine plays. Five of them were short rushes that helped run out the clock, but Cave also teamed up with Nichols on passes of 27 and 28 yards, the last one in the end zone for what proved to be the game-winner.
The Eagles' hopes soared again when Preston Pearson returned the kickoff 45 yards to the Highlands' 46 with a minute left to play. Bolstered by a 12-yard pass to Thomas, CSC got the ball to the 25 before two passes fell incomplete. With 19 seconds remaining, Wilson Yee lined up for a 40-yard field goal that would have tied the score, but it was wide right.
Chadron State's leading tacklers were linebackers Logan O'Brien and Reed Henkel. Each had nine solo stops and O'Brien also earned an assisted tackle to finish with 10 stops.
Chadron State football will be back at home this upcoming Saturday, October 19. It will be homecoming for the Eagles as they take on Fort Lewis (1-5, 0-4 RMAC), who lost 58-24 to nationally-ranked CSU Pueblo on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium.