ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Black Hills State University football team took a quick 10-0 lead, but ultimately fell to Dixie State, 38-16, on Saturday evening.

The Green and Gold (1-2, 1-2 RMAC) got out to a fast start. The defense forced a Dixie State (1-2, 1-2 RMAC) punt on its first possession, but a bad snap gave the Yellow Jackets the ball on the Trailblazer 23-yard line. On the first offensive snap, Phydell Paris rumbled the 23 yards into the endzone to give BHSU a 7-0 lead, with the Jacob Parks extra point.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Dixie State returner fumbled the ball, giving the ball immediately back to the Yellow Jackets at the Trailblazer 23-yard line again. BHSU was unable to punch the ball in, and settled for a Parks field goal, and a 10-0 lead.
In the next DSU possession, the Trailblazers marched down the field in four plays, drawing within 10-7. In the following drive for the Yellow Jackets, starting quarterback Ben Sjobakken was injured, and redshirt-freshman Collin Powers was called on to come in the game.

Dixie State added touchdowns in their next two drives to lead, 21-10, and led 28-10 at halftime.

To begin the second half, the Yellow Jacket offense began to move the ball, but was hurt by two big turnovers. Dixie State added a field goal to lead, 31-10, at the end of the third quarter. The home team added another touchdown early in the fourth to go up 38-10.

The Yellow Jacket's first drive of the fourth quarter was a 10 play, 80-yard affair, which ended in a five-yard rushing touchdown for Paris, his second of the night, and drew BHSU to 38-16.

"We had some big plays to start the game," said head coach John Reiners. "Later on, we had some good drives, but we just couldn't get points out of them."

Powers finished with 126 yards and one interception. Paris led the ground attack, totaling 156 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second game this season with over 100-yards rushing. Erick Hairston-Belcher led all receivers, with 47 yards.

Defensively, Thayer Sauter had 13 total tackles, including six solo. Luis Bach had 1.5 sacks, while Jarrell Ganaway and Daylon Stutz each had a sack. Drew Hebel also recorded half a sack.  

"Collin did some nice stuff and I'm proud of him," Reiners noted, "but it took us a while to get going and get in sync as a team."

Malik Watson threw for 106 yards and two touchdowns for the Trailblazers. Blake Barney rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Sei-J Lauago rushed for one score. Orlando Wallace caught two touchdowns.

The Green and Gold will next host South Dakota Mines on Saturday, September 23. The game, for the Homestake Trophy, will kick off at noon.
  Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.