Goodwell, Okla. – Oscar Murray scored the game’s first four touchdowns, including a 20-yard blocked punt return, and Adams State rolled over Panhandle (Okla.) State 55-7 in a nonconference game Saturday at Oscar Williams Stadium.
Murray, a freshman, rushed for a career-high 167 yards on nine carries and the Grizzlies (6-4) clinched a third consecutive winning season.
Adams State compiled 343 rushing yards and its defense sacked Panhandle quarterback Craig Maynard nine times. Panhandle (0-9) gained just 165 yards of total offense.
Murray opened scoring with a 25-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter, then followed with scoring plays on a blocked punt return, an 8-yard run and a 29-yard run. The Grizzlies led 28-0 early in the second quarter.
Tyree Walton rushed for 114 yards on 12 carries for Adams State. Josh Teeples led Adams State’s defense with three sacks, while Brett Jones had two.
Adams State stayed a half-game ahead of Nebraska-Kearney (5-4) for third place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, after Kearney downed New Mexico Highlands 17-7 on Saturday.
MESA STATE 28, COLORADO MINES 22
Golden – Kyle Britton’s 15-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter proved the game-winner, as visiting Mesa State held off a furious Colorado Mines rally for an RMAC victory at Brooks Field.
Mesa State (3-7, 2-5 RMAC) led 28-3 after Britton’s TD with 6:12 remaining in the third. But Mines (4-6, 2-5) would score 19 unanswered points, including a 41-yard TD pass from Garrett Mehl to Brent Dickinson.
The comeback was capped by a 30-yard Aaron Abel field goal that brought Mines within 28-22.
After forcing a Mesa punt, Mines was driving before a fourth-down interception with 2:16 left ended its chances.
Mehl threw for 229 yards passing on 18-of-28 completions, while Bryan Florendo added 125 yards rushing on 29 carries for the Orediggers. Mesa’s Phil Vigil completed 4-of-8 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
CHADRON STATE 47, WESTERN STATE 0
Chadron, Neb. – Chadron State got 158 yards rushing from Danny Woodhead and clinched the RMAC regular-season championship in front of 3,500 fans at Elliott Field.
Woodhead, the RMAC’s leading rusher, ran for a 3-yard touchdown early in the first quarter, then added a 6-yard score midway through the second quarter that put Chadron ahead 24-0.
Joe McLain threw for 128 yards on 8-of-8 passing for the Eagles. Dan Brethauer led Western State with 114 yards passing on 14-of-25 completions.
COLORADO COLLEGE 34, ROCKFORD (ILL.) COLLEGE 23
Colorado Springs – Colorado College (4-5) forced four turnovers in the second half and never trailed in snapping a three-game losing skid with a home win over Rockford (Ill.) College (7-3) at Washburn Field.
Chris Neal ran for two TDs in the fourth quarter to seal the Tigers’ win. And CC’s Drew Gallaugher’s two interceptions ran his total to seven on the season.
