SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University football team could not find momentum in a 62-23 Swarm Days loss to Western State Colorado University Saturday in Lyle Hare Stadium.
Black Hills State led 10-7 near the end of the first quarter but a kickoff return from WSCU was all the Mountaineers needed to turn the tide in the game.
The Yellow Jackets scored first when Ryan Hommel found Trey Fleming from six yards out to cap an eight-play, 31 yard drive. The drive was set up thanks to an interception from Miles Robertson and returned the ball 26 yards to the Western State 31 yard line.
Western State answered back as Brett Arrivey found Daniel Frantz with a 19-yard touchdown with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing Yellow Jacket possession, Dietrik Becker connected on a 19-yard field goal for the 10-7 lead. The field goal capped a 14-play, 73-yard drive that took 5:49 off the clock. The drive included a nine-yard reception by Bradley Adamson, three rushes from Phydell Paris of eight yards or more, an 11 yard rush from Shane Brooks and a 23-yard reception by Erick Hairston-Belcher.
It was the kickoff following the field goal that turned the tide against the Yellow Jackets as Rodray Perkins took the return 90 yards for the touchdown and a 14-10 Western State (1-5, 1-3 RMAC) lead.
Western State tacked on 24 more first-half points, including a 14-play, 99-yard touchdown capped by an 11-yard touchdown reception by Travis Haney.
Down 38-10, the Yellow Jackets tacked on another touchdown when Hommel found Zane Lindsey in the left corner of the end zone from two yards out.
Black Hills State (0-6, 0-4 RMAC) would score one more time as Paris scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 7:42 remaining in the game.
Paris finished with 100 yards, his third 100-yard day on the season while Hommel threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Fleming had five catches for 72 yards, including the touchdown while Bradley Adamson had six receptions for 58 yards.
Arrivey totaled 304 yards passing for Western State while the Yellow Jacket offense held Austin Ekeler, the NCAA's leading rusher, to below his game average by more than 20 yards at 146 yards.
Defensively, Cody Okray led the Yellow Jackets with 10 tackles while Robertson had the interception. Thayer Sauter and Harry Ulrickson each tallied a half sack while Lorenzo Tanner had two tackles for a loss, totaling nine yards.
Jacob Bernhard, ranked third in the NCAA in total tackles, had 14 for the Mountaineers.
Black Hills State travels to Adams State Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff and return to Lyle Hare Stadium on October 24, hosting Chadron State at noon.
