SPEARFISH, S.D. – The defense flexed their muscles on Tuesday afternoon at Lyle Hare Stadium in the 2025 edition of the Black Hills State football spring game, securing a 50-20 victory over the offense. Of the 17 drives on the day, the defense forced a total of nine three and outs with the help of the pressure of the defensive line, while also adding a pair of forced turnovers as Avant Wright and Chase Stewart notched interceptions. The offense built momentum late as Jake Blair led three scoring drives that resulted in two field goals and one touchdown, and Luke Duby led one touchdown drive.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Defense def. Offense, 50-20
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The offense started the game with a bang as TJ Chukwurah came across in motion and took a shovel pass from Luke Duby 32 yards into plus territory, however, the defense was quick to regroup as Beto Ledezma was able to defend a pass intended for TJ Salmen to force a punt give them a 3-0 advantage.
• The defense continued to gain momentum the next drive as incoming transfer Herschel Craig was able to record a 6-yard loss as he wrapped up Jake Blair who kept the ball on an option play. The defense secured four more points as Dalan Kennedy also found his way into the backfield to get the sack back at the 12-yard line. The three and out would be the first of three consecutive as the defense built a 15-0 lead.
• With Duby taking the snaps on the fifth drive of the game, the offense picked up a pair of first downs on an 11-yard pass to Cameron Goods and a 21-yard passing play to Navarre Dixon III on back-to back plays as they moved the chains for the first time since the opening drive. The drive unfortunately came to a halt a few plays later as a miscommunication on the hand off led to Rune Tepolt stopping Duby in the backfield for a loss of four yards and a stop for the defense.
• The ensuing drive began the same way the previous ended as Tepolt recorded a tackle-for-loss as he stopped Goods ten yards behind the line and a couple plays later Craig notched a sack as he stopped Blair nine yards behind the line of scrimmage for another three and out. It would be the first of four consecutive three and outs for the defense as they built a 34-0 advantage as the line continued to get constant pressure in the backfield.
• Blair would go on to lead the first scoring drive of the day for the offense, starting the possession with a first down as he found Charlie Bump on a 15-yard out route on the right side of the field. Two plays later Wyatt Trembly kept the chains moving as he powered his way through defenders and gaining enough yardage around the right side. The Yellow Jacket offense moved into 1^st & Goal territory as Blair completed a pass to Kelby Olson at the 10-yard line. The offense would then stall out the next two plays following a first down play that saw Craig stuff Dixon in the backfield for an 8-yard loss. Ryan Ewing came on and converted a 34-yard field goal to make it 34-3.
• The Black Hills State offense saw what looked to be a second and short situation after Damien Boozer took a shovel pass for a 7-yard gain, turn into third and long after a penalty and incompletion the next drive. Duby would look to throw it deep to pick up the first down, however, the BHSU defense notched their first turnover as Avant Wright secured an interception inside the 20-yard line.
• The defense's momentum continued following the interception by Wright as they forced their eighth three and out of the afternoon, followed by their second forced turnover. After the offense moved the ball into the red zone, Duby looked for Chukwurah in the back right corner of the end zone, but Chase Stewart would rip the ball out of his hands for the second interception of the day as the defense took a 46-3 lead.
• The offense started to find their footing late in the contest, scoring on three consecutive drives. Building the momentum, Blair led his second scoring drive of the day that resulted in a field goal as the offense took advantage of a penalty. Ewing would split the uprights for a 45-yard field goal to cap the drive.
• With a 13-yard completion from Duby to Bump on third and long, the Yellow Jacket offense moved the chains to extend the drive. They then added another pair of first downs with a 12-yard carry by Dixon and a scramble by Duby for four yards. The first touchdown of the day came as Duby found Salmen in the left flat, who then proceed to do the rest for a 29-yard touchdown reception. Ewing added the extra point to make it a 46-13 game.
• Blair led the final touchdown drive of the afternoon, setting up the score with a 44-yard completion to Olson at the 19-yard line to move the offense into the red zone. After a 5-yard penalty, the Yellow Jackets capitalized as Blair found Bryce Swanson cutting across the hash marks for a 24-yard touchdown reception. Ewing tacked on the PAT to make it 46-20.
• The final drive of the day swung the direction of the defense as they tallied their ninth three and out of the game to earn the 50-20 win. The offense made it fourth and short with a 5-yard scramble by Duby and a 3-yard reception by TJ Mabe, but the game came to a close as Swanson was unable to gain any yardage on a reception in the right flat.

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UP NEXT
The Black Hills State football team returns to action in the fall with a week 0 contest, renewing an in-state rivalry with Sioux Falls on Thursday, August 28, at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish.