CSC FOOTBALL
CSC EAGLES READY FOR HOMECOMING GRIDIRON AFFAIR
By ALEX HELMBRECHT, CSC SPORTS INFORMATION
Sep 28, 2007, 11:51

The Chadron State football learned last weekend against Colorado School of Mines that every game in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference isn’t going to be easy.

This Saturday when the Eagles host New Mexico Highlands should prove to be no different.

“There are a lot of good teams in this league that can beat anybody,” said CSC Head Coach Bill O’Boyle. “New Mexico Highlands is a very athletic team and they have a lot of talent, especially at the skill positions. They make a living off of the big play and so we’ve got to be ready offensively and defensively because there are some great athletes who are coming in here.”

Chadron State, 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in the RMAC, will host the Cowboys (3-1, 2-0) for homecoming on Saturday in Chadron. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

After defeating Colorado School of Mines 35-7 last Saturday, the Eagles enter their game this week a little banged up. Junior wide receiver and punt returner Micah Smith tore his ACL and MCL in the first quarter, kicker Travis Atter injured his groin, kick returner John Ritzen sprained an ankle on the game’s first play, inside receiver Logan Stropko didn’t play because of a bad ankle, and safety Trevor Hyatt sprained his wrist. However, even with all the injuries, the Eagles still managed to win their 17th consecutive regular season game to set a school record.

Most importantly, though, several backup players stepped into roles they weren’t accustomed to and played well. Landon Ehlers took over punt return duties once Smith left the game and he had a 63-yard scamper for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Ehlers finished with 80 return yards and he was named the RMAC/Rawlings Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

Wide receivers Isaac Stockton and Kent Russell also stepped up their production. Both scored their first career touchdowns against Mines, and Stockton led the team in receiving yards with 51.

“It’s a huge blow when you lose your best receiver but we’ve got to learn to go on,” O’Boyle said. “We hate to see any injury to a kid, especially a season-ending injury like Micah’s was. Losing him was a huge blow to our offense, but we do have some depth and those kids stepped up. It was nice to see them making plays and it’s just a testament to how hard those guys work in practice.”

Linebacker Zach Wheeler also did his part by filling in for Atter. On four kickoffs, Wheeler averaged 45 yards.

Against New Mexico Highlands, the Eagles will once again have to overcome their injuries, but O’Boyle is more worried about the Cowboys’ ability to make big plays.

“I’m seeing them score through the air and it’s off of big plays,” he said. “I know up front, just from watching a few series on film, they’ve got a good running back, two great quarterbacks and two very good receivers. We know what they have and they’re good.”

Although the Cowboys’ three wins have come against NAIA Bacone, and two winless RMAC teams – Adams State and Western State – they’ve still put up impressive numbers, especially through the air. Quarterback Alex Aispuro has thrown for 856 yards and completed 60 of 90 passes, with just one interception. Of Aispuro’s eight touchdown passes, Daniel White has caught four of them and averages 93.2 yards a game. Another of the Cowboys’ leading receivers is LaFerrell Payne, who has 21 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Halfback Randall Brown, who has rushed for 374 yards and two touchdowns, is also a dangerous receiver. He’s caught 16 balls for 129 yards and one TD.

However, the Eagles’ defense is no pushover. Through four games, CSC’s defense has only allowed 31 points, including just two touchdowns in the last 10 quarters. Senior safety Paul Schweger leads the team in total tackles with 22, but six others have at least 12.5.

The Cowboys are also potent on defense. Through four games, the defense has 38 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. Defensive end Aaron Brown leads the team with four sacks and linebacker Thomas Raiola leads the team in total tackles with 38. Current RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Diego Urbina, a middle linebacker, is second on the team in tackles with 25.

The Highlands defense should see plenty of CSC’s running back Danny Woodhead, who needs 288 yards to become the all-time leading rusher in all divisions of the NCAA. Woodhead, who has rushed for more than 288 yards five times in his career, has a chance to set the record against the Cowboys because he’s proven to be capable of putting up big numbers in the past. In three games, he has averaged more than 10 yards a carry and he’s rushed 71 times for 663 yards and caught nine passes for 152 yards.

