SPEARFISH, S.D. – Forcing seven turnovers, the Black Hills State University football team scored 40 points to win the annual Swarm Days game 40-14 over Fort Lewis College Saturday at Lyle Hare Stadium.
With the win, the Yellow Jackets improve to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as Fort Lewis falls to 1-2, 0-1.
After Ward Anderson scampered into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown with 11:28 on the clock in the first quarter, the BHSU defense began a string of 17-straight points scored off turnovers.
Brian Baldwin forced and recovered a fumble on Jordan Doyle, the Skyhawks quarterback, to give the Yellow Jackets a first-and-10 from the Fort Lewis 21 yard line. Black Hills State turned that into a 23-yard field goal from Diego Carstens, who remains perfect on the season.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Yellow Jackets again forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Fort Lewis 19-yard line. Anderson scored his second touchdown of the afternoon, this time from four yards out, to give the Yellow Jackets the 17-0 lead.
With just under a minute to go in the first quarter, Allan Stubbs forced a fumble that was recovered by Boone Bowker. On the first play for the Yellow Jackets, Anderson sailed a pass to Anthony Eboreime for a 34-yard touchdown reception and a 24-0 lead.
The Skyhawks would get on the scoreboard as Doyle found Esley Simmons for a seven-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in the first half.
The Yellow Jackets got a safety after forcing the Skyhawks into a punt formation. After the snap sailed over the head of Kipp Castanaha, Damon Goldhammer nearly fell on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. But Castanaha go to the ball just in time to take the safety.
Holding the 26-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Phydell Paris broke free for a 20 yard touchdown and a commanding 33-7 lead. The play was set up by a 21 yard run from Cameron Currington, who took a direct snap for the positive gain.
On the ensuing Fort Lewis posses, Doyle found Jordan Gillen for a 19-yard touchdown with 5:16 remaining.
After a Black Hills State turned the ball over on downs, Fort Lewis began marching downfield and got as far as the Black Hills State 34 yard line until JJ Kilgore stepped in front of a Doyle pass and returned the interception 70 yards for his first career pick six. The play locked up any chance of a Fort Lewis comeback attempt with the 40-14 lead.
The victory was the Yellow Jackets fourth in its last five games dating back to last season and has now won three-straight games in Lyle Hare Stadium.
Black Hills State travels to Colorado School of Mines next Saturday for a noon kickoff. Due to stadium renovations, Mines is playing its home games in Arvada, Colorado.
Quick Hits:
- Ward Anderson was 25-35 for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception
- Anderson also had two rushing touchdowns
- Phydell Paris had a team-high 81 yards rushing, his third-straight game with 80+ yards
- JJ Kilgore had his first-career interception, which he returned 70 yards for a touchdown
- Cody Smith and Allan Stubbs each had an interception
- Michael Oberle had 12 tackles for the Yellow Jackets to go with a sack which resulted in an 8-yard loss
- Damon Goldhammer had six tackles, four for a loss including a sack
- The Yellow Jackets had three interceptions with 101 return yards
- Fort Lewis had 348 yards of total offense with 256 coming in the air from Jordan Doyle
- Doyle was also the games leading rusher with 88 yards on the ground
