GUNNISON, Colo. – Black Hills State football fell to No. 24 Western Colorado Saturday afternoon, 44-28 at the Mountaineer Bowl.

The Yellow Jackets (4-3, 2-3 RMAC) totaled 392 yards of total offense, including 352 in the air behind impressive performances from the team's second- and third-string quarterbacks.

Aidan Willard ended up getting the start at QB for BHSU, completing 12 of 19 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Hammons also had an impressive game under center, finishing 5-for-10 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

Hasaan Williams led the receiving core with four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Toby Jacobs, Kade Zimmerman and Connor Boyd – all freshman – each added touchdown receptions as well.

BHSU had two turnovers on the day, first from Deunte Moody who hauled in his first interception of the season, and Lovenski Simon who picked up a fumble recovery.

After an early takeaway by the Yellow Jackets, WCU scored on their second drive of the game to take an early 7-0 lead. The Mountaineers added a field goal before the end of the first to take a 10-0 lead into the second quarter.

WCU would add on early in the second, extending their lead to 17-0 with 9:38 left to go in the half. The Yellow Jackets answered on their next drive, working their way down field before Willard connected with Boyd for a 24-yard touchdown pass to make it a 17-7 game midway through the second quarter.

Western added another field goal before halftime to extend their lead to 20-7 at the break.

Out of the locker room, WCU found the endzone again to make it a 27-7 game, but BHSU wasn't done. On their next drive, the Yellow Jackets drew closer with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Williams, making it 27-14 midway through the third.

The Yellow Jackets later scored to break 17 unanswered WCU points on a 44-yard touchdown from Hammons to Zimmerman, making it a 44-20 game with just under six minutes remaining in the game.

Then with 1:50 to play, BHSU scored one more time as Hammons found Jacobs on a 76-yard touchdown pass. That, along with a successful 2-point conversion, pushed the score to 44-28 which would hold until time expired.

Up Next
The Yellow Jackets return home next weekend as they host New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m.