RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The No. 1 goal of the season for the South Dakota School of Mines football team – keep the Homestake Trophy in Rapid City.
Mission accomplished.

In the 131^st meeting of the SD Mines Hardrockers and Black Hills State Yellow Jackets, the Hardrockers came away with the Black Hills Brawl victory, defeating their longtime rivals, 46-17, in front of a massive crowd at Dunham Field in Rapid City. It was the first meeting between the two teams as members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  

The oldest rivalry in NCAA Div. II sports was looking to be a very competitive contest with the Hardrockers holding a 22-17 halftime edge. But that was not the case as SD Mines turned up the "juice" in the second half, with a stifling defense and a high powered offense that BHSU could not find an answer for.

"We played to our strengths tonight: our trust in one another and our enthusiasm for competition," said Hardrocker football head coach Zach Tinker. "We are humbled to play in such a storied rivalry and we're fortunate to come out on top in this epic Black Hills Brawl. Our assistant coaches deserve all the credit for a set of halftime adjustments that put our players in position to execute a tremendous second half of football. We are proud to have earned the Homestake Trophy and thank 'Rocker Nation for their unconditional love and support."

SD Mines handed Black Hills State its first loss of the season as both programs are now 3-1 on the season.

The Hardrockers drew first blood when junior quarterback Jake Sullivan hooked up with junior wide receiver Isaiah Manley with 8:52 left in the first quarter on an eight-yard TD strike. Senior wide receiver Ben Broeker caught a pass for the two-point conversion to take the 8-0 lead.

BHSU answered right back on the next drive and capped off a seven play 71-yard drive with a 36-yard TD pass from Ryan Hommel to Shandon Jones at the 6:46 mark to make it 8-7.

Later in the first, Sullivan ran into the end zone from nine yards out, scoring his first of three rushing touchdowns on the night. At the 4:26 mark of the first quarter, the 'Rockers extended their edge, 15-7.

Black Hills wasn't quite done yet in the first quarter, tacking on a 31-yard field goal on the boot of Trey Fleming.

Sullivan opened the second quarter for SD Mines with his second rushing touchdown, this time from 10 yards out after a five-play 76-yard drive. With 10:30 left in the half, the Hardrockers went up 22-10.

BHSU's final score of the game came on the next drive when Payten Gilmore ran in the end zone from 15 yards at the 9:11 mark to get within five points, 22-17.

The second half was all Hardrockers, as junior Dorian Cowart had a 57-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a 28-yard field goal from senior Marshal Gleason in the third quarter followed by a senior Zach Huber 12-yard TD reception and closed out by Sullivan's final rushing TD from 11 yards out.

 SD Mines finished the game with a new school record 681 yards of total offense to 415 for BHSU. The Hardrockers collected 312 rushing yards and 369 passing yards. The Hardrockers had 31 first downs in the game to 19 for BHSU.

Individually for the Hardrockers, Dorian Cowart led the ground attack with 135 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown while Sullivan collected 91 yards on 16 carries for three scores. Junior Connor Silveria also had a good outing with 81 yards on 17 carries.

Sullivan finished with 369 passing yards completing 27-40 passes with one interception and two touchdown passes.

The Hardrockers had 10 different receivers catch passes –including one to sophomore place kicker Robbie Jo Gerarden. Senior Rashad Ridley led the crew with five catches for 89 yards, junior Damon Barnes hauled in five catches for 80 yards, Huber had five catches for 40 yards and a score, senior Marcus Sanchez added 48 yards on four catches and Manley made two receptions for 27 yards and score.

On the defensive side, senior linebacker David Jakpor continues to lead the Hardrockers with 7.5 tackles, sophomore Harrison Beemiller had six along with an interception returned for 13 yards and junior Jake March added five. Senior Jamir Moore was credited with a forced fumble and fumble recovery and junior Triston Brown had three pass break ups.

The Hardrockers improve to 3-1 on the season and 2-1 in the RMAC and will be back home Saturday for M-Day when SD Mines faces Adams State in a first-ever meeting. That game is slated for 6 p.m.