LAS VEGAS, NM – After outscoring the Cowboys 21-0 in the fourth quarter to stage a comeback, South Dakota Mines fell to New Mexico Highlands 42-48 in overtime.
The Hardrockers won the toss and deferred to the Cowboys. They scored on their first drive and capitalized on a fumble from the Hardrockers offense. The defense stood tall to give the ball right back to the offense.
After a
Dawson Dunbar 11-yard rush,
Gage Baker completed a pass to Dunbar that turned into a 77-yard touchdown. That tied the game at 7-7. At the end of the quarter, the Cowboys led 14-7.
With 11:42 left in the second quarter, the Hardrockers went on a 17-play touchdown drive to tie the game 14-14. The Hardrockers converted a fourth and one play in the middle of the drive via a Baker 10-yard run. At the end of the drive, Baker ran the ball on fourth and goal to give South Dakota Mines the touchdown.
The Cowboys responded with a touchdown on their next drive, followed by a three and out from South Dakota Mines. With another touchdown at the end of the quarter, the Hardrockers went into halftime down 14-28.
New Mexico Highlands took their biggest lead of the day at 35-14 in the third quarter. Both teams remained scoreless until the end of the quarter. After a long Cowboys drive,
Zachary Young recovered a fumble on the four-yard line and returned it for a 96-yard touchdown.
However, New Mexico Highlands returned the kickoff for a touchdown to give them a 42-21 lead. The Hardrockers responded with an 11-play touchdown drive to make it a two-score game. Baker recorded a 23-yard rush on the drive and completed a pass to
Joshua Morales for the touchdown.
The defense forced a three and out and the Hardrocker offense went back to work with 10:04 left in regulation. On a second and six from the Hardrocker 48, Baker completed a 24-yard pass to
Jacoby Ogbonna. They scored on a fourth and two from the 20-yard line, via a Dunbar catch to make the score 35-42.
South Dakota Mines' defense continued to play well in the quarter and gave the offense a chance at the end. With 4:49 left, the Hardrockers went on an 89-yard drive to tie the score. Ogbonna picked up the touchdown on a third and goal to tie the game 42-42. The game went into overtime after the touchdown.
In overtime, the Hardrockers had a fourth and goal at the one-yard line, but the Cowboys defense stood tall to hold them out of the end zone. New Mexico Highlands went on to win in overtime 40-32.
Baker had career-high 317 yards with four touchdowns in the air. He also rushed for 57 yards with a touchdown.
Ty Harris rushed for 79 yards. Dunbar led the team with 113 yards through the air and two touchdowns. Morales caught a touchdown with eight receptions for 92 yards.
Defensively, Young picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
Adedokun Alarape also forced a fumble with his one sack and three tackles.
Will Lester led the team with his 11 tackles, including nine solo tackles.
Charlie Johnson recorded nine total tackles.
Sam Eccles averaged 43.3 yards per punt and was 6-for-6 on extra points. Harris ran a kickoff return for 59 yards in this game.
As a team, South Dakota Mines had 511 yards of offense on 88 total plays. They threw for 317 yards with 194 rushing yards. The Hardrockers went 8-for-18 on third down and 5-for-7 on fourth down.
With the loss, the Hardrockers move to 0-4 and 0-2 in the RMAC.
What's Next
South Dakota Mines will come back home for homecoming on Sept. 27 to face Fort Lewis at 2 p.m. After that game, they will go back on the road for the 140
th Black Hills Brawl on Oct. 4 in Spearfish, South Dakota.
