RAPID CITY, SD – South Dakota Mines Football picked up their first win of the 2025 season with a 22-21 comeback win over Fort Lewis.
It was a defensive first quarter until South Dakota Mines was able to take a 7-0 lead. On a third and five at the 36-yard line,
Gage Baker completed a pass to
Jacoby Ogbonna for 25 yards to get into Fort Lewis territory.
Mason Galbreath caught a pass for 27 yards and Ogbonna completed the drive with the touchdown. It was the freshman's third touchdown of the season.
To begin the second quarter, the Skyhawks recorded an 81-yard touchdown to tie the game. After Baker completed three consecutive passes later in the quarter, the Hardrockers got into field goal range.
Sam Eccles made a 27-yard field goal to give South Dakota Mines a 10-7 lead at halftime.
The Skyhawks came out firing in the third quarter on both sides of the ball. Highlighted by a 42-yard reception, Fort Lewis took a 14-10 lead midway through the quarter. They put up another touchdown at the end of the third quarter to extend their lead to 21-10.
South Dakota Mines flipped the script in the fourth. After a long drive stalled at the two yard line, Eccles nailed a field goal to make the score 13-21. The Hardrocker defense recorded a three-and-out and forced a punt deep in Skyhawk territory. Baker threw a touchdown to
Joshua Morales that made the score 19-21 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
South Dakota Mines' defense stood tall for the entire fourth quarter and gave the Hardrockers a chance to win the game. They got the ball back with 1:07 left at the 20-yard line. Morales started the drive with a nine-yard reception, and a pass interference call gave the Hardrockers a first down on the next play. Galbreath gave the Hardrockers a first down at the Fort Lewis 45 yard line.
On a second and 10, Ogbonna made a catch on the sideline for 25 yards. The Hardrockers made it to the 13 yard line with 12 seconds left. Eccles nailed another field goal to give South Dakota Mines a 22-21 lead with nine seconds left in the game.
Nathan Kneubuhler sealed the game with a sack for the Hardrockers to pick up their first win of the 2025 season.
Baker highlighted for the Hardrockers with 36 passes completed for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Morales caught seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. Galbreath recorded eight receptions for 63 yards, while Ogbonna had four catches for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Kneubuhler had six tackles, including the game-sealing sack at the end of the game.
Will Lester also had six tackles for the Hardrockers.
Adedokun Alarape had five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Charlie Johnson picked up five tackles. Eccles was 3-for-4 on field goals, including the game-winning field goal. Punter
Bryson Patten had two punts of 50 or more yards, including a long of 74 yards. He averaged 44.4 yards per punt against the Skyhawks.
With the win, South Dakota Mines moved to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC.
What's Next
The 140
th edition of the Black Hills Brawl is on Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Spearfish. The Hardrockers will look for revenge from last season's loss. After that game, the Hardrockers will start a three-game homestand, starting with Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 11.
