CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State athletics has officially announced its football schedule for the upcoming 2025 season, which features four home games, a Division I opponent and a Week 8 bye.

The Eagles' home dates at Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium will be September 13 at (vs. Black Hills State), September 27 (vs. Colorado Mesa), October 11 (vs. New Mexico Highlands) and November 8 (vs. Western Colorado). CSC's home opener against Black Hills State will kick off at 6 p.m., with the other three home games starting at 1 p.m.

For the second consecutive season, Chadron State will begin the season early with a "Week 0" game. This year, the Eagles will open on the road against the University of Northern Colorado, a Division I (FCS) opponent which currently competes in the Big Sky Conference, on Saturday, August 30. 

The following Saturday, September 6, Chadron State will complete its nonconference schedule by traveling to take on in-state rivals Nebraska Kearney. The two schools will compete once again for the "Good Life Trophy," a traveling trophy that was introduced last season for what is scheduled to be a yearly renewed rivalry between the schools.

Chadron State's home opener and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener will be Saturday, September 13 against Black Hills State. The Eagles will play in consecutive weeks for the first eight games of the season prior to having a bye week during the week of Saturday, October 26. 

The September 27 game against Colorado Mesa will serve as both homecoming and the Eagles' Hall of Fame weekend. Senior Day will take place during CSC's home finale against Western Colorado on November 8.

Highlights of the road RMAC games on CSC's schedule include the annual Eagle-Rock Trophy showdown with South Dakota Mines in Rapid City on November 1 and the regular season finale at defending RMAC champions CSU Pueblo on November 15. 

Chadron State is coming off a competitive 3-8 season where the Eagles lost five games by seven points or fewer, including two one-score losses to nationally ranked opponents. 

The Eagles are set to return quarterback DJ Ralph, who battled injuries but was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week after one of the five games he started for CSC last season. Key leaders from a defensive unit that ranked second in the RMAC in total defense and third in scoring defense also return, including All-Region safety Dax Yeradi and linebacker Logan O'Brien. Chadron State also welcomed a class of 38 signees on National Signing Day this February.

Chadron State began spring practice this past Wednesday. The Eagles' intrasquad spring game will take place on Friday, April 25. 

CSC Cowgirls 1-2 In Barrel Racing

CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State College cowgirls Bridget Romey and Mejrusa Rustemovic placed first and second among 96 contestants in the barrel race this past weekend at the Eastern Wyoming College rodeo in Torrington.  

Romey and Rustemovic were only a hundredth of a second apart while going one-two in the long go-round in 15.34 and 15.35 seconds, respectively. When the top 10 competed in the finals on Sunday, Romey's time of 15.43 seconds was the third fastest and Rustemovic's 15.49 was fourth, and their aggregate times of 30.77 and 30.84 seconds were the fastest of the rodeo.

Romey is a junior from Hot Springs, South Dakota, and was riding Six, a gray gelding who six years ago sustained a leg injury that "put him out of commission," in Romey's words, for four years before he recovered and could run the barrels again last year. This is the first time they have placed in the finals at a college rodeo, although they won the long go-round at the Colorado State University rodeo last year before knocking over a barrel in the finals. 
 
Rustemovic is a freshman from Kiowa, Colorado. She also rides a gray gelding named Player. They have placed in the barrels four times in the seven rodeos in the region this school year, including first at the Lamar College rodeo last October.  

A third Chadron State cowgirl, Elle Ravenscroft of Cody, Nebraska, was sixth in both go-rounds and also finished sixth in the averages of the barrel race at the Eastern Wyoming rodeo. Her times were 15.48 and 15.60 seconds. 

Two more CSC cowgirls from Nebraska, Amanda Sellin of Norfolk and Rylee Naprstek of Gothenburg, placed high in the long go-round of breakaway roping at Torrington. Sellin was third in 2.5 seconds and Naprstek tied for fourth in 2.6 seconds, but both failed to catch their second calf during the finals. 

Three CSC cowboys reached Sunday's finals.  Pepper Rhyne of Craig, Colorado placed fourth in tie down roping with times of 10.6 and 11.2 seconds. Cinch Kiger of Overton, Nebraska finished third in bareback riding with 65 and 70 points and Tanner Olson of Gordon, Nebraska was fourth in the first session of bareback riding with 71 points before not receiving a score in the finals.   

The Central Rocky Mountain Region rodeo action this weekend will take place in Loveland, Colorado, hosted by Colorado State University.