CHADRON, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney cashed in on four Chadron State turnovers and miscues to score 24 second-half points while posting a 41-21 win over CSC in an in-state rivalry football contest played in Kearney on Saturday night. The outcome allowed the Lopers to retain the Good Life Trophy, which was unveiled last year after it was agreed that the teams would meet annually.

A blocked punt by UNK late in the second quarter set off a chain reaction that transformed a low-scoring game into a high scoring one, as the Lopers used the short field to take a two-score lead just before halftime, then forced two CSC interceptions plus a fumble in the second half as the Eagles pressed to try to get back in the game. Those short fields for UNK were the difference, as the Lopers won by 20 points despite UNK and CSC having the exact same amount of total yards (306). Chadron State outgained the Lopers by two yards on the ground (134 to 132) while the home team had a two-yard advantage through the air (174 to 172). 

DJ Ralph had a day under duress, as the Eagles QB was sacked five times while completing 12 of 24 passes for 137 yards, a touchdown and two picks. Daytwaun Pearson led the Eagles on the ground with 83 yards rushing on 12 carries while Quincey Ryker added 56 yards on 12 carries of his own. Nebraska-Kearney had four different players score a rushing touchdown plus a pick-six and two Trey Prichard field goals. 

Chadron State had the lead at the end of the first quarter. Kearney kicked a 45-yard field goal during its first possession, but the Eagles answered with a 10-play, 88-yard drive that included five first downs before Ralph rushed for a seven-yard touchdown with 5:56 left in the first quarter. Wilson Yee kicked the extra point to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead. 

That score stood until about five minutes remained in the second quarter, when freshman tailback Jahmez Ross scored on a five-yard run to cap a 57-yard drive that put Kearney ahead 10-7. A 22-yard rush by senior tailback Isaiah Harris was the big gainer in the drive.

With Chadron State set to punt with under a minute to go in the first half, UNK's Trey Kennedy blocked the CSC punt attempt and the Lopers recovered at the Chadron State 16-yard line. The Lopers then went ahead 17-7 just 23 seconds before halftime when quarterback Abram Scholting ran the final four yards into the endzone.  

CSC Coach Jay Long said postgame that that touchdown forced his Eagles to abandon their game plan and "play from behind,." Both of Kearney's next two touchdowns were set up by interceptions and a third followed the recovery of a Chadron State fumble. Midway in the third period during a promising Eagle drive which had picked up two first downs, UNK's Ife Current read a screen pass perfectly, intercepting Ralph and taking it to the end zone to put the hosts ahead 24-7.

The Eagles answered quickly when sophomore and Bakersfield College transfer Devon Sundgren caught a pass near the sideline, broke a tackle and romped 51 yards to make the score 24-14. That was the longest play of the game for either team and was Sundgren's only catch of the contest.  

Kearney outscored Chadron State 17-7 in the fourth quarter, with all final-period points posted in the final 5:45. Pritchard initially kicked a 25-yard field goal after the Lopers had a first and goal but could not reach paydirt against the stingy CSC defense, but on Chadron State's first play following the ensuing kickoff, a miscommunication led to Ralph's pass going directly to linebacker Parker Wise, who returned it about 25 yards before he was stopped at the CSC three. Harris crossed the goal line on the next play to make the count 34-14.

The Eagles gave Oklahoma Baptist transfer Aidan Thompson some late-game snaps at quarterback, but Thompson and Ryker fumbled a handoff exchange and the Lopers claimed it. On the fourth play on the ensuing drive, UNK's backup signal caller, Ken Smith, took it the final eight yards to the end zone. 

The Eagles demonstrated that they still had moxie and were able to tally the game's final touchdown. With Thompson back at the controls, he completed two passes for 35 yards while Anthony McMillan was given his first three carries of the game, breaking off a 16-yard run to put the Eagles in plust territory and eventually going the final two yards for a touchdown (his first with CSC) with about a minute left on the clock. From there, however, UNK was able to take a knee.
 
Defensively, CSC's leading tacklers were linebacker Logan O'Brien, a Kearney native, and safety Sutton Pohlman each with seven. Griffin Clubb, Dax Yeradi and Liam Blaser each had six.  CJ Kuehl paced Kearney with eight stops.

Chadron State will open their 2025 home slate next weekend against Black Hills State. The Yellow Jackets are also 0-2, but have been competitive in losing to Sioux Falls, an 8-3 team last season, 27-21 before battling with No. 3 nationally-ranked Grand Valley State on Saturday and falling 48-36. Kick off is slated for 6 p.m. from Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium.
    
First Quarter
                UNK—Trey Pritchard 41-yard field goal.
                CSC—DJ Ralph 7-yard run (Wilson Yee kick)
Second Quarter 
                UNK—Jahmez Ross 5-yard run (Pritchard kick)
                UNK—Abraham Scholting 4-yard run (Pritchard kick)
Third Quarter
                UNK—Ife Current 42-yard interception return (Pritchard kick)
                CSC—Devon Sundgren 51-yard pass from Ralph (Yee kick)
Fourth Quarter
                UNK—Pritchard 25-yard field goal.
                UNK—Isaiah Harris 3-yard run (Prichard kick)
                UNK—KJ Smith 8-yard run
                CSC — Anthony McMillian 2-yard run (Yee kick)

**

KEARNEY, Neb. - Nebraska-Kearney cemented a 2-0 start to the season by forcing three second-half turnovers in a 41-21 victory over Chadron State. The win marks the sixth straight win in the series and the second since the rivalry was revived last year.