Spearfish, SD - Despite a strong defensive battle the first three quarters, the Black Hills State University football team could not recover from five turnovers, falling to Western Colorado University 21-42.
 
The opening drives were a bitter defensive battle, each teaming forcing the other to three and out. The Mountaineers would start a long drive at the end first quarter but ultimately missed a field goal, leaving the score 0-0.
 
It wasn't until late in the second quarter that the Mountaineers would record the first score of the game scoring a touchdown on a nine-yard run. Six minutes later, the Mountaineers would capitalize on a fourth down conversion to score again. They would hold the lead 14-0 over the Yellow Jackets heading into half time.
 
The start of the second half saw a strong offensive drive by the Green and Gold as they scored on their first possession. Tyler Hammons threw to Kielar Harpham for a 39 yard touchdown. Western responded with a touchdown of their own with 2 minutes left in the third. Keeping it to one score to enter the final quarter Payten Gilmore rushed for one yard to bring the score to 14-21.
 
The Mountaineers capitalized on an early interception to further their lead to 28-14. The Yellow Jackets responded with a 35 yard pass from Hammons to Harpham for a touchdown, again putting BHSU in a come back position.
 
A late personal foul call against the Yellow Jackets would prove to be a momentum shift, putting the Mountaineers in position to increase their lead to 35-21. Another Hammons interception allowed the Mountaineers to march down the field and score another touchdown putting the final score in their favor 42-21.
 
Offensively, Hammons threw for 182 yards on 19 completions with two touchdowns. Most of those catches were by Harpham who had 161 receiving yards on 12 catches. Payten Gilmore lead the land assault with 62 yards rushing and one touchdown.
 
On the defensive side, Sam Garcia recorded 10 solo tackles and assisted with six, forcing one fumble. Rosenstrauch had 12 assists, one sack, and a forced fumble. Hunter Stephens also had double digit assists with 12 and one solo tackle.