Woodhead runs for 290 yards, four touchdowns in 34-24 win

By Alex Helmbrecht, Chadron State Information Office | Monday, August 27, 2007

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TOPEKA, Kan. — Danny Woodhead looked as if he was already in midseason form by rushing for 290 yards and four touchdowns to lead Chadron State to a 34-24 win over Washburn University on Saturday in Topeka, Kan., during the season opener for both teams.

Woodhead scored three touchdowns and rushed for 87 yards in the first half to give the Eagles a 24-10 lead. But the NCAA Division II leading rusher for two of his three years at Chadron State really took the breath out of Washburn ‘s comeback effort by sprinting for an 89-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

The scoring jaunt was the second longest of Woodhead’s career.  He finished with 203 yards rushing in the second half and now has exceeded 200 yards rushing 18 times in his 34 games at Chadron State. No other back in college football history has topped the 200-yard mark more than 16 times in their careers.

Chadron State opened the second half with a two-touchdown lead, but  Washburn’s Michael Krajicek rumbled for a 29-yard score less than a minute into the third period after he picked off Joe McLain’s pass to cut Chadron State’s lead to 24-17. Washburn also contained the Eagles on the next two possessions.

The Ichabods had a chance to tie the game midway through the third quarter when they reached the Chadron State 16-yard line. However, the 10 play, 63-yard drive, which began after linebacker Jarod Tetuan recovered Woodhead’s fumble, was cut short when Chadron State linebacker Cameron Rust intercepted a pass from Washburn quarterback Jordan Brill. Rust returned the interception six yards to the Eagles’ 11-yard. Woodhead scored on the first play from scrimmage after he was nearly tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

“I thought we played well,” Chadron State coach Bill O’Boyle said. “I think we could’ve played better, but I’m glad we were able to come down to a tough environment and get a solid win over a good team like Washburn.”

Despite a few costly mistakes by the Eagles — Washburn’s Cary Williams scored on a 94-yard kickoff return for Washburn in the first quarter and the Eagles lost two fumbles — O’Boyle was pleased with his team’s effort.

“I’m proud of how we played,” he said. “We had a difficult preseason camp, and the players really worked hard to get where they are. We’ve always taken it one game at a time. Today, for the most part, we played OK.”

Chadron State’s Shane Odell capped off a wild first quarter when the teams combined for 27 points and 273 yards by blocking Kyle O’Neal’s 46-yard field goal attempt to take away the Ichabods’ momentum. The Eagles returned  the ball to the 41-yard line, but were unable to score any points.

The Eagles put the game away midway through the fourth quarter when Travis Atter booted a 43-yard field goal, making the score 34-17. The field goal was Atter’s second of the game. He also kicked a 24-yarder in the first quarter after Chadron State linebacker Austin Bailey recovered an early Washburn fumble.

Brill and the Washburn offense immediately answered Atter’s fourth period field goal with a 70-yard scoring drive, but Chadron State recovered the Ichabods’ onside kick and ran out the remaining 4 minutes, 29 seconds to earn its 14th straight regular season game.

Offensively, Chadron State racked up 470 yards of total offense, while Washburn finished with 369.

McLain completed eight of 16 passes for 137 yards. Landon Ehlers and Micah Smith each caught two passes for Chadron State. Ehlers’ receptions  included a juggling 45-yard catch that put the Eagles in scoring territory immediately after Washburn’s Cary Williams had returned a kickoff 92 yards for a TD.

Woodhead scored on a 16-yard jaunt on the next play after Ehlers’ big reception.

Brill, who could become Washburn’s all-time leading passer this season, was 24 of 41 for 249 yards and two interceptions.

Woodhead, the 2006 Harlon Hill Trophy winner, now needs 699 yards to become the NCAA all-time leading rusher.

Chadron State will host Wayne State on Saturday at noon.