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CHADRON, Neb. — After breezing past its last three opponents, the Chadron State football team is expecting a much stiffer test Saturday when it visits Colorado Mines for a Rocky Mountain Athlete Conference showdown.
Kickoff will be at noon.
The Orediggers are flying high. After losing their non-conference games to two Kansas teams, Washburn (27-14) and Fort Hays State (31-21), Mines has reeled off six straight RMAC victories and is tied with the University of Nebraska at Kearney at the top of the standings.
The conference wins have been over Western New Mexico 52-31, Fort Lewis 51-10, Colorado State-Pueblo 31-7, Mesa State 23-17, Western State 24-7 and Adams State 37-14.
The Eagles are 5-3 and 4-2 in league play.
This year's Colorado Mines team was expected to be good and it hasn't disappointed during its conference run. The Orediggers were 8-4 overall last year and went 7-2 in the RMAC. Chadron State beat them 34-17 after trailing 17-10 at halftime. Mines' other loss in the conference was to Mesa State 27-24. The Diggers beat UNK 37-20.
Ten starters on offense and nine on defense returned from last year's team, led by two RMAC preseason player of the year choices. They are quarterback David Pesek on offense and defensive tackle Marc Schiechl.
Pesek completed 243 of 380 passes for 2,672 yards and 21 touchdowns last fall, when both he and CSC's Joe McLain earned first-team all-conference honors at quarterback.
This fall, Pesek has completed 186 of 298 passes for 2,390 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's been intercepted just five times. Schleichl has participated in 46 tackles, including six sacks.
Other returning all-conference players for Mines include wide receiver Adam Saur and offensive lineman Zach Meints.
Saur leads the Orediggers in receiving with 55 catches for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. Another dangerous receiver is junior Robbin Vinnola, who had seven catches for 96 yards during the win over Adams State on Saturday.
Chadron State may be forced to use a makeshift offensive line against the Orediggers. Coach Bill O'Boyle said both starters Sean McGowan at center and Jake Finerty at guard were injured against Fort Lewis and may not be able to play.
The Eagles were already missing guard Tim Hiett, a preseason all-conference selection who suffered a season-ending knee injury before the opening game. Also out are tackles Grady Goldhammer because of a foot problem and Jake Blackburn because of mononucleosis. It is hoped that Goldhammer, a senior from Upton, Wyo., can return with the help of a special insert in his shoe.
“Mines is a very good football team,” O'Boyle said. “We'll have to keep playing well to beat them.”
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