Gannon Winker
Amanda Loman
7
Western Ore. WOU 3-6 , 2-2
45
Winner Chadron St. CSC 5-5 , 4-4
Western Ore. WOU
3-6 , 2-2
7
Final
45
Chadron St. CSC
5-5 , 4-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WOU Western Ore. 0 0 0 7 7
CSC Chadron St. 7 0 17 21 45

Game Recap: Football | | Brian Kortz

Big Second Half Sends Chadron State Past Wolves

CHADRON, Neb. – The Western Oregon University football team held Chadron State to just seven points in the first half. The Eagles then surged for 38 points in the second half to take the 45-7 win over the Wolves Saturday at Elliott Field.

WOU (3-6) limited CSC (5-5) to a late first quarter touchdown and then the teams battled to a 7-0 game at the break. The Eagles then scored on three straight possessions in the third quarter to pull away.

Gannon Winker completed 4-12 for 137 yards and a touchdown, while Ryan Worthley went 3-11 for 65 yards and Wyatt Harsh went 3-10 for 63 yards. Thomas Wright caught four passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Jarren Ford added two catches for 73 yards and Damon Hickok with four receptions for 56 yards. On the ground, Omari Land rushed for 87 yards on 17 carries and Winker added 37 yards and seven attempts.

Jaylin Parnell put together a big game on defense with 12 tackles (seven solo), along with two tackles for loss and a sack. Ryan Minniti and Mack Little each had seven tackles, while Curtis Anderson and Joey Sinclair added six tackles apiece. Anderson had two tackles for loss and a sack. James Duane, Twister McComas and L.J. Lovelace all added sacks.

Anderson had three kickoff returns for 65 yards, including a long return of 30 yards. Andrew Gross averaged 41.6 yards on nine punts, including a long of 63 yards.

The Wolves had a strong start to the game forcing a quick three-and-out. With the ball at the WOU 28, Worthley immediately found Wright for a 52-yard strike all the way down to the CSC 20. The drive stalled from there and the Wolves tried a 41-yard field goal that just missed to keep the game scoreless.

Each defense would hold on the ensuing drives before the Eagles put together a 10 play, 80-yard drive to reach the end zone with just 43 seconds left in the opening quarter for a 7-0 lead.

WOU got out near midfield on a couple of drives before halftime, but weren't able to put any points on the board. The defense stopped a late drive before the half to keep it a 7-0 game at the break.

Chadron State then forced a Wolves punt to start the second half and took their first possession down the field for a touchdown that was capped by a 47-yard pass to push ahead 14-0. The Eagles used a deep on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by the Eagles. The WOU defense allowed no first downs and CSC settled for a 40-yard field goal to move ahead 17-0.

An interception on the next drive setup a touchdown on the next play for the Eagles from 19 yards out to go in front 24-0 midway through the third quarter. It would remain that way into the fourth quarter when a fumble in the end zone by the Wolves was recovered for a TD by the Eagles to move the advantage to 31-0.

After the Eagles added another touchdown later in the quarter, WOU found the end zone on a long pass play. Following a four-yard run by Land, Winker found Wright for a 58-yard touchdown with 3:28 to play in the game to leave the Eagles with a 38-7 lead.

Chadron State closed the scoring with a big play of their own on a 69-yard touchdown pass to provide the final score of 45-7.

WOU nearly put together a late drive with Harsh finding Hickok for passing plays of 12 and 37-yards, but time ran out as the Wolves were at the Eagles 20-yard line.

Total yards were close with Chadron State holding a 411-389 advantage. WOU passed for 265, while the Eagles passed for 206. Turnovers played a big role with WOU committing three to zero for CSC.

Dalton Holst completed 13-28 for 133 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles. Jamal Browder caught three passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Ahlonte Hair added two catches for 57 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Jeydon Cox rushed for 112 yards on 13 carries, with a pair of touchdowns. On defense, Joey Geil had eight tackles and a half-sack.

WOU will close out the 2021 season at home this coming Saturday, Nov. 13 when they host Lincoln (CA) with kickoff set for 1:05 p.m. at McArthur Field. It will be Senior Day for the nine Wolves' seniors in Curtis Anderson, Jakob Pruitt, Anthony Orlando, Andrew Gross, Twister McComas, Widny Joseph, Mack Little, Jarren Ford and Braden Fuszek who will be honored.

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