SPEARFISH, S.D. – After spotting Western New Mexico University 42 points, the Black Hills State University football team was unable to make the comeback, falling 59-21 in the season finale Saturday in Lyle Hare Stadium.
Phydell Paris rushed for 146 yards, enough to surpass 1,000 yards on the season. He becomes the first Yellow Jacket to rush for over 1,000 yards since Cole Benne ran for 1,071 yards in 2009. Cole is the brother of current Yellow Jacket Cody. Paris ends the season with 1,066 yards.
After falling behind 42-0, the Green and Gold found the end zone with Zach Meyer under center when he ran in for an eight-yard score, completing an eight-play, 47-yard drive.
On the ensuing Western New Mexico (4-7, 3-6 RMAC) possession, Cody Benne recorded his first career interception when he snagged Michael Ball's pass out of the air. That set up the Yellow Jackets (0-11, 0-9 RMAC) at the WNMU 22-yard line.
Seven plays later, Paris scampered four yards into the end zone for the score as the Green and Gold trailed 42-13.
After the Mustangs hit a 50-yard field goal, the Yellow Jackets scored with 11:03 remaining in the game as Cody McCombs scored his first-career touchdown on a 16-yard run to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
That was the last time the Yellow Jackets would find the end zone as WNMU score two more times for the 59-21 victory.
In the game, Meyer threw for 85 yards on 7-of-16 passing. Paris not only led the way rushing, but also had a team-best four receptions.
Defensively, Benne had his best day as a Yellow Jacket with 15 tackles and the interception. Matt Singleton recorded 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss wile forcing a fumble. Harry Ulricksen tallied the lone sack on the day.
The Mustangs were led offensively by Michael Ball for 197 yards passing with two touchdowns and also ran for 44 yards with two touchdowns. Marques Rodgers tallied 150 yards rushing on 23 carries while Larry Young, II tallied three receptions for 106 yards.
Saturday's finale concluded the careers Lane Lawson, Richard Nava, Jerome Krysl, Harry Ulricksen and Cody Okray, as they exhaust their NCAA eligibility.
