Venue & Game Details
Location: Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium, Chadron, NE
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. MT
Event: RMAC Conference Game
Broadcast: RMAC Network / Double Q Country Radio
Weather Forecast (Chadron, NE)
Kickoff Temp: ~63°F
Conditions: Sunny, crisp fall afternoon
Wind: SSW at 10–15 mph
Impact: Slight wind could affect special teams, otherwise excellent football weather
Injury Report
New Mexico Highlands: No major injuries reported; QB Hunter Ruzicka (Minot native) expected to start.
Chadron State: No major injuries reported; RB Isaiah Jordan cleared after minor ankle issue.
Player Matchups
New Mexico Highlands Cowboys
QB Hunter Ruzicka: 1,050 yards, 8 TD, 6 INT; dual-threat ability.
RB committee approach: 110 YPG rushing.
WR top target: 280 yards, 3 TD.
Defense: Allowing 34.8 PPG, vulnerable against power run teams.
Chadron State Eagles
QB Preston Pearson: 1,200+ yards, 10 TD, 4 INT.
RB Isaiah Jordan: 540 yards, 6 TD; averaging 5.6 YPC.
WR Darius Williams: 400 yards, 4 TD.
Defense: Allowing just 21.2 PPG, strong against the pass.
Key Battle: Highlands’ passing game vs. Chadron’s secondary, which has forced 8 INTs in 6 games.
Team Recent Form
New Mexico Highlands
W vs Western N.M. 69-55
L @ Western Colorado 30-3
L vs CSU Pueblo 59-13
W vs Adams State 28-21
L @ Colorado Mines 42-14
L vs South Dakota Mines 35-20
Chadron State
L @ Northern Colorado (FCS) 17-3
L @ Nebraska-Kearney 41-21
W vs Black Hills State 31-28
W @ Colorado Mines 34-28
W vs Colorado Mesa 34-27
W @ Adams State 45-2
Series History
All-time: Chadron State leads 27-5.
Last meeting (Oct 12, 2024): New Mexico Highlands 33, Chadron State 30 (Cowboys snapped a 7-game losing streak).
Last 10 matchups: Chadron leads 8-2.
Largest Chadron win: 73-0 (2016).
Betting Trends
New Mexico Highlands: 2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS; 4-2 O/U.
Chadron State: 4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS; 3-3 O/U.
Chadron has covered in 6 of last 8 RMAC games.
Highlands overs have hit in 4 of 6 games this season.
Projected Score: Chadron State 38, New Mexico Highlands 21
Game Odds
New Mexico Highlands Cowboys 56
Chadron State Eagles – 14.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 10, 2025
