Football

Woodhead Breaks Rushing Record as Eagles Win 21-0

by Con Marshall, Chadron State

SILVER CITY, N.M. -- Oct. 6, 2007 -- Danny Woodhead became college football's all-time leading rusher Saturday afternoon while leading Chadron State College to a 21-0 victory over Western New Mexico in Silver City.

Woodhead carried 34 times for 208 yards to increase his career rushing total to 7,441 yards, 88 more than R. J. Bowers of Grove City College in Pennsylvania accumulated from 1997 through 2000.

Woodhead, who scored on runs of 4 and 29 yards in the first half, passed Bowers during a five-yard run early in the second half. He received the ball he was carrying and was given a standing ovation by the crowd.

The senior from North Platte has now rushed for more than 200 yards in 19 of the 39 games he has played for the Eagles and has scored in 37 consecutive games. Both are all-college records. He has now scored 101 touchdowns, becoming just the second player in collegiate history to score 100 TDs. He needs 50 more points to match Germaine Race, who scored 656 before concluding his career at Pittsburg State in Kansas last fall.

In addition, Woodhead now has rushed for 1,076 yards this season, becoming just the sixth NCAA II player to rush for more than 1,000 yards four times during their careers. He had 1,840 yards as a true freshman in 2004, 1,769 as a sophomore and 2,756 last year, when he earned the Harlon Hill Trophy that is given to the outstanding player in Division II. Chadron State has five regular-season games remaining this fall.

The victory gives the No. 4 ranked Eagles a 6-0 season record and a 3-0 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Coference. The shut out was the third in four games for the Eagles, who have given up just seven points in the last 16 quarters.

Chadron State's other touchdown Saturday was on a 9-yard pass in the first period from quarterback Joe McLain to wide receiver Isaac Stockton, who made a leaping catch in the end zone. The TD came after linebacker Zach Wheeler intercepted a Western New Mexico pass at the Mustangs' 42.

CSC safetys Trevor Hyatt and Paul Schweger also intercepted passes in the second half.

Although both teams threatened a couple of times, there was no scoring in the second half, when the Eagles were penalized nine times for 100 yards. A 37-yard run to the end zone by Woodhead was wiped out by a penalty in the fourth period.

Early in the third period, the Eagles reached the Mustangs' 10, where inside receiver Logan Stropko caught a 12-yard pass, but had the ball knocked out of his grasp by middle linebacker Darryl Horne. Stropko caught 11 passes for 84 yards. McLain completed 17 of 25 passes for 141 yards

Chadron State finished with 368 total net yards. Western New Mexico, now 2-4 for the season and 2-2 in the RMAC, had 216 total net yards.

The Eagles were eight of 16 on third down conversions and were good their only fourth-down conversion attempt. The hosts were just four of 19 on third down tries and two of four on fourth down.

Chadron State sacked Mustangs' quarterback Thomas Herringshaw seven times for 59 yards in losses. Herringshaw broke away from the CSC defense several times, gaining 102 yards. However, when the sacks were subtracted, he netted just 43 yards. Altogether, the Mustangs managed just 32 yards on the ground. Herringshaw was 22-47-3 for 184 yards through the air.

The Eagles will be at home this coming Saturday to play Fort Lewis.