SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University football team will play their final home game of the season on Saturday, November 9, as they look to remain hot at home and send the seniors out on top against Adams State. The Yellow Jackets and Grizzlies will kick-off at 1 p.m. at Lyle Hare Stadium.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. – Lyle Hare Stadium
Senior Day Recognition: The Black Hills State football program will recognize 20 seniors prior to the game at approximately 12:30, those student-athletes include Mylic Ritche, Deunte Moody, Zecheriah Rodriguez-Brown, Lovenski Simon, Ngankoy Mambele, Nasjzaé Bryant-Lelei, Connor Boyd, Kelby Olson, Nicc Quinones, Doodles Quinones, Aaron Thiele, Derek Webster, Jayden Marquez, Zaine Hood, Cameron Reiman, Elijah Moscinski, Nikolas Arnold, John Noordsy, Slater Macko, and Anthony Rosenstrauch.
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters Saturday's match-up with a record of 4-5 (3-4 RMAC), following a 23-13 loss at #RV/-- Colorado Mesa last weekend.
• With a win on senior day the Yellow Jackets can bring 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.
• BHSU is averaging 20.7 points per game with 223.2 passing and 92.9 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 316.1 yards of total offense through nine games. The Yellow Jacket offense has scored 12 touchdowns through the air and 12 on the ground during the season.
• Luke Duby has been the primary quarterback for BHSU this season, completing 180-of-308 passes for 1,872 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing six 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 431 yards and six touchdowns. Another player to keep an eye on is freshman Navarre Dixon III who has posted 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns
• Dual threat quarterback Kade Weber has been able to provide a spark to the offense through the ground game, adding 154 yards and three touchdowns.
• Damien Boozer, Connor Boyd, and Jayden Wiliams have been the top receivers for Black Hills State, as they have hauled in 445, 267, and 266 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 Williams.
• On the defensive side of the ball Black Hills State has held their opponents to 24.1 points per game with 240.4 passing and 82.1 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 322.6 yards of total defense through nine games. BHSU has tallied 545.0 tackles with 63.0 tackles-for-loss and 22.0 sacks. The Yellow Jacket defense has forced 13 turnovers this year, recovering seven fumbles and picking off six passes.
• BHSU has won the turnover battle in four of their nine games this season, holding a 3-1 mark in those contests. The Yellow Jacket defense has forced two or more turnovers in four 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 65.0 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss, four interceptions, three 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 14^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 44.0 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack, five pass break-ups and one quarterback hurry.
• Leading BHSU from the linebacker position is Sebastian O'Farrell, who is second on the team with 52.0 tackles, while making 4.5 tackles-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 43.0 tackles, 13.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass break-ups, two quarterback hurries, 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 21-23 during his career.

ADAMS STATE STORYLINES

• Adams State enters this week's RMAC game with an 0-9 (0-7 RMAC) record in 2024 following a 27-17 loss at home against Fort Lewis, extending their losing streak to 15 games dating back to October of 2023.
• ASU is averaging 14.6 points per game with 161.7 passing and 78.3 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 240.0 yards of total offense through nine games. The Grizzlies offense has scored eight touchdowns through the air and seven on the ground.
• Adams State has split time at quarterback this year, however the leader of the group is Chase Nelson who has played in seven games as he has completed 86-of-155 passing attempts for 943 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. The other quarterback to see considerable action this year is Alexander Grado as he has played in five games, completing 75-of-144 passing attempts, for 512 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.
• Ahmare Merrida has been the featured running back in the offense as he has carried the ball 93 times for 353 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
• Merrida has also made his presence known in the passing game as he leads the team with 37 receptions and 279 yards receiving. He's hauled in one touchdown reception.
• On the defensive side of the ball Adams State has held their opponents to 49.8 points per game with 231.7 passing and 287.8 rushing yards per game, accumulating an average of 519.4 yards of total defense through nine games. ASU has tallied 730.0 tackles with 50.5 tackles-for-loss and 10.0 sacks. The Grizzlies defense has forced 15 turnovers this year, picking off nine passes and recovering six fumbles.
• Spearheading the Adams State defense is linebacker Christian Toelei'u who has posted a team-high of 61.0 tackles while adding 4.0 tackles-for-loss and one interception.
• The player to watch in the secondary for the Grizzlies is Seth Shaw, a defensive back who has notched 51.0 total tackles to go along with 0.5 tackles-for-loss.
• There are two players who lead the team with a pair of interceptions and that includes Taraivian Denetso and Christopher Williams.
• On the defensive line Adams State is led by Aiden Shields who has recorded 34.0 total tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
• Jarrell Harrison is in his fourth season as the head coach at Adams State as he has guided the Grizzlies to a 6-36 record.

SERIES HISTORY

• Black Hills State and Adams State have met 12 times since the 2011 season and the Grizzlies hold the 7-5 advantage in the series.
• The Yellow Jackets recorded their third straight win and the fifth in the last seven meetings against the Grizzlies last season with a 35-28 victory at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish.