CHADRON, Neb. - While they are hoping for a repeat of last year's success against West Texas A&M, the Chadron State Eagles know they will have their hands full today when they host the Abilene Christian Wildcats during the NCAA Division II second-round playoff game. Kickoff will be at noon at Elliott Field.

Abilene Christian opened many eyes and caused the pulses of Chadron State fans to rise when it was announced that the Wildcats had blasted Mesa State 56-12 in Abilene on Saturday during a first-round playoff game. The Eagles, who are 11-0 and ranked No. 2, received an opening-round bye.

Mesa State's only other loss this season was 7-6 to Chadron State on Oct. 27. The Mavericks entered the playoff game ranked sixth in Division II in both scoring and total defense.

Although Mesa State intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown on Abilene Christian's first play, the Texas team led 42-6 at halftime and out-yarded the Mavericks 511 to 229.

As it has all season, Abilene Christian proved it can move the ball effectively on both the ground and through the air. Tailback Bernard Scott carried 12 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns while playing only the first half and quarterback Billy Malone completed 18 of 22 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns.

For the season, Scott, a

5-foot-11, 220-pound junior, has carried 229 times for 1,862 yards and 30 touchdowns. He joins Chadron State's Danny Woodhead as the Harlon Hill Trophy finalists from the Southwest Region and was named the Lone Star Conference's Offensive Player of the Year.

Malone has completed 241 of 373 passes for 3,553 yards and 32 TDs. He has been intercepted 13 times this season. He is the conference's all-time passing leader with 8,167 career yards.

The Wildcats' Johnny Knox, a 6-0, 180-pound junior, was selected as the conference's Receiver of the Year. He has 60 catches for 1,139 yards and 15 touchdowns. Another ACU wideout, Jerale Badon, 5-8, 185, has 63 catches for 856 yards and six TDs in one less game.

Like Woodhead, who is expected to be at full speed today, Scott is often used as a receiver. He has 42 receptions for 485 yards and three TDs.

Abilene Christian, which has scored at least 50 points in half its games this fall, ranks second in the nation in scoring at 47.2 points and third in the nation in total offense at 536 yards a game. Chadron State is averaging 36.3 points and 416.8 yards on offense.

One of ACU's most impressive stats pertains for fumbles. It has just nine fumbles during its 10-2 season and has lost only five of them. The opponents have fumbled 21 times and lost 14.

Both Chadron State and the foes have lost nine fumbles.

The Eagles have yielded just 267.2 yards per game to rank 11th in the nation in total defense and have given up only 8.5 points a game to rank third.

The Wildcats have given up 403 yards and 26.2 points a game.

"They'll be one of the best teams we've ever played," said Chadron State coach Bill O'Boyle. "Their offense is outstanding and their defense is also strong. People look at their scores and stats and think their defense isn't too good. But after breaking down several of their films and looking at the athletes and the offenses in their conference you can understand about the stats. The Lone Star has many of the best athletes in Division II and it is a conference filled with great offensive players and teams."

O'Boyle called Scott "the best running back we've faced this year."

Chadron State Defensive Coordinator Todd Auer said Scott has outstanding speed and appears to use that asset more than power while carrying the ball.

"If he gets open, he'll out run you," Auer said.

Auer added that Malone is simlar to Dalton Bell, the West Texas A&M quarterback the Eagles faced last year.

"He wants to stay in the pocket," Auer said. "He has a strong arm and is protected by a big line that is pretty athletic. They have a lot of weapons."

Scott came to Abilene Christian this year after leading Blinn College to a 12-0 season and the National Junior College Athletic Association championship last fall by rushing for 1,892 yards, the most in the juco ranks, and 27 touchdowns. The previous year, Scott was at Central Arkansas, where he ran for 1,026 yards. The current Abilene Christian head coach, Chris Thomsen, was the offensive line coach and Ken Collums, the Wildcats' offensive coordintor, had those duties at Central Arkansas when Scott played there.

Scott is one of 10 Wildcats to make the Lone Star Conference's South Division first-team all-conference team. The others include Knox and Badon at wide receiver and guard Nathan Young, a 6-3, 300-pound senior who was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Other first-team choices were fullback Emery Dedensing, offensive tackle Joseph Thompson, center Sam Collins, placekicker Matt Adams, defensive tackle Jacob Passmore and middle linebacker Cody Stutts, who is credited with 117 total tackles, 35 more than anyone else on the team.

The Wildcats have sacked the opposing quarterbacks 25 times and allowed just seven sacks.

Chadron State also has done well chasing the quarterback. The Eagles have 48 sacks and have given up only 11 sacks during their 11-0 season.

Chadron State has lost three offensive starters - receivers Micah Smith and Logan Stropko, and tackle Aaron Forsberg - to knee injuries this fall, but the Eagles will be at full strength today.

After missing all but one play in three games because of a foot injury, Woodhead carried 12 times for 128 yards and caught three passes for 40 yards while playing the first half in the Eagles' 58-0 win over Adams State in the regular-season finale on Nov. 10. Woodhead has continued to improve since then, according to both the coaches and the player.

Chadron State Athletic Director Brad Smith said if the Eagles win Saturday, it is anticipated they would host the quarterfinals game on Dec. 1 against the winner of Saturday's game between West Texas A&M and Northwest Missouri State, which will plays in Maryville, Mo., on Saturday.