SPEARFISH, S.D. – For the third time in a span of four weeks the Black Hills State University football team will take on another top-25 opponent as they travel to No. 14/13 CSU Pueblo. The Yellow Jackets will look to hand the ThunderWolves their first loss in league play this season on Saturday, October 19, in a 1 p.m. kick-off at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colorado.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, October 19 at 1 p.m.
Location: Pueblo, Colo. – CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the road match-up with a record of 3-3 (2-2 RMAC), following a 35-14 loss at home to No. 8/10 Western Colorado, the Yellow Jackets first loss at Lyle Hare Stadium this season.
• Saturday will be the third ranked opponent of the season for BHSU, previously falling to No. 4/7 Colorado School of Mines (52-24) and No. 8/10 Western Colorado (35-14).
• BHSU is averaging 21.8 points per game with 236.7 passing and 78.5 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 315.2 yards of total offense through six games. The Yellow Jacket offense has scored nine touchdowns through the air and seven on the ground during the season.
• Luke Duby has been the primary quarterback for BHSU this season, completing 122-of-219 passes for 1,397 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing four interceptions.
• Cameron Goods has been the featured running back in the Yellow Jacket backfield, rushing the ball for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Another player to keep an eye on is freshman Navarre Dixon III who has posted 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
• Damien Boozer and Kelby Olson have been the top receivers for Black Hills State, totaling a team-leading 57 and 206 yards receiving respectively. Six different Yellow Jackets have caught a touchdown pass, including a team-high of three for Jayden Williams.
• On the defensive side of the ball Black Hills State has held their opponents to 25.3 points per game with 263.0 passing and 75.0 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 338.0 yards of total defense through six games. BHSU has tallied 365.0 tackles with 43.0 tackles-for-loss and 16.0 sacks. The Yellow Jacket defense has forced ten turnovers this year, recovering five fumbles and picking off five passes.
• BHSU has won the turnover battle in four of their six games this season, holding a 3-1 mark in those contests. The Yellow Jacket defense has forced two or more turnovers in three games this season, including four against the Hardrockers which were the most since they forced five against Adams State in 2022.
• The top player in the secondary this year for Black Hills State has been Nicc Quinones who has recorded a team-leading 41.0 tackles, three interceptions, one pass break-up, and one quarterback hurry. He recorded a career-high of 12 tackles against the Hardrockers in a win for the Homestake Trophy.
• Leading BHSU from the linebacker position is Sebastian O'Farrell, who is second on the team with 39.0 tackles, while making 3.0 tackle-for-loss, 1.0 sack, and two pass break-ups. His nine tackles against South Dakota Mines and Western Colorado marked a new career-high.
• Mylic Ritche has been the dominant force up front for the Yellow Jackets, tallying 33.0 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and a pair of blocked field goal from his defensive line position.
• Josh Breske is in his fifth season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 20-21 during his career.

#14/13 CSU PUEBLO STORYLINES

• CSU Pueblo enters this week's RMAC game with a 6-1 (5-0 RMAC) record in 2024 following a 58-24 victory on the road at Fort Lewis, remaining one of just two teams undefeated in the conference play.
• The ThunderWolves enter the contest ranked No. 14 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and No. 13 in the D2Football Media Poll.
• CSUP is averaging 46.4 points per game with 345.4 passing and 178.7 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 524.1yards of total offense through seven games. The CSU Pueblo offense has scored 26 touchdowns through the air and 14 touchdowns on the ground this season.
• Devin Larsen has been the primary quarterback for the ThunderWolves this season, completing 129-of-208 pass attempts for 1,674 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Howard Russell V has been the featured CSU Pueblo running back this season, rushing the ball for 784 yards and nine touchdowns. He has ran the ball for 100 or more yards in five games, including the last four contests.
• The primary two targets at the wide receiver position will be Reggie Retzlaff and Taylor Tosches, who have hauled in 40 and 29 passes apiece. Retlaff leads the team with 799 yards and seven touchdowns, while Tosches adds 488 yards and six touchdowns.
• On the defensive side of the ball CSU Pueblo has held their opponents to 18.4 points per game with 158.3 passing and 127.9 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 286.1 yards of total defense through seven games. CSUP has tallied 494.0 tackles with 58.0 tackles-for-loss and 22.0 sacks. The ThunderWolves defense has forced 15 turnovers this year, picking off 11 passes and recovering four fumbles.
• Spearheading the CSU Pueblo defensive secondary is Daniel Bone III who has recorded 46.0 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, four pass break-ups and one quarterback hurry. Additionally, in the secondary, Donovan English has recorded a team-leading three interceptions.
• At the linebacker position and tying for the team lead with 46.0 tackles is Jon Nuschy, who has added 5.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries.
• The player to watch on the defensive line for the ThunderWolves will be James Turrentine who has notched 22.0 tackles and 5.5 tackles-for-loss.
• Philip Vigil is in his second season as the head coach at CSU Pueblo, guiding the ThunderWolves to a record of 14-4 during his career.

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will mark the 12^th meeting between Black Hills State and CSU Pueblo all-time on the gridiron, with the ThunderWolves holding an 11-0 lead in the series.
• With a 42-37 victory in the ThunderBowl last season on November 11, 2023, CSUP extended their win streak in the series to 11 games.