By: Paxton Ritchie
CSC Sports Information Director
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Before the 2024 season began, Chadron State football had big expectations for transfer quarterback DJ Ralph. An injury in the season opener set things back a few weeks, but Ralph made good on his promise last Saturday with a fantastic and flawless performance against Adams State, which has earned him the RMAC's Offensive Player of the Week award from the conference office.
Ralph completed 20 of 29 passes for 183 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions through the air, then added 56 net rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground to lead Chadron State in the Eagles' 52-3 win over the Grizzlies.
The Californian's four total touchdowns were the most of anybody in the RMAC this week. Ralph completed touchdown passes of eight yards to Grant Swenson, one yard to Rollin George III and 22 yards to Jamahd Monroe, then provided the most electrifying play of the day with his legs by scampering for a 41-yard rushing touchdown on a read-option keeper. Ralph's 41-yard run was the longest play from scrimmage of the season for Chadron State in 2024.
With Ralph at the forefront, Saturday's game was a coming out party for the offense as a whole. The Eagles scored 52 points, more than doubling their season total of 38 entering the game. Chadron State put up season-highs in both passing (183) and rushing yards (234) and finished the contest with three passing, three rushing and one defensive touchdown.
Ralph, who has appeared in three of CSC's five games, has completed 26 of 41 total pass attempts for 213 yards this season and has yet to turn the ball over. He is also averaging 3.5 yards per carry with his legs, as he has 60 net yards on 17 attempts. With 29 pass attempts against Adams State, Saturday was by far his most extensive action of the season, as he threw just three passes before getting hurt against Nebraska-Kearney and nine passes against Colorado Mesa while splitting time with Wyatt Sprague.
Chadron State football has now completed the trifecta of weekly awards, with one win across each category over the last three weeks. Two weeks ago, safety Dax Yeradi won the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week award before punter Brodie Eisenbraun nabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week honor last week.
Through six weeks, Chadron State's three award wins are the third-most of any RMAC school, trailing only CSU Pueblo (five) and Colorado Mesa (four) and tied with Colorado School of Mines (three).
With three award wins on the season, CSC has already exceeded its totals from the past two seasons, when the Eagles won two awards each year. Tommy Thomas (offensive) and Hunter O'Connor (defensive) took home one award apiece in 2023 while 2022 saw a defensive win from O'Connor and a special teams win from former Eagles kicker Gunnar Jones.
Chadron State (2-3, 1-2 RMAC) is on the road this weekend against New Mexico Highlands (0-5, 0-3 RMAC), with kickoff set for noon in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The following weekend, on October 19, CSC will host Fort Lewis for the annual homecoming game at 1 p.m. from Elliott Field. The Skyhawks are 1-4 this season, with an 0-3 record in RMAC play.