KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The South Dakota Mines football team went on the road to Kirksville, Missouri to take on the Truman State Bulldogs who received votes in the latest AFCA top 25 poll.
How It Happened – The Hardrockers and Bulldogs battled throughout the game, and especially in the first half, but the Hardrockers struck first on a 13-yard run by
Jalen Frye to close out a 15-play, 83-yard drive. Truman State would have an answer, however, knotting it a 7 on a 1-yard run by Mason Huskey.
The two teams would continue to answer each other with the Hardrockers scoring early in the second on a 10-yard connection from
Jayden Johannsen to
Ben Nolands, only to once again be answered with a 3-yard Dylan Hair run. Before the end of the half, the 'Rockers would march 74 yards in 13 plays to connect on a 21-yard field goal and take a 21-14 lead into halftime.
Ben Noland recorded eight receptions for 114 yards in the first half.
The only score in the third quarter was a Truman State touchdown on a 12-play, 81-yard drive, ending in a Nolan Hair 1-yard punch in, giving the Bulldogs a 24-21 lead, heading into the fourth.
Johannsen and Noland would connect on a fourth down play for a touchdown with 10:25 to play, giving South Dakota Mines a 24-21 lead, that Truman State would again have an answer for with 4:36 to play, retaking the lead, 28-24. The Hardrockers would have another chance but were unable to get a score and the defensive stop necessary to get the ball back again, falling 28-24.
Notes –
Jayden Johannsen threw for 276 yards on 27-38 passing and two touchdowns…
Ben Noland recorded 12 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns…
Casey Knutsen recorded 12 tackles…
Hunter Newsome and
Jacob Schwab each recorded tackles for loss with Newsom's coming on a sack…Truman State outgained the Hardrockers 387-373…The Hardrockers finished 8-16 on third down conversions.
Up Next – The Hardrockers head into RMAC play next week as they take on Colorado Mesa for homecoming at O'Harra Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
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 13 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.