Woodhead ran for 160 yards last weekend at Colorado School of Mines to become the Division II career rushing leader. So far this season he’s rushed for 701 yards. In his career he’s rushed for 7,066 yards and scored 96 touchdowns. He’s also accumulated 8,374 all-purpose yards.

Saturday’s meeting will be the 15th time the two teams have met. Chadron State has an 11-3 advantage and has won the last eight games by a combined score of 396-102.

New Mexico Highlands probable starters

Offense

Wide receivers—18 LaFerrel Payne, 6-0, 190, junior., and 88 Daniel White, 6-0, 200, senior. Tight end—44 Art Abreu, 6-2, 240, junior. Tackles—79 Darrell Caines, 6-3, 300, junior., and 60 Anthony Soares, 6-3, 300, junior. Guards—56 Wesley Lauago, 6-2, 330, junior, and 63 Jason Bays, 6-6, 340, senior. Center—61 John Tukia, 6-4, 400, senior. Quarterback—8 Alex Aispuro, 6-1, 210, senior. Fullback—37 Alexander Toeaina, 5-11, 230, junior. Tailback—20 Randall Brown, 5-7, 170, junior. Placekicker—41 Hugo Barajas, 5-9, 170, senior.

New Mexico Highlands probable starters

Defense

Ends—90 Josh Conway, 6-3, 270, sophomore, and 2 Aaron Brown, 6-2, 270, senior. Tackles—93 Percy Robinson, 6-4, 350, junior, and 95 Collins Forun, 6-2, 280, junior. Outside linebackers—51 Juan Silva 6-0, 240, senior, and 42 Thomas Raiola, 6-0, 220, junior. Middle linebacker—5 Diego Urbina, 6-0, 220, junior. Cornerbacks—27 Justin Johnson, 5-11, 198, senior, and 14 Carl Willis, 5-9, 165, junior. Safetys—15 Kevin Island, 5-10, 190, senior, and 13 Nick Aldape, 6-0, 210, junior. Punter—33 Adam Alvarez, 6-0, 200, senior.

CSC probable starters

Offense

WR – Brandon Harrington, 6-4, 205, sophomore; Landon Ehlers, 6-3, 205, senior. IR – Bryce Jarzynka, 6-3, 215, senior; Kent Russell, 6-1, 220, Jr. LT – *John Strand, 6-8, 280, senior. LG – Ben Puffer, 6-3, 274, sophomore. C – Chance Galey, 6-2, 252, junior. RG – Richard Smock, 6-0, 250, junior. RT – Aaron Forsberg, 6-5, 285, senior. QB – Joe McLain, 5-8, 160, junior. RB – *Danny Woodhead, 5-9, 200, senior. PK – Travis Atter, 5-8, 174, sophomore.

Defense

DE – Barton Cron, 6-0, 216, senior; Jared Koester, 6-2, 240, junior. DT – Aaron Ide, 6-1, 255, junior; Josh Knouse, 6-1, 260, sophomore. OLB – Aaron Bauer, 5-9, 195, junior; Eric Roth, 6-2, 215, junior. ILB – Zach Wheeler, 6-0, 235, junior; Austin Bailey, 6-1, 230, junior. CB – Chase Rasby, 6-0, 195, junior; *Beau Wendling, 6-2, 212, senior. S – Trevor Hyatt, 5-11, 198, junior; *Paul Schweger, 6-2, 215, senior; P – Kevin Berg, 5-11, 160, freshman.

Special Teams

K – Travis Atter, 5-8, 174, sophomore; H – Joe McLain, 5-8, 170, junior; P – Kevin Berg, 5-11, 160, freshman; LS – Jayce Dueland, 5-11, 240, junior; PR – Landon Ehlers, 6-3, 205, senior; KR – Brandon Harrington, 6-4, 205, sophomore; Landon Ehlers, 6-3, 205, senior.

*Denotes team captains



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