Chadron State Extends Winning Streak too Three with 34-27 Victory Over Colorado Mesa
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Chadron State Eagles secured their third consecutive win on Saturday, defeating the Colorado Mesa Mavericks 34-27 in a hard-fought Rocky mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) matchup. A strong defensive performance,punctuated by key turnovers,and a balanced offensive attack propelled the Eagles to victory.
The Eagles quickly took the lead with a touchdown on their opening drive, but Colorado Mesa responded, keeping the game tightly contested throughout.A pivotal moment came early in the second quarter when Chadron State senior safety Dax Yeradi intercepted a pass by Cole Hansen with a remarkable over-the-shoulder catch while covering the receiver. This turnover,along with another forced fumble in the fourth quarter recovered by cornerback Jadon Bowen,proved crucial in maintaining the Eagles’ advantage. Bowen’s forced fumble led directly to a 26-yard field goal by Yee, extending the Eagles’ lead to 34-20 with 4:05 remaining.
Colorado Mesa refused to concede,narrowing the gap with a 59-yard touchdown reception by Brown. Despite two late fumbles,Chadron State recovered both,sealing the win.
Daytuawn Pearson led the Eagles’ rushing attack with 85 yards on 16 carries, while quarterback Thompson completed 15 of 28 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Tommy Thomas was Thompson’s primary target, hauling in seven receptions for 98 yards, and Rollin George III added three receptions for 80 yards.
Defensively, William Stemler led the eagles with seven tackles, including a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Cooper Walton, Sutton Pohlman, and Logan O’Brien each contributed three tackles. Andre Lopez-Green topped the Mavericks’ tackle chart with 14, followed by George Soppe (12) and Bradley (11).
The Eagles (3-1 2-1 RMAC) will look to continue their winning streak next Saturday when they travel to Alamosa,Colorado,to face the Adams State Grizzlies (0-4 0-3 RMAC). The Grizzlies have faced challenging competition in recent weeks, including nationally-ranked RMAC opponents Western Colorado and CSU Pueblo.
