Dixie State racked up 470 yards of total offense, 370 of it coming on the ground, as the Trailblazers spoiled Chadron State's Homecoming festivities, 44-27, Saturday afternoon in Chadron, Neb. The victory moved DSU to 3-3 overall, 3-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, while the Eagles fell to 1-5, 1-4 in league action.

The Trailblazers led 24-0 at the half, thanks in part to the DSU defense, which held CSC to just 115 yards in total offense through the first two quarters of play. Meanwhile, the Dixie State offense ran up 311 of offense with four scoring drives, beginning with its opening possession of the game as the Trailblazers marched 90 yards in 13 plays, culminating with an 11-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Josh Thompson (Ontario, Calif./Colony HS) to sophomore Orlando Wallace (Cathedral City, Calif./Cathedral City HS) which gave DSU a quick 7-0 lead just 6:05 into the game.

Dixie State would erupt for 17 second-quarter points, which started on a Thompson 3-yard touchdown scamper on the opening play of the stanza to pad the lead at 14-0. Sophomore Anthony Reyes (Queen Creek, Ariz./Dobson HS) then tacked on a 35-yard field goal on DSU's next possession, and freshman running back Clifford Simms (Compton, Calif./St. John Bosco HS) bolted for a 43-yard touchdown run later in the frame to spot the Trailblazers the 24-point cushion.

DSU's defensive unit picked up right where it left off to begin the second half as sophomore linebacker Peter Brown (St. George, Utah/Desert Hills HS) picked off a TD Stein pass at the Chadron 35 on the Eagles' third play from scrimmage in the third quarter and returned it 30 yards to the Eagle 5-yard line. Thompson then cashed in the turnover three plays later with his second touchdown run of the game from 5-yards out to stake Dixie State to a commanding 31-0 lead.

The Trailblazers defense would force another CSC miscue on the Eagles' next play from scrimmage as sophomore defensive lineman Donovan Williams (San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei HS) recovered a Priest Jennings' fumble at the Chadron 5-yard line. Wallace then scored from 2-yards out three plays later and the rout was on at 38-0 with 12:13 to play in the third.

Chadron State would rally with three unanswered rushing touchdowns to cut the deficit in half at 38-19. Derek Jackson got the Eagles on the board with a 3-yard run with 3:21 to go in the third, followed by a Jennings 35-yard TD scamper at the 10:29 mark of the fourth, and a Kevin Coy 1-yard dive with 7:29 remaining.

CSC would force a Dixie State three-and-out on the Trailblazers' next possession, but the DSU defense returned the favor by stopping the Eagles in four plays on their next drive, which gave the Dixie the ball at the Chadron 15-yard line. Senior running back DeJon Coleman (Los Angeles, Calif./Arleta HS) then quelled any thought of an Eagle comeback with a 5-yard touchdown run. DSU's two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Trailblazers still led 44-19 with 5:10 to play.

Chadron State would strike again for a TD and two-point conversion to cut the DSU lead to 17 with 2:38 to go, but the Eagles on-side kick was recovered by senior wide receiver Aubrey Reed (Tacoma, Wash./Woodland Hills HS) and the Trailblazers ran out the clock to end the game.

"The team did a great job today," DSU Head Coach Shay McClure said. "The travel we go through at this level is tough and that's always a concern about who will be ready physically after long trips. Our players came out and answered the bell and were ready from the get-go."

Coleman finished with a game and career-high 158 yards rushing on 24 carries, the sixth-highest rushing total in DSU's NCAA-era, while his rushing TD was the 13^th of his career, which moved him to within one rushing touchdown of tying the school's NCAA record of 14 set by former DSU quarterback Griff Robles (2012-13).

Simms added 93 yards on the ground on 11 carries to go with his third touchdown of the season, and Wallace finished with 60 yards rushing and 19 yards receiving. Meanwhile, Dixie State's 370 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns were the third-highest single game totals in the program's NCAA history. DSU also owned a 2-to-1 edge in time of possession as the Trailblazers had the ball for 40:43, to just 19:17 by the Eagles.

In addition to DSU's offensive effort, for the first time this season the Trailblazers did not commit an offensive turnover, while the Dixie State defense forced two big Eagle miscues, which led to 14 Trailblazer points. DSU's defense also collected one sack (Keanu Foki (Honolulu, Hawai'i/Farrington HS)) and five tackles for loss.

"It came down to simply doing the things we talked about before the game," McClure noted. "We talked about converting on third down, not turning the ball over, and playing great defense. Peter [Brown] made a great play on the ball and snuck beneath the curl route [for the interception].

"It was a great win for us – to win on the road you have to win the kicking game, you have to create turnovers on defense, and you've got to take care of the ball. We did all three of those things today."

Dixie State will next head to Grand Junction for a matchup with nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa next Saturday, Oct. 15.