RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines football team started slow but were able to work their way back into the game and create chances for themselves, but were unable to overcome CSU Pueblo, falling 35-28 on senior day.

The Hardrockers moved to 5-5 on the year, and 4-4 in RMAC play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

CSU Pueblo got started with a 14-0 lead, first scoring on a completed pass then a fumble which was picked up by another Thunderwolf and run in. After a Hardrocker turnover, they added another. South Dakota Mines fought back, however, scoring on a sensational one-handed grab from Ben Noland to cap off a 13-play 67-yard drive.

After getting a defensive stop in the second quarter, CSU Pueblo would score again, taking a 21-7 lead. Late in the quarter, SDM would finish off an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a double reverse and Noland would find Henry Dryden for a touchdown pass, cutting the deficit back to 21-14, before CSU Pueblo would score one more time, taking a 28-14 lead into the half.

Both teams would struggle to get their offenses going until late in the third when the Hardrockers forced a turnover with Kaleb Tischler picking off a pass and the offense marching 99 yards and finishing off with a Jalen Frye reception as he dove inside the pylon, cutting the deficit to 28-21, but just briefly as CSU Pueblo would score again to close out the quarter leading 35-21.

South Dakota Mines would score early in the fourth on a Ty Harris touchdown on the ground, cutting it back to 7, 35-28, Thunderwolves. That is how it would stay, however, as the Hardrockers were not able to put together a game-tying drive and ultimately fell, 35-28. 

NOTES

Jalen Frye and Ty Harris average over 5 yards per carry on the ground with Frye gaining 92 yards on 18 attempts and Harris gaining 50 on 10 carries…Ben Noland caught seven passes for 127 yards with a touchdown...Hunter Newsom recorded 10 total tackles…Casey Knutsen had eight tackles and a forced fumble…Kaleb Tishler also recorded eight tackles and an interception.

UP NEXT

The Hardrockers close their season in Chadron next weekend, taking on the Eagles of Chadron State in the battle for the Eagle Rock Trophy.

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 11 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.