CHADRON, Neb., - Bolstered by strong performances by several alternates, the Chadron State football team improved its season record to 7-0 Saturday afternoon by defeating Fort Lewis, Colo., 31-9 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football game in Chadron.

The No. 4 ranked Eagles led 21-9 at halftime and scored the only points of the second half while posting their 20th consecutive regular season victory. They definitely had a balanced attack. They rushed for 237 yards and passed for 238 for a 475-yard total.

All-American tailback Danny Woodhead opening the scoring by racing 60 yards around right end on the Eagles' second play of the game.

Woodhead also scored on a 5-yard run late in the second quarter, giving him 103 touchdowns for his career. He has scored in 38 consecutive games the last four years.

Woodhead finished the day with 17 carries for 109 yards and caught three passes for 49 yards, but was not in pads the second half, apparently because of a minor leg bruise.

However, one of his replacements, sophomore Mark Haag, carried nine times for 77 yards in the second half, including a 10-yard dash to the end zone with 5:11 to play to wrap up the scoring. Another alternate tailback, Aaron Cooksley, carried 12 times for 36 yards and caught two short passes 41 yards.

The Eagles also scored on a 38-yard pass from quarterback Joe McLain to wide receiver Landon Ehler midway in the first quarter. In addition, CSC got a 35-yard field goal from Travis Atter early in the fourth period. Atter also was perfect on all four extra point attempts.

Fort Lewis showed much more offensive clout than usual. Led by quarterback Dave Nieman, a 6-4 junior, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 226 yards, the visitors managed 308 yards through the air. But, they collected just 18 yards rushing after the Eagles sacked the Fort Lewis quarterbacks six times for 41 yards in losses.

Fort Lewis scored on a 21-yard pass from Nieman to Ryan Ames with 10:21 left in the first period on the next play after Ames, who plays wide receiver, had caught a long lateral from Nieman and hit Garin Runyon for a 60-yard catch-and-run play. Ames also booted a 21-yard field goal in the first period, but missed the extra point after his touchdown and three field goal attempts.

Ames had plenty of leg on his kicks, which were from 51, 33 and 38 yards, but pulled all of them to the left.

Chadron State coach Bill O'Boyle said Fort Lewis definitely came to play.

"Coach (Ed) Rifalato is one of the better coaches in the league," O'Boyle said. "We knew he would have a good defensive scheme. He also pulled out several pass plays that crossed us up a few times. But the (CSC) kids responded well."

The Eagles will play at Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night, while Fort Lewis will host Colorado Mines on Saturday.