SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University football team opened the 2024 season with a hard fought 24-14 victory over Southwest Baptist on Saturday afternoon.
After the Bearcats took the opening kick-off back for a touchdown the Yellow Jackets maintained their composure and took control of the game in the second and third quarters as they took advantage of SBU miscues and timely penalties.
QUICK DETAILS
core: Black Hills State 24, Southwest Baptist 14
Team Records: Black Hills State 1-0, Southwest Baptist 0-1
Attendance: 2,751
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Southwest Baptist would throw the first punch of the game as Calvin Griffin Jr. took the opening kick-off 98 yards to the house, giving the Bearcats a 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the contest following the extra point.
- Neither offense was able to gain any traction the remainder of the first quarter, and it wasn’t until midway through the second that Luke Duby and the Black Hills State offense took advantage of a pair of pass interference calls as well as a defensive holding. On a 1st & 10 from the SBU 33-yard line, Duby rolled out to his left with plenty of time to throw and found Connor Boyd in the end zone for the first Yellow Jacket touchdown of the season. Coleman Chapman added the extra point to tie the game at seven apiece with 2:57 to play in the first half.
- The Bearcats moved the ball into BHSU territory in the final two minutes of the first half, however the Yellow Jackets would force a turnover on downs as a pass from Collin Sutton went over the outstretched hands of Avery Lambert who was open in the right flat.
- Black Hills State had one final opportunity to take the lead entering the halftime break, as Kelby Olson caught a 12 yard pass from Duby to get the drive moving forwards as the clock ticked down to 12 seconds remaining. Another pass interference call against SBU gave BHSU a free play with no time left on the clock, setting up a 57 yard field goal attempt from Chapman which ultimately fell just short.
- Solid pass defense by Lovenski Simon secured another 4th Down stop for the Yellow Jackets as Southwest Baptist had moved into plus territory early in the third quarter. Following the defensive stop, BHSU came up with another big play in the passing game, as Duby found TJ Chukwurah down the middle of the field on a 3rd & 12 from their own 38-yard line and resulted in a 61-yard pass play as Chuckwurah was caught from behind at the SBU 1 yard line. Cameron Goods then barreled through the line for a one yard touchdown to give BHSU the 14-7 lead after the PAT with 7:05 left in the third quarter.
- Another big play by the Yellow Jacket defense came the very next possession as Nicc Quinones made a diving interception halting a Bearcat drive on the move. The ensuing offensive drive Duby once again moved the offense into the red zone with a 25 yard pass to Jayden Williams. The drive ultimately ended with a 33 yard field goal by Chapman splitting the uprights to extend the BHSU lead to 17-7 with 1:22 left in the third.
- Southwest Baptist responded quickly to end the third quarter as Sutton found Jordan Kent in the end zone with a pair of Yellow Jacket defenders covering him. The PAT made it a 17-14 contest entering the fourth quarter.
- Black Hills State put the final score of the game on the board during the first possession of the fourth quarter as Duby found Olson in the back of the end zone to push the lead to 24-14 following Chapman’s PAT with 10:23 remaining in the game.
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Luke Duby: 22-36, 264 yards passing, 2 touchdowns
Damien Boozer: 3 receptions, 78 yards
Connor Boyd: 4 receptions, 55 yards, 1 touchdown
Kelby Olson: 5 receptions, 30 yards, 1 touchdown
Mylic Ritche: 6 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack
Nicc Quinones: 3 tackles, 1 interception
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will hit the road for the first time this season next week when they close out non-conference action at St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. It will be the second consecutive season that the Yellow Jackets will compete against the NCAA Division I FCS foe at O’Shaughnessy Stadium, as the teams will kick-off at 12 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. CST.
