Black Hills State University Athletics

SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University football team fell in their final home game of the 2026 season on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 31-19 contest to Chadron State in the second annual Battle for the Buckle. The Yellow Jackets held a 17-14 lead at the halftime break on senior day, a day they recognized 11 graduates playing their final game at Lyle Hare Stadium; however, the Eagles outscored the Green & Gold 17-2 in the second half as they capitalized on three fourth quarter turnovers.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 19, Chadron State 31
Team Records: Black Hills State 5-5 (3-5 RMAC), Chadron State 5-5 (4-4 RMAC)
Attendance: 1,683
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Following punts on each of the first three possessions of the game, each team was able to put together a scoring drive midway through the opening quarter despite numerous stoppages for challenges and injuries. Chadron State was the first to find the end zone as they utilized a short field, gaining possession at the BHSU 32-yard line. They were able to move the ball into the red zone with a 10-yard reception to the right side of the field from Aidan Thompson to Richard Okuno, and three plays later Thompson found Parker Schwarting down the left sideline into the back corner of the end zone. The initial call on the field was overturned, as the Eagles challenged the ruling that Schwarting stepped out of bounds without being forced out. Then CSC ultimately went 2-for-2 on challenges, as they successfully challenged the ruling of a missed PAT by Shay Prichard to make it a 7-0 game with 8:21 to play in the opening half. The ensuing possession, the Yellow Jackets responded with a touchdown of their own, first moving the ball near midfield with a pair of first downs with a short 4-yard completion from Kade Weber to Jayden Williams and then a 2-yard rush by Weber on 3^rd and 2 to move the chains. Two plays later, Weber eluded pressure and found an open lane up the middle of the field for a 53-yard rushing touchdown, his longest of the season. Madden Aquino tacked on the extra point to tie the game at seven with 4:25 left on the first quarter clock.
• With a stop by Jayshon Liles on 3^rd and 4, the Black Hills State defense forced the Eagles off the field with a three and out, leading to a second consecutive scoring drive for the Green & Gold. Weber led the offense on a 12-play, 66-yard scoring drive that took 7:01 off the clock. BHSU picked up four first downs, moving the ball down to the CSC 10-yard line where Aquino split the uprights for a 27-yard field goal to give the Yellow Jackets a 10-7 lead with 11:07 to play in the second quarter.
• The defenses again forced punts on each team's next possession, before the Yellow Jackets and Eagles again answered one another with touchdown drives prior to the ending of the half. Chadron State first took 7:16 off the clock with a 12-play, 72-yard scoring drive as they utilized three plays of ten or more yards to move the ball. They moved the ball into the red zone with a 14-yard pass play from Thompson to Garet Schlabs to move the ball to the BHSU 18-yard line. Three plays later Thompson kept the ball on an option play and found space around the right edge to find the end zone. Prichard added the extra point to give CSC the 14-10 lead with 1:50 to play in the first half. Black Hills State's offense then responded, executing the 2-minute drill and going eight plays and 68 yards in just 1:28 to find the end zone. The first big play to spark the drive was an 11-yard pass across the middle of the field from Weber to Thomas Mabe for the first down to get the ball near midfield. Then the Yellow Jackets were aided by a pair of Eagle penalties for a quick 25 yards. After a quick 13-yard pass from Weber to Damien Boozer along the left sideline to move into the red zone to the CSC 18-yard line, it was only two plays later where Weber found Williams open across the middle of the field in the end zone for a touchdown. Aquino added the PAT to give Black Hills State the 17-14 advantage with 22 seconds to play and entering the halftime break.
• Of the four drives in the third quarter, three resulted in punts; however, the one drive that would not end in a punt was a quick 6-play, 83-yard drive that took just 3:00 off the clock and gave the Eagles the lead for good in the contest. Thompson completed passes of 22-yards to Camden Walker and 22-yards to Koye Gilbert. He capped the drive with a 25-yard passing touchdown down the right sideline to Walker. Prichard's extra point made it 21-17 with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter.
• Chadron State capitalized on the first of two fourth quarter turnovers to extend their lead. They gained control of the ball at the BHSU 20-yard line after picking off a pass; however, the Yellow Jacket defense stood their ground and held the Eagles to a 33-yard field goal by Prichard to make it a 24-17 game with 11:56 to play in the game.
• The ensuing drive Black Hills State was forced to punt; however, a 44-yard punt by Ryder Ferguson was downed inside the 1-yard line to flip the field. On the first play of the drive for Chadron State, Devon Rivers looked for a for a hole to run the ball out of the end zone, but Jack Gentile stopped him before he could break the goal line for a safety, making it a 24-19 game with 7:55 remaining on the clock.
• The Green & Gold were then set to receive the ball following the safety, but the Eagles made a play as Noah Shoemaker's hit forced a fumble and Ty Young recovered the ball at the BHSU 32-yard line. CSC again capitalized on the turnover and pushed their lead to two possessions as Daytuawn Pearson ran the ball to the right pylon for the touchdown. Prichard made the score 31-19 with 3:20 remaining.
• The Black Hills State offense picked up another pair of first downs with a 10-yard pass from Weber to Williams and a 14-yard rush by Weber to move the ball to the BHSU 44-yard line. The drive ultimately came to an end as the Eagles forced a third turnover with a fumble recovery, allowing them to kneel out the clock as they took over possession with 1:27 on the clock.

FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS


BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kade Weber: 15-26, 128 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 12 rushes, 61 net rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Danny Davis: 20 rushes, 65 net rushing yards
Bryce Coulson: 3 rushes, 31 net rushing yards, 4 receptions, 35 receiving yards, 1 kickoff return, 42 kickoff return yards, 2 punt returns, 16 punt return yards
Jayden Williams: 7 receptions, 54 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Jack Gentile: 8 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss
Jacob Nelson: 8 total tackles
Cort Catlin: 8 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State is set to play their final game of the 2026 season on Saturday, November 14, as they visit Colorado Mesa for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Ralph Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Colorado. The game will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network and on KDSJ Radio.
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