Grand Junction, COLO. – The Black Hills State University Football team lost 21-58 to RMAC foe Colorado Mesa on Saturday. The Jackets fall to 2-6 in RMAC play.
 
BHSU dug themselves a hole the first two minutes when Colorado Mesa capitalized right away, returning the opening kick off 100 yards for a touchdown. Mesa put up another seven points off an interception in the second minute of the game. On the Mavericks third position they put in a long drive to put the score 21-0. By the end of the first quarter, BHSU was down by 28 and in desperate need of an offensive push.
 
Black Hills started the second quarter with possession but went three and out. BH defense took the field and held Mesa to one first down, ultimately forcing a turnover. Upon retaking the field, the Green and Golds offense relied on Payten Gilmore to move the ball. With a one yard rush, he scored, finally putting points on the board for BHSU.
 
After scoreless drives by both sides, another interception proved costly when Chance Ebens pass was picked off for six. Black Hills now was trailing 7-34 with under six minutes left in the half.
Just shy of the two minute warning, the Yellow Jackets start a 1:28 drive that ended with a 37 yard pass by Eben to Gilmore good for six. Despite out scoring Mesa in the second quarter, BHSU went into halftime down 14-41.
 
Black Hills started with possession in the second half, but ultimately couldn't get a spark going. Their defense managed to hold Mesa to one score and entered the fourth quarter down 14-48.
Trevor Greenlee forced a fumble early in the fourth quarter in an effort to get some momentum going. However, Mesa was ready, forcing the Jackets to go out in four and responded with a field goal. With ten minutes left to play, Andre Renteria had a big rush for 48 yards to record BHSU's only points of the second half.
 
On the offensive, Ebens completed 17 passes good for 134 yards and one touchdown. Renteria rushed 77 yards on 10 carries recording one touchdown. Gilmore rushed 61 yards on 13 carries and put up 37 receiving yards on his one carry. He recorded two touchdowns.
 
Sam Garcia lead the defense with 9 tackles and one sack. Bailey Rosenstrauch had 7 total tackles and, along with Greenlee, forced one fumble.

The Green and Gold return home next weekend as they take on Western Colorado University (4-4, 4-3 RMAC) at 1pm. The Yellow Jackets are 2-2 at home and look for a big win to remain above 500 at home this season.
 

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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.

---BHSUAthletics.com---