September 27, 2008
Chadron State Wins Defensive Struggle, 17-14
Dring Scores Two More TD's
Kearney, Neb. – The 18th-ranked Chadron State football team blocked two field goals, and recovered a fumble deep in their own territory in the fourth quarter, to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 17-14, Saturday afternoon in Chadron.
The Eagles, who haven’t lost to an RMAC opponent since a 2005 setback to the Lopers, improve to 4-1 (3-0 RMAC) while UNK falls below .500 (2-3, 2-1 RMAC).
Since the series was resumed in 1990, Chadron is now 10-5 vs. the Lopers with seven of those wins coming by seven points or less. UNK still has a very healthy lead in the all-time series (45-21-1).
UNK was poised to erase the Chadron lead as they drove 52 yards in eight plays to the Eagle 30-yard line with six minutes left. However, on 1st and 10, corner Terrence Newman forced a fumble and Corey Beran recovered the loose ball at the CSC 23-yard line.
The Lopers had another chance to win or tie the contest as they drove to the Chadron 26-yard line with about a minute left in the game. After a third down pass fell incomplete, senior Geoff Carnahan (Kearney Catholic) came on for a 42-yard field goal.
The Eagles managed to block it the kick and then subsequently ran out the clock. Earlier in the second half, Carnahan’s attempt from 57 yards was blocked. The 57 yarder would've set the school record; Travis Parker hit a 56 yard field goal back in 1988.
Last week in a win over Adams State, Carnahan had a 47-yard field goal blocked. He is 8 for 8 in all of his other field goal attempts this fall.
Special teams play was also a big factor in giving the Eagles the halftime lead. Ahead 7-3 early in the second quarter, UNK had a low snap on a punt deep in its own territory. Carnahan fell on the ball but that setup Chadron 1st and 10 from the Loper nine yard line.
Three plays later, senior quarterback Joe McClain scored the Eagles first TD of the game, a rush from one yard out.
After a scoreless third quarter, UNK took the lead back early in the fourth when Dring scored his second touchdown of the game, a three yard run that capped a seven play, 64-yard drive.
The drive was similar to the opening one of the game in which the Lopers traveled 71 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Dring had eight carries in the drive for 37 yards.
Chadron quickly responded to Dring’s second score, getting a 27-yard kick return from Brandon Harrington, and a 15-yard face mask penalty, to move the ball all the way to midfield.
On 2nd and 10 from the UNK 27-yard line, McClain threw a shovel pass to running back John Ritzen (18 carries, 73 yards) who went all the way to the end zone for the game’s final points.
UNK actually out gained Chadron, 303 to 260. The Lopers held the Eagles to 72 net rushing yards in 33 carries while McClain was 17 of 26 for 188 yards and one interception in the passing game.
Harrington did have seven catches for 96 yards and two kick returns for 81 yards. His 54-yard return early in the game helped change field position and allow the Eagles to kick a 41-yard field goal.
Dring finished with 75 yards and two TD’s on 25 carries. He also caught one pass for 15 yards. Redshirt freshman Jake Spitzlberger (Lakewood, Colo.) also was successful on the ground – 13 carries for 57 yards – and went 15 of 28 for 171 yards through the air.
Six different Lopers caught a pass, led by sophomore Kyle Kaiser (Broomfield, Colo.) with five for 63 yards. He had the long reception of the game, a 43-yard snag that setup Dring’s fourth quarter score.
Defensively, junior safety Jake Mandelko (Lexington) had a team-high eight tackles, senior linebacker Cheikh Fall (Boys Town) had two tackles for a loss of five yards and junior corner Ozzie Smith (Bellevue) had his second interception of the year.
UNK is on the road next Saturday at Colorado State-Pueblo. The first-year Thunderwolves lost at Colorado School of Mines, 21-14 (OT), to drop to 2-2 on the year.
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Contact:
Peter Yazvac
yazvacpa@unk.edu |