SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University football team will play their final game of the 2024 season on the road on Saturday, November 16, as they visit New Mexico Highlands for a 12 p.m. kick-off at Sanchez Family Stadium. The Yellow Jackets will be seeking their third consecutive winning season, a feat yet to be accomplished in BHSU's DII era and not since 2005-10.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, November 16 at 12 p.m.
Location: Las Vegas, N.M. – Sanchez Family Stadium
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters Saturday's season finale with a record of 5-5 (4-4 RMAC), following a 45-3 senior day victory over Adams State last weekend.
• With the win over the Grizzlies the Yellow Jackets brought their home record to 4-1 on the year, matching the best home record in nearly two decades. The last BHSU teams to post a 4-1 home record during a season include the 2006 and 2007 squads.
• The Green & Gold look to secure their third consecutive winning season with a win over New Mexico Highlands. It would mark the first time since Black Hills State had six consecutive winning seasons from 2005-10.
• BHSU is averaging 23.1 points per game with 222.0 passing and 101.4 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 323.4 yards of total offense through ten games. The Yellow Jacket offense has scored 16 touchdowns through the air and 14 on the ground during the season.
• Luke Duby has been the primary quarterback for BHSU this season, completing 198-of-338 passes for 2,049 yards and 14 touchdowns while throwing eight interceptions. He has passed for 250 or more yards in four games this year, and tallied two or more touchdown passes in five games.
• Cameron Goods has been the featured running back in the Yellow Jacket backfield, rushing the ball for 448 yards and six touchdowns. Another player to keep an eye on is freshman Navarre Dixon III who has posted 217 yards and three of touchdowns.
• Dual threat quarterback Kade Weber has been able to provide a spark to the offense through the ground game, adding 193 yards and three touchdowns.
• Damien Boozer, Jayden Wiliams, Kelby Olson have been the top receivers for Black Hills State, as they have hauled in 445, 300, and 277 yards receiving respectively. The balanced air attack of the Yellow Jackets has resulted in ten different players recording a receiving touchdown, including a team-high of three for Williams and Olson.
• On the defensive side of the ball Black Hills State has held their opponents to 22.0 points per game with 227.5 passing and 77.0 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 304.5 yards of total defense through ten games. BHSU has tallied 615.0 tackles with 77.0 tackles-for-loss and 24.0 sacks. The Yellow Jacket defense has forced 15 turnovers this year, recovering seven fumbles and picking off eight passes.
• BHSU has won the turnover battle in five of their ten games this season, holding a 4-1 mark in those contests. The Yellow Jacket defense has forced two or more turnovers in five 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 70.0 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, four interceptions, four pass break-ups, and two quarterback hurries. He recorded a career-high of 12 tackles against the Hardrockers in a win for the Homestake Trophy and has reached double digit tackles in twice this year. He recorded his fourth interception of the year against Chadron State, and he remains tied for the RMAC lead and 18^th national in total interceptions. He picked up RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on October 28 following the BHSU win over CSC.
•  Another defensive back to keep an eye on is Zecheriah Rodriguez-Brown who has tallied 47.0 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack, eight pass break-ups, two interceptions, and one quarterback hurry.
• Leading BHSU from the linebacker position is Sebastian O'Farrell, who is second on the team with 61.0 tackles, while making 6.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass break-ups, and one quarterback hurry. His nine tackles against South Dakota Mines, Western Colorado, and Adams State marked a new career-high.
• Mylic Ritche has been the dominant force up front for the Yellow Jackets, tallying 48.0 tackles, 17.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, three pass break-ups, six quarterback hurries, three 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 22-23 during his career.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS STORYLINES

• New Mexico Highlands enters the regular season finale with a record of 2-8 (2-6 RMAC) following a 44-22 loss at Fort Lewis last weekend.
• The Cowboys are averaging 25.9 points per game with 177.2 passing and 207.0 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 384.2 yards of total offense through ten games. The NMHU offense has scored 21 touchdowns through the air and 15 on the ground.
• The primary quarterback for New Mexico Highlands is Joey Cave, who has completed 87-of-146 passes for 1,128 yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
• Tevita Valeti has been the featured running back for the Cowboys as he has recorded 873 yards this year and has found the end zone seven times.
• The top two targets in the passing game is Teneil Nichols and Mike Jones, who have recorded 729 and 403 receiving yards respectively for six and four touchdowns on the season.
• On the defensive side of the ball New Mexico Highlands has held their opponents to 43.7 points per game with 219.1 passing and 274.2 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 493.3 yards of total defense through ten games. NMHU has tallied 543.0 tackles with 28.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 sacks. The Cowboy's defense has forced ten turnovers this year, picking off five passes and recovering five fumbles.
• Spearheading the NMHU defense is linebacker Fabiano Valdez who has tallied 56.0 tackes and 2.5 tackles for loss this season. An additional linebacker to watch is Jagger Mosqueda who has notched 53.0 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass break-ups, and one forced fumble.
• The player to watch in the secondary for the Cowboys is Adrian Bonilla who has recorded 43.0 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sacks.
• Leading the defensive line will be Logan Duran, a freshman who has collected 21.0 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sack, to go along with one fumble recovery.
• Kurt Taufa'asau is in his first season as the head coach at New Mexico Highlands, guiding the Cowboys to a 2-8 record during his career.

SERIES HISTORY

• This will be the 12^th meeting between Black Hills State and New Mexico Highlands as RMAC members with the Yellow Jackets holding a 6-5 advantage in the series.
• BHSU secured the win at Lyle Hare Stadium last season by a score of 34-24 on October 7, 2023, snapping a 3-game win streak for NMHU.