ALAMOSA, Colo. - It was not always pretty, but when it was the Adams State University Football team put on a show for the fans in its 2018 home opener Saturday afternoon at Rex Stadium. The Grizzlies scored a season-high 44 points en route to 44-41 win over the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets.

With the win, the Grizzlies are now 1-2 on the year and it is the first career win at Adams State for first year Head Coach Josh Blankenship.

The Grizzlies win came thanks to an offense that was a two-headed monster through the air and in the ground attack for a total of 620 yards. In the air, quarterback Nick Rooney and company put up 308 yards, while running back Tyree Harris led a ground attack to 312 combined rushing yards.

The Yellow Jackets did not go away easily during the game at any point. They were neck-and-neck with the Grizzlies totaling 562 yards on offense, with 402 of those yards coming via the pass. The run game for the Black Hills State posted 160 yards on the day.

The first quarter made it known early to fans that the 2018 home opener was going to be an exciting one. The two teams combined for 24 first quarter points. In just one half of football, the Grizzlies and Yellow Jackets totaled 51 points.

The Yellow Jackets grabbed the game's first lead on the opening drive. The Grizzlies won the toss but deferred to the second half. BHSU capitalized on the opportunity going 71 yards in nine plays to get up 7-0. Quarterback Ryan Hommel capped off the Yellow Jackets drive with a one-yard run into the end zone.

The Grizzlies offense looked to put their first two games behind them and find offensive rhythm early. They got down to the BHSU four-yard line before their drive stalled and they had a settle for a field goal. Erick Ruiz knocked in a 26-yard attempt to cap a nine play, 59 yard drive. Adams State trailed 7-3.

After forcing a three-and-out on the next series, the Grizzlies defense put their offense in a position to take their first lead of the game. The offense thanked the defense's effort with seven points. Adams State started on their own 14 and drove 86 yards in just 1:40. Harris was key on the drive rushing 47yards, including a three yard run for the score. Adams grabbed its first lead after the extra point, 10-7.

BHSU responded on the ensuing possession. Rommel notch his first passing touchdown and second overall with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Reiners. Following the extra point, the Yellow Jackets retook the lead, 14-10, going into the second quarter. The second quarter is where the Grizzlies created some separation scoring 21 points, while holding BHSU to just six.

Rooney got the second quarter scoring started for Adams State with a 28-yard shot to Marquese Surrell to give them the lead back, 17-14, after the extra point. The first double digit lead for Adams State came in the next offensive outing. Rooney threw touchdown No. 2 of the day, this time to Chad Hovasse from 11 yards out, giving the Grizzlies a 24-14 edge.

Both teams stalled in their next offensive possessions, before the Yellow Jackets cut their deficit to seven with a field goal. Trey Fleming hit a 22-yard attempt to bring the score to 24-17, Adams State. The Grizzlies immediately responded on the next drive with Rooney connecting for his third touchdown, and once again finding Hovasse on 26-yard pass to give them a 31-17 lead. The Yellow Jackets added their final three points as time expired in the first half with a 29-yard field goal attempt to bring the first half score to 31-20, Grizzlies.

The start of the second half was a defensive battle as both teams punted on each of their first two possessions. The first points came with 6:09 left on the clock. Rooney found Surrell for a second time with a 26-yard touchdown pass to give the Grizzlies a 37-20 lead following the blocked extra point attempt.

Hommel cut the lead back to 10 points, 37-27, with a seven yard touchdown pass to Jordan Pace to close out a five play, 76 yard drive that lasted just 1:24. After back-to-back three-and-outs by both offenses, the Grizzlies used a drive that started at the end of the third quarter to score early in the fourth. Harris rushed for his second touchdown of the afternoon from 18 yards out to push the lead to 44-27, Grizzlies.

BHSU still kept hanging around as Hommel drove the offense on a 75 yards in eight plays. He capped it off with a three-yard touchdown run. The Yellow Jackets then forced Adams State to punt on the next drive and responded on offense with a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Jack Walbye rushed from one yard out to cut the Grizzlies lead to just three, 44-41, but that is where it stayed.

After forcing the Grizzlies to punt again, BHSU looked primed to tie the game or take the lead but the Adams State defense had other plans in mind. After a quarterback change for BHSU Collin Powers started the drive. On the fifth play of the drive Powers took a hard hit from Isaia Rosten that forced the ball out. The Grizzlies recovered the fumble as Sipa Leafa landed on the loose ball at the BHSU 41-yard line.

The Grizzlies got some help in sealing the win on the ensuing series as a roughing the passer call against BHSU on a third and five gave the offense enough yards to setup the victory formation.

Ronney finished 20-of-31 passing for 308 yards and four touchdowns. Surrell and Hovasse each had two touchdowns, with 129 and 89 yards receiving, respectively. Harris racked up a season-high 254 yards with two scores. Defensively, Garrett Jackson and Leafa once again led the charge with nine tackles apiece. Jackson also had a pair of pass breakups, while all nine of his tackles were on solo efforts.

Hommel totaled 383 passing yards (40-of-59 passing) while throwing two touchdowns. He also led the Yellow jackets in rushing with 73 yards on eight carries to go along with a pair of scores. Reiners and Pace pulled in four catches each while totaling 59 and 58 yards, respectively. Both had one touchdown on the day. Luis Bach and Austin Goddard both had 10 tackles, with each getting eight on solo efforts. Bach also had the game's only sack for a loss of three yards and two pass breakups.

The Grizzlies will be back on the road next weekend. They will travel to Gunnison, Colo. as they will take on Western State Colorado in the annual Colorado Classic. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. against the Mountaineers.