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Duluth eliminates Eagles from playoffs
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| Photo by ALEX HELMBRECHT/CSC Sports Information Chadron State’s Brandon Harrington (right) makes a catch for a two-point conversion beside Minnesota-Duluth’s Forest Clements during the third quarter of their playoff game on Saturday in Duluth, Minn. |
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DULUTH, Minn. — A hard-nosed running game led by sophomore tailback Isaac Odim and a stubborn defense combined to lead Minnesota Duluth to a 20-10 victory over Chadron State in an NCAA Division II second-round playoff game here Saturday afternoon.
Odim carried the ball 25 times for a career-high 192 yards and the Duluth defense limited the Eagles to just eight yards rushing and their lowest total yardage and point totals of the season.
The Bulldogs, who scored at least 38 points in each of their 11 regular-season games, were not nearly that productive against Chadron State. But with senior quarterback Ted Schlafke at the controls, Duluth had no turnovers while improving its record to 12-0.
Schlafke scored on short runs for two of Duluth’s touchdowns and passed for the third. Chadron State was without its senior quarterback, Joe McLain, who suffered a broken collarbone during the Eagles’ 23-17 win over Wayne State in the opening round of the playoffs last Saturday.
McLain’s replacement, sophomore Garrett Treffer, completed 23 of 35 passes for 170 yards, but the Bulldogs were able to contain the Eagles’ offense most of the day.
With the win, Duluth advances to the Super Regional Three finals against No. 1 ranked Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, Mich., this Saturday. The Lakers are 11-0 after defeating Ashland of Ohio 40-7 in the other second-round game on Saturday.
“We got beat by a great team today,” said Chadron State coach Bill O’Boyle, whose team finishes the season at 11-2 and has reached the second round of the playoffs three straight years. “Duluth did an excellent job against us. To our kids’ credit, they played their hearts out the entire game.”
Duluth drove 85 yards in 11 plays to open a 7-0 lead early in the second period and scored on its first two possessions in the third period before the Eagles tallied their 10 points.
Schlafke connected with Odim on a 30-yard pass play and hit D.J. Winfield with a 23-yard pass before scrambling the final six yards for Duluth’s opening touchdown. The drive also included a 15-yard pass interference call against the Eagles. David Nadeau kicked the extra point.
The Bulldogs went ahead 14-0 when Schlafke hit Noah Pauley on a 15-yard pass with 9:33 left in the third quarter to cap a 51-yard drive.
On Chadron State’s third play after the ensuing kickoff, Treffer’s pass hit off the intended receiver and was intercepted by the Bulldogs’ Tyler Yelk, who returned it eight yards to the Chadron State 32. Schlafke connected with Ryan Hayes and Winfield on 11-yard pass plays before going the final three yards to the end zone with 4:53 left in the quarter.
Nadeau’s extra point attempt was blocked by Chadron State safety Trevor Hyatt, who caught the ball in his midsection and raced to the other end of the field for a two-point conversion. It was just the second time the Eagles have scored with an opponents’ conversion attempt.
The Eagles scored their only touchdown just two minutes later by going 50 yards in four plays. A 35-yard kickoff return by freshman Maurice Threatts gave Chadron State excellent field position. A 13-yard pass from Treffer to wide receiver Brandon Harrington and Treffer’s 20-yard run preceded a 12-yard touchdown pass to Harrington. The same combination hooked up for the Eagles’ two-point conversion.
Chadron State completed three passes of between 15 and 19 yards in the fourth period, but they came on separate possessions and the Eagles never got beyond the Duluth 45.
The Eagles missed an opportunity to score early in the game. CSC’s Kramer Hirz blocked the Bulldogs’ first punt, giving the Eagles possession at the Duluth 27. They picked up a first down, but lost 12 yards on a running play and were forced to attempt a 37-yard field goal, which was blocked by Cole Strilzuk.
Chadron State had just 70 yards of offense at halftime.
