CHADRON, Neb. – Phydell Paris ran for 164 yards and a new career rushing record at Black Hills State University while the defense intercepted five passes and recovered a fumble in a 21-19 victory at Chadron State College Saturday afternoon.

Paris entered the game needing 78 yards to break the career rushing record held by Jeff Englund who played from 1988-91, and broke that mark early in the second quarter on a 13-yard rush to help the Yellow Jackets defeat Chadron State for the first time since 1986.

However it was the defense that carried the Yellow Jackets (7-3, 6-3 RMAC) to victory, two of the three Yellow Jacket touchdowns, including the game-sealing score in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

The Eagles (3-7, 3-6 RMAC) got the scoring started on their first drive of the game when Will Morgan connected on a 23-yard field goal.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets took over at their own 35 when Travis Groves intercepted CSC's Matt Vinson. The Green and Gold then marched 65 yards over 12 plays and 5:29 to score the first touchdown of the game. That happened when Paris received the handoff at the one-yard line and went into the end zone for the 7-3 lead.

The two squads entered the intermission at that score, which held until midway through the third quarter when Vinson was being heavily pressured and tried completing a shovel pass that was intercepted by Matt Singleton. The senior linebacker carried the ball untouched into the end zone for the 32-yard touchdown and 14-3 lead.

The Eagles cut into the lead 9:44 remaining in the game when Vinson connected with Matt Reader for a four-yard touchdown. The PAT for CSC failed, with the score at 14-9.

Chadron State then cut further into the lead as Morgan connected on a 30-yard field goal with 7:50 remaining in the game. From there, neither team could get any offense to gain meaningful yardage, trading the next four series'.

With the home squad trying to make a late move, and under a minute to play, Vinson tried forcing a pass that moved directly into Damon Goldhammer's path. The senior leapt for the catch, then ran 27-yards untouched into the end zone to essentially seal the game with 42 seconds on the clock and a 21-12 lead.

The Eagles did get a hailmary touchdown when Vinson connected with Reader for a 38-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-19, but the Yellow Jackets recovered the on-side kick.

In all, the Yellow Jacket defense grabbed interceptions by Goldhammer and Singleton for the touchdowns, with Cody Benne grabbing his second of the season, Hebel's nation's leading ninth pickoff and Groves'. The Yellow Jackets have now tallied 25 interceptions on the season, setting a new single-season record, eclipsing 21 by the 1979 team. That same year, Joe Croell had nine interceptions, a mark Hebel has now tied.

The defense also recovered a fumble forced by Thayer Sauter and picked up by Austin Goddard.

"We found a way to win today," head coach John Reiners said. "That's all you can ask for. I cannot express how well our defense played. We struggled on offense, sputtered in the red zone, but when the defense plays like that, you can overcome it.

"I'm proud of these guys. They have been resilient all year long, and they play to the end of the game. They kept responding. It is a team victory and our defense is what pushed it through."

Sauter led the way with 11 tackles, along with the forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for a loss. Goldhammer recorded eight tackles to go along with his interception. Along with Hebel's interception, he was credited with four pass breakups.

Offensively, Paris rushed 38 times for 164 yards and a touchdown while Payten Gilmore tallied 30 yards rushing. Ryan Hommel completed just 7-of-23 passes, with three of them at Erick Hairston-Belcher.

Conversely, Vinson attempted 51 passes for the Eagles, completing 28 of them for 300 yards. Reader was on the receiving end of six passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

The Yellow Jackets will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday as they host Colorado School of Mines with a noon kickoff at Lyle Hare Stadium.