SPEARFISH, S.D. - The offenses were firing on all cylinders on Saturday afternoon as Black Hills State and Dakota State combined for more than, 1,000 yards of total offense; however, it would be the Yellow Jackets coming away with the 44-31 victory over their long time SDIC and DAC rivals in Dakota State. For the Green & Gold it was the first time since a September 16, 2023, victory over Chadron State, that the offense accumulated both 300 yards or more passing and 200 yards or more of rushing in the same game, as the balanced attack passed the ball for 322 yards and ran the ball for 211 yards for 533 total yards and an average of 8.3 yards per play. The game marked the seventh straight for BHSU over DSU and their fourth consecutive win overall dating back to last season as they begin the year 2-0 for the first time since 2022, while it ended the longest winning streak since 1991 for the Trojans at six games.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 44, Dakota State 31
Team Records: Black Hills State 2-0 (0-0 RMAC), Dakota State 1-1 (0-0 FC)
Attendance: 2,763
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With complete confidence in their offense, Black Hills State won the toss and elected to receive, setting up their second consecutive game with an opening drive touchdown. The big play on the drive came as Kade Weber found Jayden Williams across the middle of the field for a 35-yard play, which saw him fumble the ball at the DSU 28-yard line and Joseph Randle follow up the play, secure the fumble and take it down to the DSU 20-yard line. The ensuing play then saw a 12-yard pass across the middle from Weber to Damien Boozer set up first and goal from the 8-yard line, and two plays later Weber capped the drive with his third rushing touchdown of the year to make it a 7-0 ball game after Madden Aquino's extra point with 10:56 to play in the first quarter.
- On their first drive of the game, Dakota State moved the ball into Yellow Jacket territory with a 24-yard pass from Tray Hettick to Preston Iverson; however, the BHSU defense would go on to force a turnover on downs at the BHSU 33-yard line as Kaleb Tulloss provided pressure on Hettick.
- All the Black Hills State offense needed on their second drive of the game was just one play, as Weber found Williams across the middle once again, this time for a 67-yard touchdown pass with 7:36 to play in the opening quarter. Aquino added the extra point to make it a 14-0 ball game out of the gates.
- Following a Trojan punt and a Yellow Jacket turnover on downs, the DSU offense would find the scoreboard in the closing minute of the first quarter. Dakota State moved the ball into the red zone with a 21-yard pass play from Hettick to Maddox Kihne, and then two plays later Hettick found Melek Ford in the back left corner of the end zone to make it a 14-6 game with 43 seconds on the clock following the missed PAT by Malte Hamann.
- The Black Hills State offense then again continued to move the ball down the field the ensuing drive by consistent gains of five or more yards. The Yellow Jackets moved the ball into the red zone with a 15-yard pass from Weber to Chase Lofton to get the ball to the DSU 18-yard line, and then the drive was capped by the first collegiate rushing touchdown by Wyatt Trembly from 18-yards out with 12:34 to play in the second quarter. Aquino again added the PAT to make it a 21-6 game.
- The second quarter ended with another four straight scoring drives, two from each squad, and starting with a quick 3-play, 75-yard drive by Dakota State as Hettick found Ford once again for a 35-yard passing touchdown into the right corner of the end zone. Hamann then added the extra point to make it a 21-13 contest. Black Hills State answered with a 26-yard pass from Weber to Marcus Jones setting up first and goal following a penalty and leading to a 27-yard field goal from Aquino to make it 24-13 BHSU with 7:42 left on the clock. Dakota State's passing attack continued to chip away at the Yellow Jacket lead on their final possession of the first half, utilizing a 24-yard pass from Hettick to Tim Halbur and a 16-yard pass from Hettick to Ford to set up a third first half touchdown pass from Hettick to Ford for 29-yards and six points to cut their deficit to 24-19 with 3:26 remaining after a failed 2-point conversion that saw Jacob Nelson intercept Hettick's pass intended for Iverson and returned it to the DSU 26-yard line. A 24-yard pass from Weber to Randle on the first play of the final drive of the half moved the ball to midfield, and an additional three plays of ten or more yards set up a 31-yard field goal from Aquino to make it a 27-19 game at the half.
- The scoring continued into the third quarter with scoring drives by both teams on their opening possessions and extending the scoring to eight consecutive drives. The Trojans continued to pass the ball down the field with three plays of 10-15 yards moving the ball into Yellow Jacket territory, before their longest rushing play of the season capped the drive with a 45-yard rushing touchdown up the middle by Trajan Davis. A missed extra point from Hamann kept the score at 27-25 with 11:31 to play in the third quarter. Aided by a personal foul and targeting call, Weber and Williams connected for their second passing touchdown of the day, this one a pass into the left flat that saw Williams find space along the sideline for a 27-yard touchdown. Aquino's extra point made it 34-25 Black Hills State with 8:23 to play in the third quarter.
- An unforced fumble and a false start derailed the ensuing Trojan drive, leading to a punt which Black Hills State took advantage of immediately. On the first play of the drive Weber tossed a backwards pass to Bryce Coulson who came in motion across to the right side of the field, found blocks along the sideline and sprinted 57-yards into the end zone for a touchdown to make it 41-25 following Aquino's PAT with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
- DSU answered one final time in the third quarter, scoring on the longest drive of the day that lasted 14 plays and 5:40 of game time as the Trojans marched 75 yards down the field, capped with a fourth and final passing touchdown from Hettick to Ford on a 6-yard slant route into the middle of the end zone to make it 41-31 with 31 seconds on the clock. DSU went for two to try and make it a one possession game; however, Terrence Curtis picked off the pass intended for Oliver Wirth and returned it to midfield. After a pair of penalties forced Dakota State to kickoff from their own 10-yard line, Coulson set up the offense at their own 42-yard line following a 16-yard return, but the BHSU offense would be forced to punt the ball for the first time on the afternoon.
- The Black Hills State defense returned the favor by forcing a three and out, the third of the day for the Dakota State offense and set up the offense from their own 29-yard line for their final scoring drive of the day. Marcus Jones sparked the drive with back-to-back first down rushes of 12 and ten yards respectively around the right side. The drive would stall at the DSU 28-yard line, bringing Aquino onto the field to split the uprights on a 45-yard field goal to make it 44-31 with 7:35 to play in the game.
- Jayshon Liles gave the BHSU defense a spark as the Trojans drove the ball into Yellow Jacket territory. After DSU moved the ball to the BHSU 22-yard line, Liles sacked Hettick for a loss of 11 yards, and then three plays later he recorded a sack fumble, swiping the ball out of Hettick's hands and Jacob Nelson recovered it at the BHSU 24-yard line for the lone turnover of the contest with 5:19 to play.
- Black Hills State's final drive of the game resulted in just their second punt of the day and brought the Dakota State offense onto the field one final time which saw them run out the clock after a pair of 17-yard passes and rushes of 11 and 15 yards.
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kade Weber: 21-of-30 passing, 322 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 6 rushes, 31 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Bryce Coulson: 1 rush, 57 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 3 kickoff returns, 88 kickoff return yards, 29.3 yards per kickoff return
Jayden Williams: 12 receptions, 205 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
Jayshon Liles: 8 total tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Jacob Nelson: 8 total tackles, 1 fumble recovery
UP NEXT
Black Hills State looks to continue a strong start to the 2026 season as they jump into RMAC play next Saturday, September 12, by hosting Adams State for a 1 p.m. Hero's Game at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish. The game will be streamed live on the RMAC Network with radio coverage on KDSJ radio.
