SPEARFISH, S.D. – Black Hills State football fell to the Hardrockers, 13-10 in the 136th Black Hills Brawl Saturday afternoon at Lyle Hare Stadium
The Yellow Jackets (4-5, 2-5 RMAC) had a strong defensive showing, totaling three turnovers, including two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
BHSU had four different players with double-digit tackles, led by Ryder Blair with 18.
Aaron Thiele finished with 14 tackles, while Doodles Quinones had 11 and Lathen Stevens had 10.
Stevens also hauled in one interception on the day, and Lovenski Simon had the other.
As expected, both teams battled hard in the opening half, specifically both defenses, as the game was held scoreless until the closing minutes of the second quarter. After each starting with 3-and-outs, both offenses struggled to get anything going, each ending the first quarter with only two first downs each.
That trend would continue into the second half. South Dakota Mines got themselves into field goal range, but would miss their second of the game at 8:49. The Hardrockers eventually struck first, finding the endzone at 3:10 to take a 7-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets would answer before halftime, however, putting together an eight play, 52-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to McKibbin to even the game at 7-7 going into the break.
Midway through the third with SDM driving, a costly fumble at the BHSU 11-yard line was picked up by defensive lineman, Aric Eades and returned 71 yards to the SD Mines 16-yard line. A few plays later, the Yellow Jackets pulled in front 10-7 on a Jacob Parks 28-yard field goal.
SDM came out to open the fourth quarter with a field goal of their own, connecting on a 41-yard attempt to tie the game at 10-all.
Both defenses held tough over the next several possessions, until the Hardrockers took a 13-10 lead on another field goal, this one for 27 yards with under five minutes left to play.
A big interception by Lathan Stevens with 2:49 to go gave the Yellow Jackets a late chance to re-tie the game, but SDM would return the favor a few plays later to seal the game.
