September 5, 2026
SPEARFISH, S.D. — NAIA's nationally ranked No. 25 Dakota State (S.D.) piled up 480 yards of total offense and pulled within two points early in the third quarter Saturday afternoon, but NCAA Division II Black Hills State (S.D.) answered with a pair of touchdowns and held off the Trojans 44-31 at Lyle Hare Stadium.
The loss dropped Dakota State to 1-1 overall. Black Hills State, a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), improved to 2-0. The game was played in front of 2,763 fans with the temperature reaching 90 degrees.
It was the first meeting between both teams since Oct. 2, 2010, in Spearfish. Both teams were former members of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) and Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC).
How it happened
Black Hills State struck first, marching 75 yards on eight plays on the opening possession. Kade Weber capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead, following Madden Aquino's PAT extra point kick with eleven minutes and eleven seconds on the clock.
The Yellow Jackets doubled their advantage after Dakota State turned the ball over on downs at the BHSU 33-yard line. On the next snap, Weber connected with Jayden Williams for a 67-yard touchdown, pushing the hosts' lead to 14-0 after Aquino's successful PAT extra point kick with 7:36 on the clock in the first quarter.
Dakota State responded late in the opening quarter.
Tray Hettick connected with
Melek Ford for a 14-yard touchdown with 43 seconds remaining, trimming Black Hills State's lead to 14-6.
Black Hills State extended its lead to 21-6 when Wyatt Trembly scored on an 18-yard run with 12:34 remaining in the second quarter.
The Trojans answered quickly. Hettick found Ford for a 35-yard touchdown, completing a three-play, 75-yard scoring drive in just 1:18.
Malte Hamann's PAT extra point cut the Yellow Jackets' advantage to 21-13.
Aquino kicked a 27-yard field goal to give Black Hills State a 24-13 advantage, but Dakota State continued to battle back.
Facing third-and-9 at the BHSU 29, Hettick found Ford again for a 29-yard touchdown with 3:28 remaining before halftime. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Trojans within 24-19.
Aquino closed the first-half scoring with a 31-yard field goal as time expired, sending Black Hills State into halftime with a 27-19 lead.
Dakota State came out of the locker room and immediately made it a two-point game.
The Trojans drove 87 yards on seven plays to open the third quarter.
Trajan Davis broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run with 11:26 remaining, slicing BHSU's lead to 27-25.
Black Hills State responded with two quick touchdowns to regain control. Weber connected with Williams for a 27-yard touchdown with 8:23 left in the third quarter. Bryce Coulson followed with a 57-yard touchdown run on BHSU's next possession, extending the Yellow Jackets' advantage to 41-25 (both PAT kicks by Aquino were successful).
Dakota State refused to go away.
Hettick directed a 14-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 5:40. He capped the possession with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ford with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Ford's fourth touchdown reception pulled the Trojans within 41-31 heading into the final quarter.
Neither team reached the end zone in the fourth quarter. Aquino provided the final points with a 45-yard field goal with 7:35 remaining, giving Black Hills State its final 44-31 margin.
Dakota State moved the football following the field goal, with Hettick completing consecutive passes to
TC Charles for gains of 17 and 12 yards, but the Trojans were unable to complete another scoring drive.
By the numbers
The Trojans' passing attack produced 398 yards and four touchdowns as quarterback Hettick completed 29-of-49 passes (59.2 percent) without an interception. Ford was on the receiving end of all four touchdown passes (second most single-game touchdown catches in DSU football school record book), finishing with 10 receptions for 136 yards. He had scoring receptions of 14, 35, 29 and 6 yards.
Davis led Dakota State's ground attack with 84 yards on nine carries, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt. His 45-yard touchdown run was DSU's longest rushing play of the game.
Tim Halbur caught four passes for 88 yards, while
Maddox Kihne added six receptions for 75 yards. Charles finished with three catches for 41 yards, and
Preston Iverson had two receptions for 38 yards.
The Trojans accumulated 398 passing yards and 82 rushing yards for their 480-yard total. They possessed the football for 30 minutes, 19 seconds and did not throw an interception.
Black Hills State countered with 533 yards of total offense, including 322 passing and 211 rushing. Weber completed 21-of-30 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns while adding 31 rushing yards and a score.
Williams was BHSU's leading receiver with 12 receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns, including the 67-yard score in the first quarter. Coulson's 57-yard touchdown run highlighted the Yellow Jackets' ground attack.
Dakota State's defense was led by
Michael Foster and
Aidan Jahns with eight tackles apiece.
Kaden Van Otterloo followed with seven tackles, while
Darryl Williams II recorded six.
Tamareon 'Frosty' Foster finished with five tackles and forced a fumble.
Black Hills State finished with 27 first downs compared to Dakota State's 28. The Yellow Jackets converted 5-of-11 third downs and rushed for three touchdowns while passing for two.
The teams combined for 296 penalty yards, with Dakota State assessed 18 penalties for 171 yards and Black Hills State committing 12 penalties for 125 yards.
Up next
Dakota State returns home for their next two games, starting next Saturday (Sept. 12) as they host NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan. The 11
th annual Ag Bowl game is set for 6 p.m. at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field. There will be an Ag Bowl tailgate meal, starting at 3:30 p.m.
