SPEARFISH, S.D. - The (RV) Black Hills State University football team remained unbeaten on Saturday afternoon, winning their RMAC opener in dominant fashion against Adams State by a score of 44-8 at Lyle Hare Stadium. With the help of two early touchdowns by the defense, the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first half and have yet to trail through three games this season. Leading the way to the victory, the BHSU defense stifled the rushing attack of the Grizzlies, limiting a team that entered averaging 324.5 yards per game to just 123 yards and 3.0 yards per carry while forcing a pair of fumbles.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 44, Adams State 8
Team Records: Black Hills State 3-0 (1-0 RMAC), Adams State 0-3 (0-1 RMAC)
Attendance: 1,782
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With the defense forcing a three and out on the first drive of the game for Adams State, Black Hills State responded and took advantage of receiving the ball in plus territory thanks to a 24-yard punt return by Gavin Porch. Kade Weber then moved the Yellow Jackets 43 yards down the field in eight plays and 4:10 of game time for their third consecutive game with an opening drive touchdown. The drive was capped by the first touchdown of the season by Danny Davis, carrying the ball seven yards into the end zone with 9:09 to play. Madden Aquino tacked on the extra point to make it a 7-0 game.
- The ensuing drive the Yellow Jacket defense forced their first turnover of the match-up as Jeramiah Singleton punched the ball out of the hands of Adams State running back Andre Branch, and Jacob Nelson scooped the ball up at the 15-yard line en route to the end zone with 7:01 to play. Aquino's extra point made the score 14-0.
- Following giving up the turnover, the Grizzly offense picked up a pair of first downs, however, the BHSU defense again held strong as Singleton and Caden Stansbury stuffed Gabriel McFarland at the line of scrimmage on 4th and 1 at the Black Hills State 38-yard line for a turnover on downs.
- Early in the second quarter, the Black Hills State defense scored their second touchdown of the game as Joshua Faulkner intercepted Jett Lewis at the ASU 19-yard line and returned the ball 19 yards for a pick-6 to add to the lead with 10:29 remaining on the clock. Aquino added the PAT to make it a 21-0 ball game.
- The ensuing drive the Yellow Jacket defense forced their third turnover of the first half, as the Grizzlies looked to move the ball across midfield, Jayshon Liles swiped the ball out of the hands of Lewis and Stansbury pounced on the ball at the 50-yard line. The offense would convert the turnover into points as the drive began with Weber giving Jayden Williams a touch pass as he came across the field in motion and gained 24 yards down the left sideline. The drive would then end with a 39-yard field goal by Aquino making the score 24-0 with 4:33 to play till halftime.
- A change at quarterback for ASU sparked the lone scoring drive of the contest for the Grizzlies as Khalil Abdul-Aziz guided the offense 75 yards in 6 plays and 2:40 of game time. He capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Max Minor with 1:53 remaining on the second quarter clock. They then faked the PAT and converted the 2-point conversion with a pass to Kayden LaFramboise in the right corner of the end zone to make the score 24-8.
- The Yellow Jackets moved the ball down the field one final time in the first half, including passes of 14 yards from Weber to Porch and 12 yards from Weber to Joseph Randle to set up a field goal attempt in the final minute. Aquino's field goal from 36-yards out ultimately was blocked at the line of scrimmage by LaFramboise with 36 seconds remaining to keep the score 24-8 at the break.
- Following punts on each team's opening possession of the second half, Black Hills State added touchdowns on their final two drives of the third quarter. First, starting with a short field once again with the drive beginning at midfield, Marcus Jones rallied off runs of 11 and 12 yards to help move the ball inside the ASU 10-yard line. The Yellow Jackets then punched the ball into the end zone on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line on a rushing touchdown by Luke Schmitz with 3:18 to play in the quarter. Aquino added the extra point to make it 31-8. Black Hills State then needed just two plays to score on their ensuing drive as Weber found Randle in the right flat for a 73-yard receiving touchdown with just five seconds to play in the third quarter. Aquino again added the extra point to make it a 38-8 contest.
- The Black Hills State defense forced back-to-back turnover on downs to begin the fourth quarter, first with a sack by Liles and Cort Catlin at the ASU 41-yard line and then the secondary shut down the Grizzly receivers and forced three consecutive incomplete passes from Abdul-Aziz for the change in possession at the ASU 32-yard line.
- Kaden Box led his first touchdown drive as a Yellow Jacket midway through the fourth quarter as he capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to an open Josh Dunn in the end zone with 5:27 remaining in the game. The score would stay 44-8 as Aquino missed the extra point.
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kade Weber: 14-of-22, 193 passing yards,1 passing touchdown
Marcus Jones: 9 rushes, 35 rushing yards
Joseph Randle: 3 receptions, 91 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Jacob Nelson: 7 total tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 touchdown
Erik Salmen: 7 total tackles
Caden Stansbury: 7 total tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss, 1 fumble recovery
Joshua Faulkner: 1 interception, 1 touchdown
UP NEXT
(RV) Black Hills State continues RMAC play next weekend, making the journey south to Las Vegas, New Mexico, for a 12 p.m. match-up at Sanchez Family Stadium against New Mexico Highlands. The game will be streamed live on the RMAC Network and broadcast on KDSJ Radio.
