ALAMOSA, Colo. – With a chance to knot the game at 27-all early in the fourth quarter, the Black Hills State University football team had its field goal attempt blocked and saw Adams State University score 20 unanswered points in a 44-24 loss.

The Yellow Jackets, who never led in the game, were looking for the first tie in the game but Jess Eden's 44-yard field goal attempt blocked and could not rally the momentum.

Adams State (2-5, 2-3 RMAC) got on the scoreboard first when freshman quarterback Johnny Feauto completed a 17-yard pass to James Holtrop to cap a five-play, 53-yard drive.

With Adams State threatening to score again, Melvin Bobo, IV snagged a loose ball in the end zone and returned the interception 80 yards into Grizzlies territory. Phydell Paris took control from there, first a six-yard rush followed by a 14-yard scamper into the end zone. The play knotted the game at 7-7 with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter.

Adams State again found the end zone with 8:06 remaining in the second quarter when Feauto completed a nine-yard pass to Chad Hovasse. The Grizzlies attempted a two-point conversion but failed.

The Yellow Jackets (0-7, 0-5 RMAC) again took advantage of an ASU turnover when Lane Lawson forced and recovered a fumble at the Adams State 11-yard line.

Paris again took things in his own hands, scoring the touchdown on two plays, with the scoring run coming from six yards out. Black Hills State's PAT failed, keeping the game tied at 13-13 with 4:34 remaining in the first stanza.

Adams State entered the end zone one more time in the first half to enter halftime with a 20-13 lead.

Edens got the scoring started in the second half when he connected on a 26-yard field goal to cap a nine-play, 66-yard drive to open the third quarter, as the Green and Gold trailed 20-16.

The two squads battled back-and-forth throughout most of the third quarter without either team putting any points on the scoreboard until ASU found the end zone on an Austin Hillman two-yard rush, and a 27-16 lead.

Just 49 seconds later, Ryan Hommel, who overcame a rough first half to throw for 222 yards, hit Erick Hairston-Belcher for a 45-yard touchdown. The drive was all of three plays, clearing 75 yards and pulling the Green and Gold within three points at 27-24 after the two-point conversion from Hommel to Jerome Krysl was succesful.

However, with the Yellow Jackets threatening to tie the game, the Adams State special teams stepped up to block Edens 44-yard tying field goal try and carry the momentum to 20 fourth-quarter points leading to the 44-24 victory.

Paris nearly had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, completed with 92 yards and the two touchdowns. He also had a 22-yard reception. Freshman Cody McCombs had three carries for 27 yards on the afternoon as well.

True-freshman Ryan Hommel had a tough day in the pocket completed 11-of-29 passes for 22 yards but had touchdown connection with Hairston-Belcher. Riley Hagar had his strongest day as a Yellow Jacket with three receptions for 78 yards.

Feauto completed 32-of-41 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns for Adams State while Addie Brown rushed for 121 yards. 

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets forced four turnovers, including three fumbles and converted those into 13 points. JJ Kilgore and Lane Lawson each had a forced and recovered fumble while Thayer Sauter forced a pair of fumbles with Travis Groves recovering the final forced fumble. Bobo, IV had his first career pick while Groves and Cody Benne each led the way with 11 tackles. Cody Okray and Lawson each tallied a half-sack in the game.