Silver City, N.M. – The Yellow Jacket football team played with heavy hearts this weekend as BHSU won its second RMAC contest of the season over Western New Mexico 36-24.
On Sunday evening, freshman teammate Nick Bazemore was found deceased in his Wenona Cook Hall residence. The Yellow Jackets returned to practice on Tuesday and helped organize a candlelight vigil for Tuesday evening.
"I think the biggest thing is our entire team came together, from our coaching staff to our players and kind of rallied around these younger guys that were directly affected," said head coach John Reiners. "Every day we took a new step in what we needed to do, just believing in each other and rallying around each other was huge."
On Saturday, the Yellow Jackets were first on the board as they drove the ball 90 yards on 15 plays, capped-off by a Ward Anderson five-yard touchdown run with 4:45 remaining in the first quarter. On the ensuing Western N.M. drive, quarterback Mitch Glasmann lost the ball on a sack and Thadd Stottler rumbled 35 yards for a touchdown. The Yellow Jackets led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Mustangs answered with a 71-yard touchdown strike from Glasmann to wide receiver Marquis Sumpter to put Western N.M. within seven, 14-7. The Mustangs tacked on a 32-yard field goal to cap a 21-play, 84-yard drive that took 8:13. The score was 14-10 with 6:25 remaining in the half.
The Yellow Jackets weren't finished as Anderson found freshman Jerome Krysl for a 49-yard reception. Anderson would later find his way into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run.
With 3:54 reaming in the half, the Mustangs put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a Glasmann strike to Sumpter for a 19-yard touchdown. The Yellow Jackets led 21-17 at halftime.
The Mustangs started with the ball in the second half, but their drive came to an abrupt end on a Austin Haynes interception. The Yellow Jackets drove the field and Anderson found Krysl for his first touchdown of the year on a seven-yard pass. The extra point failed leaving BHSU ahead, 27-17, with 10 minutes left in the third.
The Mustangs showed resilience as they drove 58 yards and ended the drive with a one-yard Abraham Macias touchdown. The Yellow Jackets led 27-24 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
The Yellow Jackets' defense kept the Mustangs off the board for the remainder of the fourth quarter and added another defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery by Sterling Boylan. When the final horn sounded, the Yellow Jackets led 36-24.
Anderson led an impressive aerial assault, completing 28-of-41 for 301 yards and one scoring strike. Anderson also got the job done with his feet, finding the end zone twice on the ground.
"Every game (Anderson) gets more comfortable with the offense. He did a good job of looking at his reads, getting the ball to the guy who was open, and leading our run game with his reads," said Reiners. "What I like about our offense is that we had zero turnovers, that was huge. You know when we don't put the ball back in the opponent's hands, that's great. I'm really happy to see Ward coming into his own these last few games."
Bryar Desanti rushed the ball 17 times for 85 yards to lead the Jackets on the ground. Anderson rushed for 46 yards on 10 attempts.
Freshman Jeremy Woods led the Yellow Jacket receiving corps with 94 yards on seven receptions. Daniel Hancock caught eight passes for 80 yards and freshman Jerome Krysl caught two passes for 56 yards and one touchdown.
The Yellow Jacket defense forced four turnovers on the day and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns.
"Just from watching the game I think we had five knockdowns and pass break-ups in those last two or three drives, and that was huge," said Reiners. "We had a great complete game from our defense and came up with some big, big stops at the end of the game."
Trent Turbiville had his greatest standout performance of the year. The senior from Buffalo, S.D. recorded 20 tackles, including nine solo takedowns, one quarterback sack and two tackles for loss. Turbiville also forced two fumbles for the defense, recovering one.
"I don't know if there are words to describe Trent Turbiville," said Reiners. "What he's done being a leader of this team this week, really being the guy who was the focal point for what we were trying to do in terms of the healing process, and his leadership on this trip. When we shook hands at the end of the game and he was running over to the end zone for our meeting, the joy on his face, jumping up and down, it was just awesome."
Austin Haynes added an interception to bring his season total to three.
Macias led the WNMU ground attack going for 74 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. Glasmann was 34-of-54 for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Sumpter caught 11 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. The defense was led by senior Bernard Williams who had nine tackles.
After an emotional week, Reiners was proud of his team and the support that was shown from the community.
"The way Spearfish is, and the way Black Hills State is, the community, the athletics department, the support we got is immeasurable," said Reiners. "That was probably the biggest thing that I think led our team this week."
