MEDIA INFORMATION Date Sat., Sept. 17 | Noon MT Location Lyle Hare Stadium (4,200) | Spearfish, S.D.  TV None Radio ESPN SportsRadio 97.7 FM Online Audio/Video Black Hills State Athletics (Video) Southern Utah Live (Audio Only)   Live Stats Black Hills State Live Stats Ticket Info Purchase Tickets Game Notes Dixie State Game Notes (PDF) Twitter @DixieAthletics #RMACFB #DixieBlazers DIXIE STATE - BHSU SERIES Series First Meeting At DSU N/A At SD MINES N/A First Meeting N/A Last Meeting N/A DIXIE STATE TRAILBLAZERS Record 1-1, 1-1 RMAC Ranking NR Last Game Sept. 10, 2016 (lost vs. SD Mines, 27-31) Head Coach Shay McClure (Southern Oregon, 1995) Career: 1-1 (1st Season) DSU Record: Same BLACK HILLS STATE YELLOWJACKETS Record 2-0, 2-0 RMAC Ranking NR Last Game Sept. 10, 2016 (won at Fort Lewis, 39-36) Head Coach John Reiners (Chadron State, 1995) Career: 12-34 (5th Season) BHSU Record: Same

GAME NOTES (PDF)

The Dixie State football team heads to South Dakota this week for its first road test of the 2016 season, and its first matchup with Black Hills State, on Saturday at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Kickoff is set for Noon Mountain Time, with live audio coverage scheduled on radio (ESPN Sports Radio 97.7) and internet (SouthernUtahLive.com), with Keric Seegmiller providing play-by-play. Fans can also watch the game online at the BHSU Stretch Internet Portal (portal.stretchinternet.com/bhsu).  

ALL-TIME IN ROAD SCHEDULE-OPENERS: Saturday's game marks the first road game of the 2016 season for Dixie State. The Trailblazers are 0-10 all-time (NCAA Division II era) in road schedule-opening games, dating back to the 2006 season. DSU came closest to opening its road schedule with a win on Sept. 6, 2014, in a 44-37 overtime loss at Colorado Mesa.

ALL-TIME VS. THE RMAC: In its 10-year NCAA Division II history, Dixie State has matched up with just five current RMAC schools (Adams State, Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis, New Mexico Highlands and South Dakota Mines) for a total of 18 games against those opponents. The Trailblazers hold a 5-13 record in those games, recording victories over Adams State (2), Colorado Mesa, New Mexico Highlands, and South Dakota Mines.

ALL-TIME VS. BLACK HILLS STATE: Saturday's game marks the first meeting between Dixie State and Black Hills State on the football field.

KNOW YOUR FOE: After an 0-11 season last year (0-9 RMAC), Black Hills State opened the 2016 season with back-to-back victories to record its first 2-0 start since 1994 while competing in the NAIA ranks. The 2-0 start also marks the first 2-0 RMAC start in program history. The Yellowjackets defeated Adams State on September 3 in Alamosa, Colorado, stopping the Grizzlies on a 2-point try to seal a 34-33 victory and snap a 12-game losing streak. BHSU followed up the season-opening victory with another dramatic victory in week two, a 39-36 victory at Fort Lewis that saw the Yellowjackets convert on fourth down twice on its game-winning drive.  

Quarterback Ryan Hommel leads the BHSU passing attack, connecting on 42-of-82 attempts for 471 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions through two games. Hommel ranks third in the RMAC in passing with 235.5 yards per game. Running back Phydell Paris leads running attack, rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns on 47 carries. Paris ranks fourth in the RMAC in rushing with 104 yards per game. Receiver Erick Hairston-Belcher leads the Yellowjackets in receiving with 13 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, BHSU leads the RMAC in sacks (7 for -37 yards) and interceptions (6). Defensive lineman Cody Benne leads the defense with 15 tackles and one sack, while defensive back Drew Hebel is close behind with 10 tackles and a team-high three interceptions.

COACHING STAFF: Head coach Shay McClure begins his first season as DSU head coach after serving as Director of Defense last season. McClure is joined by offensive coordinator Reilly Murphy and defensive coordinator Shawn Howe on a staff that features four returning coaches from last season and eight newcomers to the staff for the 2016 season.

McClure, Howe, defensive line coach Dustin Sobieraj, and assistant defensive backs coach Marcus Graves represent the four returning coaches, while Murphy, offensive line coach Keola Loo, wide receivers coach Justin Mesa, offensive assistant Jose Flores, offensive assistant Mitch Glasmann, offensive assistant Jake Hardcastle (Midway, Utah/Wasatch HS), defensive backs coach Izaiah Williams, and defensive assistant Ryan Williams represent the eight newcomers to the staff. The coaching staff was finalized prior to spring practices, giving the current staff a full spring camp leading to into fall camp and the beginning of the season.

NEXT UP: Dixie State heads to Ellensburg, Washington, for a non-conference matchup with former Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Central Washington at 2 p.m. (MT) on Saturday.