By Con Marshall BOX SCORE
Chadron State scored the first touchdown in both the first and second halves, but Black Hills State controlled the remainder of the game to take a 55-19 victory in Spearfish on Saturday night.
It was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
After the Eagles took a quick 6-0 lead by competing a 52-yard pass on their opening possession, Black Hills scored on four consecutive possessions before it was forced to punt. The Yellow Jackets also added a touchdown in the final minute to take a 34-6 halftime lead.
Chadron State received the second half kickoff and drove 65 yards for a touchdown, but the Yellow Jackets tallied twice in the third quarter on two huge plays to go ahead 48-13. Each team added a TD in the fourth quarter to make the final score 55-19.
Black Hills quarterback Tanner Clarkson ramroded the Yellow Jackets attack that netted 556 yards of offense. He scored his team’s first touchdown on a two-yard run, then threw five touchdown passes that covered 12, 63, 50, 72 and 15 yards, in that order.
Altogether Clarkson, a senior who transferred from Northwest Oklahoma State this fall, completed 18 of 24 passes for 343 yards. His favorite receiver was Hasaan Williams, who caught seven passes for 183 yards, including the 50, 72 and 15-yard touchdown tosses.
TJ Chukwurah hauled in the 63-yarder while running back Nolan Sussel scored on a 12-yard pass reception and runs of one and 56 yards while rushing 16 times for 138 yards.
Chadron State finished with 334 yards of offense made up of 217 yards passing and 117 rushing. All three of the Eagles’ touchdown were on pass plays. Starting quarterback
Heath Beemiller connected with Tommy Thomas on the 52-yard pass that opened the scoring. He finished with 11 completions on 26 attempts for 123 yards.
Alternate quarterback Preston Pearson threw the two second half TDs for the Eagles. They were a 12-yarder to Peter Krohn and a 27-yarder to Thomas, who had six receptions for 147 yards and two TDs.
Pearson was Chadron State’s leading rusher with 10 carries for 64 yards.
The Eagles’ Xavier Harrell was the game’s leading tackler with 14. Both Hunter O’Connor and Sutton Pohlman were next for CSC with seven.
Black Hills is now 2-1 and Chadron State 1-2. The Eagles will host Western Colorado this coming Saturday with a noon kickoff.
Chadron State 6 0 7 6 —19
Black Hills State 7 27 14 7 —55
CSC—Tommy Thomas 52 pass from Heath Beemiller (pass failed)
BHSU—Tanner Carlson 2 run (Coleman Chapman kick)
BHSU—Nolan Sussel 12 pass from Carlson (Chapman kick)
BHSU—Sussel 1 run (kick failed)
BHSU—TJ Chukwurah 63 pass from Carlson (Chapman kick)
BHSU—Williams 50 pass from Carlson (Chapman kick)
CSC—Peter Krohn 12 pass from Preston Pearson (Wilson Yee kick).
BHSU—Williams 72 pass from Carlson (Chapman kick)
BHSU—Sussel 56 run (Chapman kick)
BHSU—Williams 15 pass from Clarkson (Chapman kick)
CSC—Thomas 27 pass from Pearson (kick failed)