Setting the Stage: The Black Hills State University football team is coming off its bye week, after falling to Colorado State University Pueblo, 49-0. The result brought the Yellow Jacket's 2017 record to 4-4. They were held to just 122 total offensive yards. Ryan Hommel threw for 81 yards, while Phydell Paris rushed for 56 yards. Erick Hairston-Belcher had 50 receiving yards. Defensively, Josh Gurnaby led BHSU with 16 tackles, while Luis Bach and Austin Goddard each recorded 10 tackles.

Last Meeting: BHSU defeated Chadron State, 21-19, last year, to give the Yellow Jackets their seventh win of the year. It was the first win for the Green and Gold over the Eagles since 1986. Running back Phydell Paris set the career rushing record during the game, finishing the game with 164 yards. The defense recorded five interceptions, including two pick-6 plays. Thayer Sauter tallied 11 tackles.

About Chadron State: The Eagles are 5-4 overall, and 5-3 in RMAC play. After winning two consecutive games, they most recently fell to Colorado School of Mines, 27-15, while being outgained, 358-328. Quarterback Dalton Holst threw for 200 yards, and had two interceptions in the game, while Derek Jackson ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Brian Wood had 13 tackles for Chadron State, and Tyler Lewis had nine.  

Series History: Chadron State is the second-most played opponent for the Yellow Jackets. CSC leads the series, 56-15-2. Black Hills State won last year's meeting for the first time since 1986, and will look to make it two in a row this season.  

Coverage: Yellow Jacket fans can catch Steve Ammerman and Jim Kallas on the call on The Eagle, 95.9 and 96.3 FM. A free webcast can be found via Stretch Internet, the official video provider for RMAC Sports.

Temperature: The five-day forecast shows Saturday's temperature around kickoff to be 56 degrees. There is a 1 percent chance of precipitation, with a wind at 8 mph.

General Notebook

Senior Day: Prior to Saturday's game, the BHSU seniors will be honored for their contributions to the Yellow Jacket program.

Familiar Foe: Black Hills State and Chadron State have faced each other 73 times, with the Eagles holding the edge, 56-15-2. CSC is the second most played opponent for the Yellow Jackets. BHSU head coach John Reiners spent his college career at Chadron State, and began his coaching career there, spending 15 years on staff.

Smarties: Phydell Paris and JJ Kilgore were named to the RMAC All-Academic First Team this week, while nine other players were named to the Honor Roll. Paris earned the nod for the third consecutive year, holding a 3.358 GPA in psychology. Kilgore, on the First Team for a second straight year, has a 3.640 in business administration. The Honor Roll players are Luis Bach, Jake Basinger, Jess Edens, Austin Goodard, Jamie Gray, Jacob Phelan, Collin Powers, Dylan Reiners, and Bailey Rosenstrauch.

Far out: True freshman Jacob Parks kicked a 53-yard field goal against Western State, which set a school record. The previous long by a Yellow Jacket was 48 yards, which happened in 1971 and 1979. The 53-yarder is also the longest this year in the RMAC.

Shutout: The Black Hills State football team held Western State scoreless in the game Oct. 14. The Yellow Jackets won, 40-0, holding an opponent scoreless for the first time since 2012, when they beat Fort Lewis, 23-0 (Nov. 10).

Second half team: The difference between the first and second half performances of BHSU so far this season is stark. In the four wins for the Green and Gold this season, the offense has put up 96 points in the second half, while allowing just 16.

South Dakota Hold 'em: For a stretch of four games this year, the Yellow Jacket defense was extremely stingy, particularly in the second half. BHSU held SD Mines to zero points, and just 66 yards of offense in the second half on Sept. 23. The team followed that performance up by allowing just six points and 149 yards against New Mexico Highlands in the second half. Against No. 21 Colorado Mesa, the Green and Gold outscored the Mavericks, 20-14, in the second half, including a 20-0 edge in the fourth quarter, and against Western State, BHSU won the second half battle, 17-0.

Rank and file: After eight games played, the Green and Gold remain ranked in the top-five of the RMAC in several categories. BHSU is fifth in passing offense (234.5) and third in kickoff returns (23.6). The Yellow Jackets are also ranked third in pass defense efficiency (114.9), second in interceptions (13), fourth in kickoff coverage (39.0), second in opponent first downs (18.1), first in opponent third down conversion rate (31.7), and fourth in turnover margin (+2).

Take it away: After finishing the 2016 season with the second most interceptions in the nation, the Yellow Jackets are again putting up big numbers. BHSU has 13 interceptions through eight games. The Green and Gold defense had three interceptions against Adams State in week one, two against South Dakota Mines, one in the game at New Mexico Highlands, one against Colorado Mesa, and six against Western State. Sam Garcia and Drew Hebel lead the squad with three interceptions each. Hebel returned two of his picks for touchdowns. Luis Bach has two interceptions, while JJ Kilgore, Jarrell Ganaway, Josh Gurnaby, Chris James, and Dimitri Butts each have recorded a pick.

Players of the Week: Drew Hebel and Trey Fleming were each named RMAC Players of the Week for their play against Western State. Hebel, who had two pick-sixes in the game, earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Fleming was the Special Teams POTW after going 4-for-4 on PATs, and 3-for-4 in field goals.

50 points: Black Hills State put up 50 points at New Mexico Highlands on September 30. This was the first time the Yellow Jackets had scored 50 points since a 50-48 victory over Western State on November 23, 2013.

Depth Charge: Last year's initial depth chart shows that experience has been growing with 18 juniors and nine seniors listed on the depth chart. This season, the depth chart shows 14 juniors and 14 seniors. Those players, who experienced the success of last year, will look for more this year. There are eight sophomores and 10 freshman, nine of which are redshirt freshman, on the depth chart.

Win First: The Yellow Jackets won their season-opener for the second consecutive year, when they beat Adams State, 47-41, in double overtime. BHSU defeated Adams State, 34-33, in Alamosa, Colorado, last year for their first season-opening win since the 2008 season when the Green and Gold, then an NAIA school, upset NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State 21-14 on September 6, 2008.

Captains: The Yellow Jacket captains, as chosen by their teammates, are Phydell Paris, Shandon Jones, JJ Kilgore, and Thayer Sauter. Paris earned the Captain nod for the third-straight year, while Kilgore is a Captain for the second-consecutive season.

Rushing King: Senior Phydell Paris owns every major rushing record at Black Hills State. He ranked second last year in the conference with 1,314 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. He finished the season ranked number eight at the NCAA Division II level in rushing yards per game (131.4).

RMAC Honors: The 2016 season led to several Yellow Jackets being honored by the conference. Head coach John Reiners was named the Coach of the Year, while Drew Hebel was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Joining Hebel on the All-RMAC First Team were Shandon Jones and Phydell Paris. Earning Second Team honors were offensive lineman Andrew Blaylock and defensive tackle Cody Benne. On the Honorable Mention team were Isaiah Birkel, Travis Groves, Ryan Hommel, and Thayer Sauter. All but Benne and Groves return to BHSU in 2017.