Setting the Stage: The Black Hills State University football team is set to host rival South Dakota School of Mines on Saturday evening in the Battle for the Homestake Trophy. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 52-22 loss to Dixie State University. Chance Eben threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, which were caught by Isaac Jefferson and Jordan Pace. Kielar Harpham had 89 receiving yards and 165 all-purpose yards. Josh Gurnaby and Hunter Stephens led the Yellow Jackets with eight tackles each.

Last Meeting: BHSU fell, 62-14, to SDM last year in Rapid City. Tyler Hammons threw for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Jordan Pace and Kielar Harpham each caught a score. Defensively, four Yellow Jackets had double-digit tackles including Hunter Stephens with 10.

About South Dakota Mines: The Hardrockers are 1-4 in 2019, most recently falling to CSU-Pueblo, 21-13. In the game against the Thunderwolves, SDM led, 13-7, before CSUP scored 14 unanswered to secure the victory. Toby Smith threw for 101 yards, while Ahmad Lewis rushed for 106 yards. Steven Nolasco led the Hardrockers with 10 tackles and also had a 20-yard pick-six.

Series History: This will be the 134th all-time meeting between the Yellow Jackets and Hardrockers. The rivalry is the longest running series in Division II. The Green and Gold is 59-63-11 all time against South Dakota Mines, with SDM winning last season, and BHSU winning the year before.

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 in Spearfish around the 6 p.m. kickoff to be 37 degrees. There is a 4 percent chance of precipitation with a wind predicted at 11 mph.

General Notebook

A Tradition Unlike Any Other: Black Hills State and South Dakota School of Mines will play against each other for the 134th time this weekend. The Battle for the Homestake Trophy is the longest running rivalry series in Division II.  

Not Here, Not Anywhere:  The game between the Yellow Jackets and the Hardrockers will once again be part of the Not Here, Not Anywhere campaign for sexual violence awareness and prevention. This is the third consecutive year for the campaign during the Battle For The Homestake Trophy, and players and coaches of both teams will wear teal-colored awareness ribbons.

Under the Lights: The Yellow Jackets' game against the Hardrockers will be under the lights at Lyle Hare Stadium. It is the second night game for BHSU after the season opened with a night game betweeen the Green and Gold and Chadron State.

Captains: The Yellow Jacket captains, as chosen by their teammates, are Josh Gurnaby, Payten Gilmore, Kadim Phillip, and Joe Moraga.

Recognizing the Fight: Linebacker Brett Lamb won't be on the field this season, but his Yellow Jacket brothers will wear orange ribbons to support Lamb as he fights leukemia.

Experience First: BHSU has 12 starters returning from a year ago. This includes eight offensive players providing experience, especially along the line. Defensively, four starters return including two players - Josh Gurnaby and Bailey Rosenstrauch - who had at least 60 tackles last season.

Discipline: The Yellow Jackets were the least penalized team in the RMAC last season, while teams playing BHSU were penalized the most. In 2019 so far, the Green and Gold are giving up 42.2 yards in penalties, the second least in the league.

Academic Honors: The 2018 season saw 10 Yellow Jackets earn academic honors from the RMAC. Bailey Rosenstrauch earned First Team honors. Luis Bach, Jake Basinger, Jess Edens, Austin Goddard, Jarett Jenson, Jack Mazurie, Trig Olson, Jacob Phelan, and Dylan Reiners all were named to the RMAC Honor Roll.

RMAC Honors: The 2018 season led to several Yellow Jackets being honored by the conference. Eriq Swiftwater, Clayton Dry, Drew Hebel, Jacob Parks, and Kielar Harpham were all named All-RMAC Honorable Mention. Parks and Harpham return as members of the 2019 squad.

Jeep Raffle: Raffle tickets for a new 2019 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.