Saturday, November 15, 2008

#12 Chadron State 23 #22 Wayne State 17

               Chadron State defeated Wayne State by the score of 23-17 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs on Saturday afternoon in Chadron, Nebraska.  Chadron State moved to 11-1 with the win and advances to take on Minnesota Duluth next Saturday while Wayne State ends the year at 9-3.  The nine wins ties a school record for most wins in a season and it was just the third post-season appearance in 93 years of WSC football and the first-ever in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

                The Eagles jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after taking the opening drive of the game 82 yards in just four plays.  Chadron State quarterback Joe McLain connected with Joel Schommer on a 73 yard touchdown pass for the Eagles.  Wayne State responded quickly with a 12 play drive capped by a Nick Hope 40 yard field goal to make the score 7-3 in favor of Chadron State.  The teams then traded turnovers.  Chadron State’s John Ritzen fumbled and Wayne State safety Matt Greenway fell on the loose ball.  WSC was unable to take advantage of the turnover as Chadron State defensive back Terrance Newman picked off a Silas Fluellen pass to give the ball right back to the Eagles.  However, Wayne State took advantage of another Chadron State turnover to take the lead as Matt Greenway intercepted a Joe McLain pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown to give the ‘Cats a 10-7 lead. 

                The score remained the same until 3:22 left in the first half when Chadron State’s Brett Gumb blocked a Wayne State punt for a safety to cut the Wayne State lead to one at 10-9.  After WSC’s free punt, Chadron State marched 71 yards on 11 plays to take a 16-10 lead.  Joe McLain connected with Isaac Stockton on a 14 yard touchdown pass for the Chadron State score.  Wayne State ran out the clock, and the Eagles took a 16-10 lead into the halftime break.

                Wayne State used a no-huddle offense to start the third period and drove deep into Chadron State territory.  However, Silas Fluellen was picked off for the second time in the game by Chadron State’s Aaron Bauer to stop the Wildcat drive.  Wayne State coach Dan McLaughlin said, “We were really able to move the football as the game progressed.  I just wish we would have gone to the no-huddle offense sooner.”  The interception was turned into points as Chadron State drove 74 yards on 10 plays, culminated by a 13 yard touchdown pass from McClain to Tyler Watson which made the score 23-10 in favor of Chadron State.  Wayne State then moved the ball once again all the way down to the Chadron State two yard line.  However, another turnover cost the ‘Cats as Eric Meyer fumbled and Chadron State’s Nick Milani recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.  Coach McLaughlin referenced the turnovers after the game.  “When you turn the ball over four times and have a punt blocked, it is going to be really tough to beat a quality team.”   

                The teams traded possessions early in the fourth quarter.  Wayne State running back Travis Rhone fumbled early in the quarter, but the Wildcat defense held to give possession back to WSC with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.  WSC moved down the field and kept the drive alive on a big fourth down completion from Fluelllen to Bruno.  Two plays later, Fluellen hit Logan Masters for a 30 yard touchdown reception to pull Wayne State within six at 23-17.  The Wildcat defense forced a Chadron State three and out.  However, the Wayne State offense couldn’t get anything going and went three and out as well.  Chadron State then moved the ball downfield for a field goal try, but the attempt was blocked by Wayne State giving the ‘Cats another chance.  After a first down completion from Fluellen to Brian Chapman, the Chadron State defense forced three straight incompletions and took over on downs.  Chadron State took a knee three times and punted the ball away with eight seconds remaining.  Frederick Bruno returned the Chadron State punt to the CSC 40 yard line, but time ran out and the Eagles held on for the 23-17 win.

                Wayne State finished with 375 yards of total offense compared to 352 for Chadron State.  WSC quarterback Silas Fluellen completed 17 of 40 passes for 236 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.  Fluellen also led the ‘Cats in rushing with 16 carries for 60 yards while Travis Rhone finished with 56 yards on 11 carries.  Logan Masters led WSC with nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.  Frederick Bruno added five catches for 88 yards for Wayne State. 

                Chadron State quarterback Joe McLain completed 20 of 31 passes for 243 yards and with three touchdowns and one interception.  McLain left the game in the third period with what is believed to be a broken collar bone.  Garrett Treffer completed two of three passes for nine yards in relief of McLain.  Brandon Harrington caught eight passes for 72 yards for Chadron State while Isaac Stockton, Tyler Watson and Joel Schommer each had touchdown receptions for the Eagles.  
                Ryan Reeves led the way for Wayne State defensively with nine tackles followed by Luke Hoffman with seven.  Trevor Hyatt had 11 tackles on the day followed by Zach Wheeler with 10 to lead Chadron State defensively.