SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University football team will be playing under the lights of the Lyle Hare Stadium for the first time in the 2024 season as they welcome regional rival Chadron State to Spearfish. The game is set for a 4 p.m. kick-off as each team looks to get back to .500 on the year overall and in conference play.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, October 26 at 4 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. – Lyle Hare Stadium
Promotions: Trick or Treat with the Yellow Jackets – We want to see everyone's best Halloween costume on Saturday night when at halftime of the game, the BHSU SAAC student-athletes will welcome kids down to the field to partake in games and trick or treating.
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters Saturday's match-up with a record of 3-4 (2-3 RMAC), following a 24-21 loss in the closing seconds at No. 14/13 CSU Pueblo last weekend, a game in which the Yellow Jackets had the ThunderWolves on their heels throughout.
• BHSU looks to get back into the win column in the friendly confines of Lyle Hare Stadium, a place they hold a 5-3 record since the start of the 2023 stadium.
• BHSU is averaging 21.7 points per game with 245.3 passing and 97.0 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 342.3 yards of total offense through seven games. The Yellow Jacket offense has scored 11 touchdowns through the air and eight on the ground during the season.
• Luke Duby has been the primary quarterback for BHSU this season, completing 155-of-266 passes for 1,665 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing four interceptions. He has passed for 250 or more yards in four games this year, and tallied a pair of touchdown passes in four games as well.
• Cameron Goods has been the featured running back in the Yellow Jacket backfield, rushing the ball for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Another player to keep an eye on is freshman Navarre Dixon III who has posted 164 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
• Damien Boozer, Connor Boyd, and Kelby Olson have been the top receivers for Black Hills State, as they have hauled in 336, 245, and 243 yards receiving respectively. The balanced air attack of the Yellow Jackets has resulted in seven different players recording a receiving touchdown, including a team-high of three for Jayden Williams.
• On the defensive side of the ball Black Hills State has held their opponents to 25.1 points per game with 234.1 passing and 85.4 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 319.6 yards of total defense through seven games. BHSU has tallied 405.0 tackles with 47.0 tackles-for-loss and 17.0 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 seven 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 46.0 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, two pass break-ups, and one quarterback hurry. He recorded a career-high of 12 tackles against the Hardrockers in a win for the Homestake Trophy. Another defensive back to keep an eye on is Zecheriah Rodriguez-Brown who has tallied 36.0 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack, and two pass break-ups.
• Leading BHSU from the linebacker position is Sebastian O'Farrell, who is second on the team with 42.0 tackles, while making 3.0 tackle-for-loss, 1.0 sack, two pass break-ups, and one quarterback hurry. 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 35.0 tackles, 12.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and two blocked field goals 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 20-22 during his career.

CHADRON STATE STORYLINES

• Chadron State enters this week's RMAC game with a 3-4 (2-3 RMAC) record in 2024 following a 55-13 win at home over Fort Lewis last weekend.
• CSC is averaging 25.0 points per game with 153.3 passing and 149.6 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 302.9 yards of total offense through seven games. The Chadron State offense has scored nine touchdowns through the air and eight touchdowns on the ground this season.
• While the Eagles have used three different quarterbacks on a regular basis, the player to watch under center will be DJ Ralph who has played in five games this year. He has completed 61-of-93 passes for seven touchdowns and only two interceptions. Additionally, he adds 143 yards rushing and another three touchdowns on the ground.
• Jake Marschall has been the featured running back for Chadron State, carrying the ball 124 times for a net gain of 538 yards and three touchdowns.
• Hauling in a team-leading 241 yards receiving has been Jamahd Monroe, while another player to keep an eye on will be Grant Swenson who has tallied 198 yards receiving this year. Both Monroe and Swenson, in addition to Rollin George III, and Tommy Thomas have recorded two receiving touchdowns apiece.
• On the defensive side of the ball Chadron State has held their opponents to 15.4 points per game with 134.6 passing and 130.3 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 264.9 yards of total defense through seven games. CSC has tallied 428.0 tackles with 42.0 tackles-for-loss and 15.0 sacks. The Eagles defense has forced 12 turnovers this year, picking off nine passes and recovering three fumbles.
• Spearheading the Chadron State defense will be Reed Henkel at the linebacker position. In seven games he has totaled a team-leading 56.0 tackles to go along with 4.0 tackles-for-loss, one pass break-up, and one quarterback hurry. Other linebackers to be aware of include Logan O'Brien (47.0 tackles) and Xavier Harrell (46.0 tackles).
• The player to watch on the defensive line for the Eagles will be William Stemler, recording 31.0 tackles to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, and two pass break-ups.
• CSC is led by Dax Yeradi in the secondary as he has tallied a team-leading three interceptions to go along with 28.0 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and three pass break-ups. Additionally, Tucker Peterson has snagged two interceptions of his own.
• Former Black Hills State head coach, Jay Long, is in his 13^th season as the head coach at Chadron State and has posted a career record of 77-75 in 16 seasons overall between the two stops. 

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will mark the 12^th meeting between Black Hills State and Chadron State as RMAC on the gridiron, with the Eagles holding an 8-3 advantage in the series.
• With a 55-19 win at Lyle Hare Stadium on September 16, 2023, the Yellow Jackets extended their win streak to two games in the series.