SPEARFISH, S.D. – Yellowjacket quarterback Chance Eben found Hasaan Williams for a 29-yard touchdown with 43 seconds left to give Black Hills State a 31-28 win over Colorado Mesa. The win gave the Yellowjackets their first win over the Mavericks since 2018 and their first 4-0 start since 1970.
 
Jullen Ison put the Mavericks on the board first in the game on a 13-yard scamper where he broke three or four tackles on his way into the endzone. It was the first touchdown of the season for Ison and was setup by two long receptions, one from senior Dagan Rienks and the other by freshman Jackson Brush.
 
The Mavericks added on in the second quarter this time on defense. Hudson Metcalf delivered the trifecta as he forced a Riley Bennett fumble, recovered it and sprinted 71 yards for the touchdown to give the Mavericks a 14-0 lead with 6:20 to play in the quarter.
 
After scoring the last 14 points unanswered, Black Hills State came back and erased the deficit in a little under three minutes.
 
Just one play later, Yellowjacket Chance Eben found TJ Chukwurah for a 92-yard touchdown to cut into the lead at 14-7 with 6:02 to play in the quarter. Then with 3:29 to play in the half, Nolan Susel took the ball out of the wildcat and plunged in from 1-yard out.
 
Ison put the Mavericks ahead just before the end of the first half of action as he caught a short swing pass from Karst Hunter and he took it 16 yards for the score giving him a touchdown on the ground and through the air.
 
Black Hills State outscored the Mavericks 17-7 in the second half and got their first touchdown with 4:48 to play in the third quarter. Nolan Susel scored on his second 1-yard plunge of the game.
 
The Yellowjackets took their first lead of the afternoon with 5:11 to play in the game on a Coleman Chapman 52-yard field goal making it 24-21.
 
Colorado Mesa regained the lead with 2:23 to play as Hunter hooked up with David O'Connell on a 25-yard touchdown pass that capped a seven play, 70-yard drive that lasted just 2:39 on the clock.
 
That setup the Yellowjacket heroics late in the game as the Mavericks comeback and hail mary in the final 43 seconds fell short.
 
Nathan Deitrick led the defense with eight tackles while Hadyn Steffens finished with seven tackles. Steffens also had a forced fumble that was picked up by Liban Shongolo.
 
The Mavericks will be back in action next Saturday in Grand Junction as they host rival Western Colorado at 6pm over at Stocker Stadium.

QUICK HITTERS
-The Mavericks were penalized 11 times for 104 yards.
-The 155 yards rushing for Colorado Mesa was a season-high
 
Other RMAC Scores
#21 Colorado School of Mines 45, CSU Pueblo 17 FINAL
Western Colorado 56, Chadron State 28 FINAL
Adams State 52, Fort Lewis 17 late fourth quarter
South Dakota Mines 41, New Mexico Highlands 20 late fourth quarter