by DURANGO, Colo. – Black Hills State University football opened the 2015 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season Saturday with a 48-7 setback to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
Fort Lewis took the initial lead when Kipp Castanha split the uprights from 25-yards out.
Black Hills State answered with a seven-play 76-yard drive that concluded with Ryan Hommel finding Kade Wasson from 18 yards out for the touchdown. Dietrik Becker hit the extra point for the 7-3 Yellow Jacket lead with 9:37 remaining in the first half.
From there it was all Fort Lewis as they reeled off 45-straight points. It started when Jordan Doyle completed a six-yard pass to Jake Reader to reclaim the lead at 10-7. With 2:54 remaining in the half PJ Hall scampered into the end zone from one yard out.
With the Yellow Jackets threatening and time in the first half running out, Fort Lewis blocked the Becker field goal attempt and returned the block 100 yards to enter halftime with a 24-7 lead.
The Skyhawks kept the pressure on in the second half with three touchdowns and a field goal.
Hommel threw for 248 yards on 19-of-33 passing and his first career touchdown pass. Jerome Krysl was the top receiver with six receptions for 75 yards while Eriq Swiftwater (Oglala-Lakota) had four catches for 73 yards.
Defensively, Josh Gurnaby had 13 tackles while Cody Okray had 11.
Fort Lewis was led by PJ Hall with 120 yards rushing while quarterback Jordan Doyle tossed for 174 yards.
Black Hills State makes its 2015 home debut on Saturday hosting nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines. Kickoff is slated for noon at Lyle Hare Stadium.
