By: John Murphy
CSC Sports Information Director
CHADRON, Neb. -- The Chadron State College football team will have a spring scrimmage against Wayne State on April 20th before hosting seven home games in the fall, Head Football Coach Jay Long announced on Tuesday.
CSC and Wayne State, who is coached by former Chadron State offensive coordinator Logan Masters, plan to have a joint practice with each other in Wayne, Nebraska on April 20 at 1 p.m. The Eagles finished 5-6 overall and 4-5 in RMAC play last season while the Wildcats went 8-3 overall and 7-3 in the NSIC.
In 2021, Wayne State and Chadron State had a joint practice during the spring. During that practice, there were no kick returns and quarterbacks were not tackled. While the players will have contact with their opponents, most of it will be "situational," Long said.
Chadron State's fall football schedule includes seven home and four away contests.
At the 2024 NCAA Convention, Week 0 games got approved so teams are able to begin their seasons one week earlier than years past.
The season opens in Chadron on Thursday, August 29 with a 6 p.m., kickoff against a familiar opponent. The University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers will be traveling west. Last season, under the direction of new head coach Ryan Held, the Lopers finished 3-8 overall and 2-8 in MIAA play.
Chadron State and UNK last met in the fall of 2020 during the season that was shortened by COVID-19. The Lopers defeated the Eagles 45-35 in that matchup.
Week 1 will be another 6 p.m. kickoff in Chadron on Thursday, September 5. The opponent will be the Jamestown Jimmies, who are NAIA. The Jimmies finished last season with a record of 2-9.
After a bye week, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play opens on September 21. The Eagles will have their third straight home game, against back to back national runner-up, Colorado School of Mines.
Road action starts on September 28 at Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks finished last season with a record of 6-5, including a win over CSC, 38-22.
The Eagles will alternate between home and away games the following seven weeks. On October 5, they will host Adams State before traveling to Las Vegas, New Mexico on October 12 for a matchup with New Mexico Highlands. Chadron State defeated the Grizzlies 53-14 and the Cowboys 24-21 in 2023.
A home matchup against Fort Lewis is on the schedule for October 19. The Skyhawks have lost 39 consecutive games and were defeated by Chadron State 57-20 last season.
The two South Dakota schools are the next two opponents for Chadron State. The Eagles will travel to Spearfish to face Black Hills State on October 26 before hosting South Dakota Mines on November 2. CSC split the two games last season, defeating the Hardockers in the season finale.
Behind Colorado School of Mines, the conferences other leaders in Western Colorado and CSU-Pueblo finalize the regular season for Chadron State. The Eagles travel to Gunnison on November 9 before hosting the Thunderwolves on November 16.