ROLLA, Mo. – Coming off of one of its best seasons in school history, Missouri S&T get a big challenge to open the 2013 schedule as it plays host to 20^th-ranked Chadron State in the first-ever Thursday night home game at Allgood-Bailey Stadium. Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m.

The Miners finished the 2012 season at 10-1 and ranked 24^th in the final American Football Coaches Association rankings, while Chadron State was ranked 18^th at the end of last year's 9-3 campaign. While the Miners did not get an invitational to the NCAA Division II playoffs, Chadron State earned a spot but lost in the opening round 38-30 to West Texas A&M.

However, the 2013 season opener will find a few things different with both teams. In the Miners' case, they are now under the direction of new head coach Tyler Fenwick – who previously served as the offensive coordinator at Missouri Western – and they are replacing several starters from one of the nation's most productive offenses last fall.

Sophomore Reed Brown (Rogers, Ark./Heritage HS) is expected to get the start at quarterback for S&T for a unit that lost nine starters, but several of the players in the projected starting lineup did gain valuable playing experience during the 2012 campaign. The Miners return their second-leading rusher in Scott Hendricks (Kechi, Kan./Maize HS), who ran for 609 yards a years ago and one of the returning starters on offense, tackle Forrestal Hickman (Holton, Kan./Holton HS), earned all-conference honors in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Missouri S&T's defense returns mostly intact – led by senior defensive tackle Eddie Rascon (Canutillo, Texas/Canutillo) and linebackers Chris Horn (Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington) and Chris Emesih (Houston, Texas/Westfield) – and will contend with an Eagle offense in the opener that does return several of its key components from a year ago. Running back Glen Clinton ran for 1,350 yards to back quarterback Jonn McLain's efforts, as he completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,606 yards. Chadron State also brings back its top three receivers from 2012, led by wideout Nathan Ross who had 54 receptions for 805 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Eagles did have a little rebuilding to do on defense, with only one of its top five tacklers from a year ago expected to be available for action on Thursday. That would be linebacker Shea Koch, who had 97 tackles last fall, as one of NCAA Division II's interception leaders, Trelan Taylor, who miss the Eagles' first six games to serve an NCAA-imposed suspension. Taylor picked off eight passes a season ago.

Missouri S&T and Chadron State ranked among the top five nationally in turnover margin last season, with the Miners leading with plus two per game and the Eagles finishing fifth at plus 1.33 a contest.

There will also be a fireworks show at halftime of Thursday's game.

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Game Notes: Miners vs. Chadron State

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