RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines football team defeated the Adams State University Grizzlies 23-20 on Saturday afternoon at O'Harra Stadium. The win gives the Hardrockers a 6-3 overall record and they are 5-2 in the RMAC. The win also clinched the first back-to-back winning seasons for the Hardrockers since the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
How It Happened – In the first quarter, neither team could find the endzone as both defenses were on top of their game. The Hardrockers finally put three points on the board with a 38-yard field goal by
Connor Taylor.
The second quarter was much like the first as the offense struggled to find their momentum. With five minutes left in the quarter, the Hardrockers finally reached the endzone when Isiah Eastman caught an 18-yard pass from
Jayden Johannsen. The Grizzlies would march down the field and kick a field goal with 49 seconds left. The Hardrockers went into the locker room up 10-3.
The Hardrockers would extend their lead to 17-3 when Johannsen again connected with Eastman on a 5-yard touchdown pass. The Grizzlies didn't back down as they drove the field and scored a touchdown to cut into the Hardrockers lead 17-10. ASU would inch closer on a 23-yard field goal by Kenneth Ayers.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Hardrockers would kick a field goal to give them a 20-13 lead, but with 8:30 left on the clock, the Grizzlies would score on a 2-yard run to tie the game 20-20. The Hardrockers then used 16 plays to eat up the clock and won the game with a 22-yard field goal by Taylor.
Notes – Johannsen end the game with 308 yards passing completing 23-25 attempts. Johannsen also had 78 yards rushing to lead the Hardrockers. Eastman grabbed eight passes for 122 yards, while
Jeremiah Bridges had 94 yards receiving. Tony Monroe Jr recorded nine tackles to pace the Hardrockers defense.
Up Next – The Hardrockers will next travel to Pueblo to face the Colorado State University Pueblo Thunderwolves. That game will take place at 2:00 PM.
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 10 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