Schlafke, who is one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy that goes to the nation’s outstanding player in Division II, completed just 10 of 25 passes for 137 yards, but they picked up six first downs. Odim, whose 8.1-yard average led Division II running backs during the regular season, averaged 7.7 yards against the Eagles and managed eight first downs.
Chadron State’s senior inside linebackers, Zach Wheeler and Austin Bailey, both of whom became starters as freshmen, combined for 27 tackles Saturday.
Chadron State 0 0 10 0 — 10
Minn. Duluth 0 7 13 0 — 20
Scoring Summary
UMD — Ted Schlafke 6 run (David Nadeau kick)
UMD — Noah Pauley 15 pass from Schlafke (Nadeau kick)
UMD — Schlafke 3 run (kick failed)
CSC — Trevor Hyatt PAT return
CSC — Brandon Harrington 12 pass from Garrett Treffer (Harrington pass from Treffer)
CSC UMD
First Downs 11 21
Total Net Yards 178 388
Rushes, Yards 17-8 57-251
Passing Yards 170 137
Passing 23-36-1 10-25-0
Return Yards 91 63
Punts, Average 7-35.9 5-30.2
Fumbles, Lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties, Yards 6-94 8-76
Individual Statistics
Rushing: CSC — Garrett Treffer 7-8, Evan Pilkington 3-7, John Ritzen 4-4, Mark Harg 2-minus 10, team 1-minus 1. UMD — Isaac Odim 25-192, Brad Foss 17-42, Ted Schlafke 14-19, team 1-minus 2.
Passing: CSC — Garrett Treffer 23-35-1, 170 yards, 1 TD; Isaac Stockton 0-1-0. UMD — Ted Schlafke 10-25-0, 137 yards, 1 TD.
Receiving: CSC — Isaac Stockton 8-42, Brandon Harrington 7-20, Tyler Watson 3-19, Mark Haag 1-18, Joel Schommer 1-17, John Ritzen 1-5, Evan Pilkington 1-minus 1. UMD — J. Winfield 4-52, Isaac Odim 2-32, Brad Foss 1-18, Ryan Hayes 1-11, Luke Schalekamp 1-9.
DULUTH, Minn. — A hard-nosed running game led by sophomore tailback Isaac Odim and a stubborn defense combined to lead Minnesota Duluth to a 20-10 victory over Chadron State in an NCAA Division II second-round playoff game here Saturday afternoon.
Odim carried the ball 25 times for a career-high 192 yards and the Duluth defense limited the Eagles to just eight yards rushing and their lowest total yardage and point totals of the season.
The Bulldogs, who scored at least 38 points in each of their 11 regular-season games, were not nearly that productive against Chadron State. But with senior quarterback Ted Schlafke at the controls, Duluth had no turnovers while improving its record to 12-0.
Schlafke scored on short runs for two of Duluth’s touchdowns and passed for the third. Chadron State was without its senior quarterback, Joe McLain, who suffered a broken collarbone during the Eagles’ 23-17 win over Wayne State in the opening round of the playoffs last Saturday.
McLain’s replacement, sophomore Garrett Treffer, completed 23 of 35 passes for 170 yards, but the Bulldogs were able to contain the Eagles’ offense most of the day.
With the win, Duluth advances to the Super Regional Three finals against No. 1 ranked Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, Mich., this Saturday. The Lakers are 11-0 after defeating Ashland of Ohio 40-7 in the other second-round game on Saturday.
“We got beat by a great team today,” said Chadron State coach Bill O’Boyle, whose team finishes the season at 11-2 and has reached the second round of the playoffs three straight years. “Duluth did an excellent job against us. To our kids’ credit, they played their hearts out the entire game.”
Duluth drove 85 yards in 11 plays to open a 7-0 lead early in the second period and scored on its first two possessions in the third period before the Eagles tallied their 10 points.
Schlafke connected with Odim on a 30-yard pass play and hit D.J. Winfield with a 23-yard pass before scrambling the final six yards for Duluth’s opening touchdown. The drive also included a 15-yard pass interference call against the Eagles. David Nadeau kicked the extra point.
