By: Paxton Ritchie
CSC Sports Information Director
CHADRON, Neb. – Aidan Thompson and Devon Sundgren connected on the second-longest pass in CSC history, Aiden Kuester tallied eight tackles and an interception and Chadron State football defeated rivals Nebraska Kearney 24-21 at home Thursday night.
The win puts the Eagles (1-1) on the board for the season in CSC's home opener. It is the first win for Chadron State over the Lopers (0-2) since 2008 and allows the Eagles to take possession of the traveling Good Life Trophy, introduced in 2024, for the first time ever.
Sundgren had a massive game and flashed his big-play, home run potential throughout, catching three passes for 144 yards, highlighted by gains of 55 and an 88-yard touchdown that gave the Eagles a 24-7 lead before a Kearney rally late.
The junior from Shafter, California accounted for over half the passing yards of quarterback Aidan Thompson, who put up another solid stat line by completing 13 of 22 passes for 221 yards with one touchdown and no picks. Thompson added 26 yards and a TD on the ground.
Overall, the Eagles outgained their opponents 330-292, outweighing a 150-109 rushing yards advantage for the Lopers by gaining 221 yards in the air to UNK's 142. Chadron State's defense also finished with one sack and one turnover after not having either in the season opener.
The two teams battled through a scoreless first quarter and combined to punt every possession before the Eagles found the end zone on their third drive. Thompson completed to Parker Schwarting for 26 yards to put the Eagles in the red zone before Devon Rivers carried twice for 13 yards to put CSC on the doorstep.
On second and goal, Thompson kept on a play fake and rushed right, spinning through a tackle into the end zone for his second career rushing touchdown at CSC and first since his memorable 73-yard score against Colorado School of Mines a season ago.
Chadron State got the ball back on the next play. UNK forced a pass into coverage over the middle and Kuester jumped a route to haul in an interception. Shay Prichard, with his brother watching on the UNK sideline, continued his perfect start to his collegiate career by making a 24-yard field goal to tack on three points.
The Lopers countered with a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to get on the board, but the Eagles struck fast once again in response. Sundgren was in the middle of it, as Thompson lofted a ball over the top into Sundgren's waiting arms deep down the right sideline for 55 yards before Sundgren was caught at the Loper five-yard line.
From there, Daytuawn Pearson got two carries and punched it in on the second from the 1-yard line for his first rushing touchdown of the season.
With 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Thompson hit Sundgren, a former Division I sprinter in stride to the inside of his defender with around a 20-yard throw and Sundgren's legs did the rest, taking it to the end zone from 88 yards out for the longest pass play by CSC since 1978.
Only a 91-yard toss from Lee Baumann to Mike Dority vs. 1971 has been longer in recorded CSC history while the 88-yard strike matches a pass from Brad Fults to Bill Ryan against Baker University in the Boot Hill Bowl in 1978.
Kearney refused to go away. Quarterback Devin Tate, who finished with 96 rushing yards in 13 carries, found the end zone twice on the ground from 4 and 27 yards out. Chadron State made enough plays to see the game out, however, putting together 8-play and 9-play drives in the fourth quarter to run clock and forcing a three-and-out on UNK's only fourth-quarter possession after a Triston Hite punt pinned the visitors at their own 5-yard line to start in the first place.
Linebacker Jarred Marquez led the CSC defensive effort with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. Alongside his interception, Kuester and Cooper Walton tied for second on the team with eight tackles. William Stemler brought down Tate for CSC's first sack of the season while Stemler, Griffin Clubb and Jaydin Jackson all tallied tackles for loss. Chadron State also forced three fumbles on the day, but UNK was able to retain all three.
While Sundgren's big plays will take the headlines, Thompson had a wide supporting cast, spreading his 13 completions to eight different receivers. Aside from Sundgren, Koye Gilbert, Garet Schlabs and Camden Walker had two catches apiece while Parker Schwarting, Devon Rivers and Daytuawn Pearson had one.
Rivers was CSC's leading rusher, picking up 43 yards on 13 carries with a long run of 13 yards. Thompson (six carries) and Pearson (11) both finished with 26 rushing yards.
The Eagles have nine days until their next game on Saturday, September 12 when they travel to Gunnison to battle nationally-ranked Western Colorado, who won 23-21 against Angelo State on Thursday.