SPEARFISH, S.D. – After trailing 31-3, the Black Hills State University football team clawed their way back to a 47-41 victory in double overtime over Adams State on Saturday afternoon. The win gave the Yellow Jackets a season opening victory for the second-consecutive year.

The first quarter was all Grizzlies (0-1, 0-1 RMAC), as they scored 10 unanswered points and outscored BHSU 17-3 in the period.

After giving up two touchdowns to begin the second quarter, the Green and Gold began to click offensively. Trailing 31-3, Phydell Paris had a two-yard run with 2:14 remaining in the half, before connecting with Ryan Hommel for a 22 yard passing touchdown with 1:08 to play. The Yellow Jackets entered halftime trailing Adams State 31-17.

Drew Hebel caused an abrupt end to the first drive by Adams State in the second half. After eating 2:37 off the clock, Hebel, who led the nation in interceptions in 2016, tallied his first takeaway of the 2017 season. The Yellow Jacket's drive that followed culminated in a 15 yard pass from Hommel to Zane Lindsey. However, the Grizzlies would answer with a touchdown drive of their own, and the visitors owned a 38-23 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Green and Gold began their comeback with a 10 play, 93 yard scoring drive. Hommel tossed his third touchdown on the day to Payten Gilmore, who took it 33 yards to the end zone, drawing BHSU within eight, at 38-30. The Jacket defense held Adams State on their next possession, but the offense could not move the ball, and turned it back over on downs. Needing another stop, with just four minutes remaining, Sam Garcia intercepted the Grizzlies quarterback, Jorge Hernandez, for the Green and Gold's third takeaway on the day.

With 1:31 remaining in regulation, the home team was down eight, with 84 yards to go. Hommel completed six passes, including a 39-yard toss to Shandon Jones for a score as time expired. Having to go for two, Hommel threw a screen to Lindsey, who trotted into the end zone to send the game to overtime with the game tied, 38-38.

The Yellow Jackets got the ball first in overtime, and put three points on the board in their first possession. The Grizzlies responded with a field goal of their own. However, as the game moved to the second overtime period, the BHSU defense stepped up big, forcing a field goal try, which was blocked. Needing just a field goal to win it, the Jackets rode the legs of their all-time leading rusher, Phydell Paris. Paris rushed for 24 yards on six carries to give the Green and Gold second and goal at the one-yard line. Hommel handed the ball off to Jared Tiefenthaler in the backfield, who trucked into the end zone to give BHSU the 47-41 victory.

The game finished with each team recording 31 first downs. Black Hills State outrushed Adams State, 293-227, while the Grizzlies had more passing yards (368-327). Overall, despite the slow start, the Yellow Jackets outgained ASU, 620-595. This is the second consecutive year that BHSU has tallied over 600 yards in a game (New Mexico Highlands; Oct. 1, 2016).

Hommel was 29-for-51 for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Paris rushed for 189 yards and one touchdown, while also tallying 45 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Jones caught eight passes for 86 yards and one touchdown. True freshman Jacob Parks kicked his first two collegiate field goals, including a 15 yarder in overtime.  

JJ Kilgore led the Yellow Jacket defense with nine tackles, while Austin Goddard had 7.5. Tiefenthaler, in addition to his game winning touchdown, recorded the game's only sack. Thayer Sauter, Hebel, Garcia, and Tiefenthaler each contributed with tackle for losses, while Jarrell Ganaway had a blocked field goal.

For the Grizzlies, Hernandez threw three touchdowns; two to James Holtop and one to Ziere Banner. Corey Brown ran for two scores, and Tiago Paim hit two field goals.

BHSU defeated Adams State for the second-consecutive year, and are now 2-6 all-time.  

The Green and Gold are back in action Saturday, September 9, when they host Fort Lewis for Swarm Days. The game is scheduled to 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.