The Bulldogs went ahead 14-0 when Schlafke hit Noah Pauley on a 15-yard pass with 9:33 left in the third quarter to cap a 51-yard drive.
On Chadron State’s third play after the ensuing kickoff, Treffer’s pass hit off the intended receiver and was intercepted by the Bulldogs’ Tyler Yelk, who returned it eight yards to the Chadron State 32. Schlafke connected with Ryan Hayes and Winfield on 11-yard pass plays before going the final three yards to the end zone with 4:53 left in the quarter.
Nadeau’s extra point attempt was blocked by Chadron State safety Trevor Hyatt, who caught the ball in his midsection and raced to the other end of the field for a two-point conversion. It was just the second time the Eagles have scored with an opponents’ conversion attempt.
The Eagles scored their only touchdown just two minutes later by going 50 yards in four plays. A 35-yard kickoff return by freshman Maurice Threatts gave Chadron State excellent field position. A 13-yard pass from Treffer to wide receiver Brandon Harrington and Treffer’s 20-yard run preceded a 12-yard touchdown pass to Harrington. The same combination hooked up for the Eagles’ two-point conversion.
Chadron State completed three passes of between 15 and 19 yards in the fourth period, but they came on separate possessions and the Eagles never got beyond the Duluth 45.
The Eagles missed an opportunity to score early in the game. CSC’s Kramer Hirz blocked the Bulldogs’ first punt, giving the Eagles possession at the Duluth 27. They picked up a first down, but lost 12 yards on a running play and were forced to attempt a 37-yard field goal, which was blocked by Cole Strilzuk.
Chadron State had just 70 yards of offense at halftime.
Schlafke, who is one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy that goes to the nation’s outstanding player in Division II, completed just 10 of 25 passes for 137 yards, but they picked up six first downs. Odim, whose 8.1-yard average led Division II running backs during the regular season, averaged 7.7 yards against the Eagles and managed eight first downs.
Chadron State’s senior inside linebackers, Zach Wheeler and Austin Bailey, both of whom became starters as freshmen, combined for 27 tackles Saturday.
Chadron State 0 0 10 0 — 10
Minn. Duluth 0 7 13 0 — 20
Scoring Summary
UMD — Ted Schlafke 6 run (David Nadeau kick)
UMD — Noah Pauley 15 pass from Schlafke (Nadeau kick)
UMD — Schlafke 3 run (kick failed)
CSC — Trevor Hyatt PAT return
CSC — Brandon Harrington 12 pass from Garrett Treffer (Harrington pass from Treffer)
CSC UMD
First Downs 11 21
Total Net Yards 178 388
Rushes, Yards 17-8 57-251
Passing Yards 170 137
Passing 23-36-1 10-25-0
Return Yards 91 63
Punts, Average 7-35.9 5-30.2
Fumbles, Lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties, Yards 6-94 8-76
Individual Statistics
Rushing: CSC — Garrett Treffer 7-8, Evan Pilkington 3-7, John Ritzen 4-4, Mark Harg 2-minus 10, team 1-minus 1. UMD — Isaac Odim 25-192, Brad Foss 17-42, Ted Schlafke 14-19, team 1-minus 2.
Passing: CSC — Garrett Treffer 23-35-1, 170 yards, 1 TD; Isaac Stockton 0-1-0. UMD — Ted Schlafke 10-25-0, 137 yards, 1 TD.
Receiving: CSC — Isaac Stockton 8-42, Brandon Harrington 7-20, Tyler Watson 3-19, Mark Haag 1-18, Joel Schommer 1-17, John Ritzen 1-5, Evan Pilkington 1-minus 1. UMD — J. Winfield 4-52, Isaac Odim 2-32, Brad Foss 1-18, Ryan Hayes 1-11, Luke Schalekamp 1-9.
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| Chadron hoping for deep run in playoffs | Stealing the show for the Bobcats |
