Chadron State, which is ranked ninth in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll, dominated three of four quarters en route to its 37-17 win over the University of Mary on Thursday night in Bismarck, N.D.
“We played a terrible second quarter and we made a lot of mistakes but for the rest of the game we played pretty well and I’m happy with the outcome,” CSC head coach Bill O’Boyle said.
Despite having a hiccup in the second quarter – the University of Mary scored 17 unanswered points, including 10 off two CSC fumbles – the Eagles dominated the Marauders, allowing just 172 total yards. The Eagles also limited Mary to negative 23 yards rushing and sacked quarterback Jesse Kozak eight times.
The Eagles got on the board quickly in the first quarter by scoring on their first drive of the game in six plays. Quarterback Joe McLain, who finished the game completing 13-of-25 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns, capped the drive off with a 1-yard run. Tailback Aaron Cooksley was the next Eagle to score after he made several Marauder defensive players miss on a 24-yard run on CSC’s next possession. The Eagles kept pressing and McLain found inside receiver Isaac Stockton in the back of the end zone on their third possession of the game for a 5-yard TD pass.
However, the Marauders didn’t go away and got themselves back into the game during the second quarter when they scored 17 points in the final three minutes. Kozak, who was 18-of-35 for 195 yards, scored on a 2-yard run and Rett Thibodeaux booted a 28-yard field goal after a CSC fumble. After the field goal, the Eagles fumbled on their next offensive play and Kozak hit Brady Martin for a 23-yard touchdown.
But the Eagles’ defense righted the ship in the second half by limiting Mary to 83 yards on five possessions. In the second half, Mary punted four times and turned the ball over on downs. The CSC offense also responded well by scoring 17 points. Brandon Harrington scored on a 10-yard pass from McLain, Travis Atter kicked a 42-yard field goal and John Ritzen scored his first career touchdown on a 14-yard run to close the door.
Duke Eardley’s eight tackles and one sack led the Eagles’ defense. Jared Koester, who had six tackles in the game, added two more sacks, and Shaine Odell, Aaron Ide, Jay Meduna, Cory Beran and Zach Wheeler also had one sack.
story courtesy Chadron State Athletics