Football | 10/1/2011 12:00:00 AM
Minot, N.D. – The Black Hills State University football team fell to Minot State 20-16 in Minot, N.D. on Saturday.
Both the Yellow Jackets and the Beavers could not find a way to put points on the board in the first quarter. Black Hills State would be the first to strike on a 2-yard touchdown run by Drew Neilsen with 10:16 to go in the first half. Minot State would respond with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:11 remaining in the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets would find the end zone one more time in the quarter on an 18-yard Neilsen run. However, the point after attempt would fail and give Black Hills State a 13-7 lead. Devin Rounds would connect on a 37-yard field goal to make the score 16-7 at the half.
Minot State would respond in the third quarter. The Beavers would score on a seven play, 77-yard drive to cut the lead to 16-13. Minot State's point after attempt would fail. The Beavers would put another long drive together in the third quarter that would be capped-off by a 1-yard touchdown run making the score 20-13.
Black Hills State would have its chance to take the lead in the final moments of the game. Following a fumble by Minot State, the Yellow Jackets would take possession on the Beavers' 37-yard line down four points with 2:14 to go in the game. Following two completions by Ward Anderson to Dustin Worthington and Daniel Hancock for six and eight yards, the Yellow Jackets would find themselves in a third down situation with two yards to go on the Minot State 19 yard line. Neilsen would convert the third down with an 11-yard gain setting up a first-and-goal from the Minot State 8-yard line. Neilsen would rush to the 1-yard line on first down. On second down, Ward Anderson would be stopped for no gain. Neilsen would get the call on both third down and fourth down and be stopped for no gain each time. Minot State would take over on downs and run out the clock.
Neilsen led the Yellow Jackets offensively with 102 yards on the ground. Anderson was 11-of-33 in the game passing for 82 yards and throwing one interception. Matt Grave led the team defensively with nine tackles, one of which was a sack.
The Yellow Jackets are now 1-5 on the season and will return to action on October 15 to take on Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, S.D. Game time is set for 1 p.m. CT/12 noon MT. The broadcast can be heard locally on 980 AM KDSJ or online at www.980KDSJ.com.
For more information on Black Hills State Athletics, visit www.BHSUAthletics.com.
