GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Black Hills State University football team fell in a defensive battle to Colorado Mesa on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 23-13 contest at Ralph Stocker Stadium. The Yellow Jackets were held 163 yards below their season average of total offensive yardage, while the Mavericks were held 92 yards below their season average, as the teams combined for 18 punts in the contest. Despite never trailing and seeing their lead trimmed to seven in the closing minutes of the third quarter, CMU pushed the game out of reach with a 46-yard rushing touchdown and a safety in the fourth quarter before a last minute BHSU touchdown.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 13, #RV/-- Colorado Mesa 23
Team Records: Black Hills State 4-5 (3-4 RMAC), #RV/-- Colorado Mesa 7-2 (6-1 RMAC)
Attendance: 2,873
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The defenses shined early in the contest as they combined to force four punts and one turnover within the first nine minutes of action. Colorado Mesa was the first team to breakthrough on the scoreboard as they scored on a 10-play, 62-yard drive that spanned 4:48 of game time as they capped it with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Liu Aumavae to Trevin Edwards with 1:08 remaining in the opening quarter. The Mavericks made it 7-0 as Coby May added the extra point.
• Once again, the defenses held each offense at bay during the second quarter as Black Hills State managed only 49 total yards in the period, averaging 2.7 yards per play, compared to just 36 yards for Colorado Mesa as they averaged 2.6 yards per play. The only drive that resulted in any momentum was the Yellow Jackets second drive of the second quarter, which resulted in a pair of first downs to bring them down to the CMU 37-yard line, including a 20-yard pass play from Kade Weber to Cameron Goods, but it would end in one of the seven punts during the frame.
• Colorado Mesa took advantage of BHSU's second turnover of the contest on their opening drive of the third quarter, a fumble which gave the Mavericks possession in the red zone with 10:19 left in the period. CMU extended their lead to 14-0 with 6:56 on the clock as Aumavae completed a 2-yard pass to Sam Horneck and May added the PAT.
• Black Hills State forced the first Colorado Mesa turnover of the game late in the third quarter as Doodles Quinones jarred the ball lose from Kash Bradley on a punt return and Maliik Edwards recovered on the CMU 7-yard line. The Yellow Jackets then cashed in as Weber ran the ball in from 1-yard out around the right side with 1:29 left in the period and Ryan Ewing added the extra point to make it a 14-7 game.
• The longest play from scrimmage in the game came from Colorado Mesa's Brandon Belgrave found a hole up the middle and took the ball 46-yards to the house to add to the Maverick lead with 11:34 remaining in the game. May once again added the PAT to make it a 21-7 advantage.
• Starting the ensuing drive at their own 11-yard line, the Yellow Jacket offense once again faced the pressure of the Maverick defensive line that recorded five sacks on the day, however this time as Weber scrambled after a bad snap he was unable to get the ball out of the end zone and his pass fell short of the line of scrimmage for an intentional grounding penalty resulting in a CMU safety to make it a 23-7 score.
• In the closing seconds of the game Black Hills State capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive that spanned 2:09 of game time as Weber tossed his first career touchdown pass to Damien Boozer, a 2-yard pass to the right pylon with 12 seconds remaining. BHSU attempted to go for two and make it a one possession game, however Weber's pass to Boozer was picked off to keep the score 23-13.

BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kade Weber: 14-of-21 passing, 85 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 16 rushing attempts, 36 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Damien Boozer: 5 receptions, 20 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Cole Marquez: 10 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 quarterback hurry
Nicc Quinones: 9 tackles, 1 quarterback hurry
Doodles Quinones: 7 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
Sebastian O'Farrell: 6 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will play their final home game of the season at Lyle Hare Stadium next Saturday, November 9, when they host Adams State for a 1 p.m. kick-off for senior day.
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