SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University football team capped another successful season in the friendly confines of Lyle Hare Stadium on Saturday afternoon as they secured their third consecutive winning season at home and their best record at home since the 2007 season with a commanding 45-3 victory over Adams State. The Yellow Jackets had to overcome a slow start as the Grizzlies hung around and kept the game close, but a blocked punt and a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half was all BHSU needed to ignite a spark. The Green & Gold then eventually came out of the locker room and created the separation they needed with 14 third quarter points and 21 fourth quarter points en route to their largest victory since a 2022 victory over Fort Lewis (75-0).
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 45, Adams State 3
Team Records: Black Hills State 5-5 (4-4 RMAC), Adams State 0-10 (0-8 RMAC)
Attendance: 531
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• During both of the Black Hills State drives in the first quarter the Yellow Jackets drove the ball into Adams State territory, however the Grizzlies were able to end the scoring threats with a pair of turnovers as they recorded an interception and fumble recovery.
• BHSU made up for a holding penalty that took a 79-yard punt return touchdown by Connor Boyd off the board early in the second quarter as the offense drove the ball 80 yards in six plays and 3:27 of game time. After an unnecessary roughness and pass interference penalty by ASU moved the ball across midfield for Black Hills State, an 18-yard rush by Kade Weber put the Yellow Jackets in the red zone for the first time on the afternoon, setting up a 1^st & 10 at the ASU 12-yard line. The ensuing play Luke Duby found Luseni Fifita in the end zone for the wide receivers first career touchdown with 8:21 left in the quarter. Ryan Ewing tacked on the extra point to make it a 7-0 ball game.
• After seeing Adams State pick up a first down with a 10-yard pass play from Rudy Gonzales to Aaron Johnson, the Black Hills State defense put a quick stop to the drive as a few plays later Zecheriah Rodriguez-Brown snatched his first interception of the day when he made a diving catch just across midfield at the BHSU 45-yard line with 5:27 left in the second quarter.
• Adams State crossed midfield for just the second time in the contest up to that point in the closing minutes of the first half when they got the ball to the BHSU 31-yard line. Rodriguez-Brown made another big play in the secondary when he broke-up a deep pass from Gonzales to Damon Bell down the left sideline at the goal line, forcing the Grizzlies to settle for a field goal. Brysen Gardner set up for a 48-yard field goal, however his kick attempt fell short with 1:49 left on the clock.
• The momentum began to shift in the game in the closing seconds of the half when Hayden Umble blocked an Adams State punt and Wes Koenig recovered the ball at the ASU 9-yard line to give Black Hills State a 1^st & Goal opportunity with eight seconds left on the clock. A quick pass from Duby to Kelby Olson moved the ball up to the ASU 4-yard line before a BHSU timeout with two seconds left. Out of the huddle the field goal unit took the field and Ewing converted on a 22-yard field goal to give the Yellow Jackets a 10-0 advantage entering the break.
• After winning the coin toss and defering till the second half at the beginning of the contest the Grizzlies would receive the ball to start the third quarter. Starting ASU quarterback, Gonzales, would exit the game on the 3^rd & 13 play after taking a hit on the previous snap, so wide receiver, Bell, would go under center for the play and watch his pass get intercepted by Rodriguez-Brown who made his second pick of the game. Off the turnover BHSU would get the ball on the BHSU 36-yard line.
• Despite not being able to take advantage of the turnover the previous drive, the Yellow Jacket offense began to hit their stride midway through the third quarter as they would go on to score on five of their next six possessions of the contest. The first touchdown of the second half came with 8:14 left in the third as Duby found Olson for a 4-yard touchdown pass in the left flat, following a 28-yard connection from Duby to Ashar Granger to set up the offense inside the 5-yard line. Ewing added the extra point to make it a 17-0 game.
• The lone Adams State points of the match-up came as the result of a 16-play drive that went 66 yards over the course of 4:53. The Grizzlies were aided by three critical Yellow Jacket penalties that extended the drive, one occurring on fourth down and the other two on 3^rd Down and long situations. Dalan Kennedy and Nicc Quinones made tackles on back-to-back plays once ASU moved inside the 10-yard line, helping force Adams State to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Gardner that split the uprights with 3:21 left on the third quarter clock to trim the BHSU lead to 17-3.
• A 49-yard kick-off return gave Black Hills State the ball near midfield the very next possession and Navarre Dixon III did the rest as he rattled off carries of 36 yards, 7 yards, and 8 yards to find the end zone and push the lead to 24-3 following the Ewing extra point with 1:59 left in the quarter.
• After an interception on BHSU's first drive of the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets scored their first of three fourth quarter touchdowns the ensuing drive. Setting up Black Hills State at the ASU 20-yard line was Boyd who recorded a 22-yard punt return, and the very next play Duby found Granger cutting across the middle of the field for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Ewing once again added the extra point to make it a 31-3 game with 11:23 remaining in the contest.
• A turnover on downs for the Grizzlies allowed the Yellow Jackets to start their next drive in plus territory and Nasjzaé Bryant-Lelei capped the drive with rushes of 10 yards and 4 yards to find the end zone for the first time in his BHSU career with 6:14 left on the clock. Ewing tacked on another extra point to make it a 38-3 ball game.
• Another solid punt return of 23 yards for Boyd gave Black Hills State the ball near midfield to set up their final scoring drive of the afternoon. The big chunk play of the possession was a 28-yard pass from Kade Weber to Wyatt Trembly down the right sideline and then two plays later Weber passed the ball back across the field on an RPO, finding John Noordsy with no one around him in the left corner of the end zone with 2:28 remaining in the game. Ewing's final extra point pushed the Yellow Jacket lead to 45-3.

BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Luke Duby: 18-30, 177 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns
Navarre Dixon III: 4 rushing attempts, 55 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 13.8 yards per rush
Ashar Granger: 2 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Sebastian O'Farrell: 9 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks
Mylic Ritche: 4 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries
Zecheriah Rodriguez-Brown: 3 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 pass break-ups
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will conclude the 2024 season next weekend when they visit New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, November 16. The Yellow Jackets and Cowboys are slated for a 12 p.m. kick-off at Sanchez Family Stadium in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
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