SPEARFISH, S.D. – The 2024 slate for the Black Hills State University football team will begin at the friendly confines of Lyle Hare Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Yellow Jackets play host to Southwest Baptist. The non-conference affair will mark the first of two out of league contests to begin the season and the first of five home contests this fall. The action between BHSU and SBU gets underway with a 12 p.m. kick-off
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, September 7 at 12 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. – Lyle Hare Stadium
Jersey Day: Kids 12 and under who wear a football jersey or their BHSU camp t-shirt will gain free admission to today's game.
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State went 6-5 (5-4 RMAC) a year ago, tying for fourth place in the RMAC standings, which was the programs best league finish all-time since joining in 2012.
• The Yellow Jackets posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in their NCAA Division II era in 2022 and 2023, marking the first back-to-back winning seasons since the Yellow Jackets posted winning marks from 2005-10 as an NAIA school.
• Black Hills State was picked to finish fifth in the 2024 RMAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• BHSU returns eight student-athletes who earned All-RMAC honors last season, including All-RMAC Second Team selections Lovenski Simon (KR) and Derek Webster (P), and All-RMAC Honorable Mention selections Coleman Chapman (K), TJ Chukwurah (WR), Kellen Collier (DT), Doodles Quinones (S), Zecheriah Rodriguez-Brown (CB), and Aaron Thiele (LB)
• Chuckwurah looks to be a spark on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, following a stellar 2023 season where he ranked top-10 in the league and top-50 in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (783), receiving yards per game (72.2), and receiving touchdowns (7). Additionally, the Arlington, Texas, native ranked second nationally in 2023 with 23.73 yards per reception. Chukwurah enters the year with career marks of 48 receptions, 1,130 receiving yards, 51.36 receiving yards per game, and 11 receiving touchdowns.
• A very experience defense unit for the Green & Gold will be led by twin brothers Nicc Quinones and Doodles Quinones. The pair led the team with 62.0 and 52.0 total tackles respectively to lead the team and the six players who will return with 40.0 or more tackles from this past year.
• Other defensive returnees who look to make an immediate include Collier was a force on the defensive line who collected 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 sacks, while Rodriguez-Brown also made his presence known in the secondary with ten pass breakups.
• The Yellow Jackets ranked top-25 nationally in four statistical categories in 2023, ranking 13th in kickoff returns (24.08), 16th in team passing efficiency (158.72), 19th in red zone offense (0.872), and 20th in passing offense (252.8).
• Aaron Thiele was announced as the BHSU nominee for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy this past week, recognizing the nation's top individual that showcases academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
• Josh Breske enters his fifth season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 17-18 during his career. 

SOUTHWEST BAPTIST STORYLINES

• Southwest Baptist went 4-7 (3-4 GLVC) a year ago for a tie for fifth place in the GLVC standings.
• In August, the Bearcats were picked to finish fifth in the 2024 GLVC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll.
• The SBU offense will be led by returning All-GLVC Honorable Mention selection, Collin Sutton, at quarterback. He totaled 1,455 passing yards and ten touchdowns through the air a year ago, while also collected 358 yards rushing and another three touchdowns on the ground.
• The defense will be led Kellen Curtis, who topped the SBU defense with 54.0 total tackles a year ago along with 2.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. He'll be joined by All-GLVC Second Team selection Joshua Koranda who recorded 36.0 total tackles last season.
• The Bearcats' kicker, Logan Turner, was named the 2023 GLVC Special teams Playeer of the Year after leading all of NCAA Division II with 20 made field goals.
• Robert Clardy enters his tenth season as the head coach at Southwest Baptist and has guided the Bearcats to a 37-52 career record.

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will mark the second all-time meeting between Black Hills State and Southwest Baptist on the gridiron, with the Yellow Jackets holding the 1-0 lead in the series.
• BHSU earned the road victory last season in the first-ever meeting the programs, notching a 39-33 win in Bolivar, Missouri, last season on September 9, 2023.