ALAMOSA – Saturday will bring a chance for revenge for the Adams State University football team as it heads to the north-most part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference for a season-opener against Black Hills State University. The Grizzlies and the Yellowjackets square off Saturday at noon on the turf at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish, S.D.
 
Last year featured a comeback that on paper may not have even been possible, but that was nine football games, spring ball and a summer of workouts ago. Six turnovers and a failed two-point conversion are on both teams' minds, with each knowing the outcome of that game could've gone either way.
 
Jump forward a year and the Grizzlies are a new team to reckon with. Quarterback Jorge Hernandez is entering his senior season after throwing 19 touchdowns and more than 250 yards per game, including having just four completions for 50 yards in that first game of the season. With a season of experience under his belt and a healthy quarterback competition win in fall camp, look for Hernandez to take over.
 
The wide-out core is another group of Grizzlies to watch, as captain Chad Hovasse was named to the Preseason All-RMAC team. The junior rocked the Yellowjackets last season, catching six reception for more than 100 yards. Half of those receptions ended with him in the end zone. He will be joined by Jimmy Holtrop and Marquese Surrell to make for one dangerous air attack.
 
The counterpart to that air attack will feature senior Corey Brown. The tailback averaged nearly 10 yards per carry against Black Hills last season, opening him up for a season where he rushed for 800 yards on five yards per carry.
 
The Polynesian islands have come to Alamosa, as a new-look defensive line features nearly-all Polynesian players new to Adams State. Kasoga Casem, Vaega Lolohea, Sergio Mendoza and Finau Kohitolu make up the beefed-up line, with three of the four weighing in over 280 pounds. The big men up front will help to secure a Grizzly defense that let up nearly 300 yards of rushing per game last season. This will make things easier for senior Tim Brown Jr. and crew in the backfield. Brown led a secondary that allowed just 250 yards per game passing last season.
 
Last season saw Black Hills State go on to its best finish in the RMAC with a 7-4 record. That was the first victory against Adams State in program history. The Yellowjackets return RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Drew Hebel, who led the nation in interceptions last season. The offense is led by senior Phydell Paris, who was top-10 in the nation last year in rushing. Paris had 140 yards in last season's matchup, but most of that came on a single 55-yard run.
 
Black Hills last saw the field in a 28-83 loss to Colorado School of Mines. That game paved the way for the Mines former quarterback to win the Harlon Hill Trophy. Adams on the other hand finished off N.M. Highlands on the road with a 50-40 victory. ASU's 2-8 season almost looked a lot different, with three defeats coming from a five-point or less deficit.
 
The game can be live streamed at portal.stretchinternet.com/adams. Radio coverage with also be available on KSPK.