Setting the Stage: The Black Hills State University football team took down Colorado Mesa University, 31-26, last week for its second consecutive victory. The game was one of runs – after CMU went up, 3-0, the Yellow Jackets scored 17 unanswered points, before the Mavericks responded with 21 straight of their own to retake a 24-17 lead. However, the Green and Gold would score two more touchdowns and hold CMU to just a safety to secure the RMAC victory. Ryan Hommel threw for 205 yards, while Payten Gilmore and Jack Walbye each rushed for two scores. Defensively, Bailey Rosenstrauch had 16 tackles. Chris James recorded two interceptions, while Drew Hebel and Josh Gurnaby each tallied one pick.
Last Meeting: BHSU defeated Western, 40-0, last season, as the Yellow Jackets forced seven turnovers. Drew Hebel had two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the game. Phydell Paris rushed for 100 yards and a score. The game was the first in which BHSU held an opponent scoreless since defeating Fort Lewis, 23-0, in 2012.
About Western State Colorado University: The Mountaineers won their first game of 2018 last weekend, defeating Fort Lewis, 40-20. Western jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, and never looked back. Quarterback Dylan Jacob threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns in the game, while Elijah Gillespi had 80 receiving yards and caught two scores. Defensively, Lane Farris led the Mountaineers with eight tackles, while Josh Nelson had two interceptions.
Series History: The Yellow Jackets and Mountaineers have each won three games in the six game series between the teams.
Coverage: Yellow Jacket fans can catch Steve Ammerman on the call on The Eagle, 95.9/96.3 FM, or live online at MyEagleCountry.com. Ammerman is the voice of Yellow Jacket Athletics and can be heard on every football and men's/women's basketball game throughout the season.
Temperature: The five-day forecast shows Saturday's temperature around the 1 p.m. kickoff to be 58 degrees in Gunnison, Colorado. There is a 0 percent chance of precipitation, with a wind at 10 mph.
General Notebook
A New Rushing King: Payten Gilmore broke the BHSU single-game rushing record on Oct. 13 against New Mexico Highlands. The junior racked up 248 yards, and scored three touchdowns, including a 60-yard score in the third quarter. Gilmore eclipsed the previous record by four yards (Phydell Paris, 244).
Under the Lights: The Yellow Jackets played two night games this season. The opening game of the year between the Yellow Jackets and the Eagles was played under the lights. It was the first night game for BHSU since September 16, 2017, when the team played at Dixie State. The Green and Gold then played South Dakota Mines at 6 p.m. in Rapid City on Oct. 6.
Safety First: The Yellow Jackets recorded a safety against Chadron State (Sept. 1). It was the first safety for BHSU since Sept. 10, 2016, in a 39-36 win over Fort Lewis.
Captains: The Yellow Jacket captains, as chosen by their teammates, are Ryan Hommel, Payten Gilmore, Luis Bach, and Drew Hebel.
Putting the "Student" in Student-Athlete: Austin Goddard is a nominee for the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award. The senior linebacker currently holds a 3.621 grade point average as an exercise science major. He also is a SAAC representative and four-year member of the football leadership council.
RMAC Honors: The 2017 season led to several Yellow Jackets being honored by the conference. Phydell Paris, Drew Hebel, and Erick Hairston-Belcher were all named All-RMAC Second Team. Thayer Sauter, Austin Goddard, Jarrell Ganaway, Darian Warford, Aaron Montoya, and Shandon Jones all earned Honorable Mention. Hebel, Goddard, and Ganaway return as members of the 2018 squad.
Academic Honors: Two Yellow Jackets were named to the RMAC Academic First Team in 2017, while nine others made the Honor Roll. Phydell Paris and JJ Kilgore earned First Team honors. Luis Bach, Jake Basinger, Jess Edens, Austin Goddard, Jake Phelan, Collin Powers, Dylan Reiners, and Bailey Rosenstrauch all were named to the RMAC Honor Roll.
Jeep Raffle: Raffle tickets for a new 2018 Jeep Wrangler are on sale now. Tickets are $50, and only 999 will be sold. See bhsuathletics.com for more information and to enter online.
