RAPID CITY, S.D.—In a game that started at a molasses pace, the Adams State University Grizzly football team and the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers, met in a classic at O'Harra Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Grizzlies overcame 14-point deficit, 17-3, to tie the game late in the fourth quarter before a field goal sealed the game for the Hardrockers, 23-20.
The first quarter saw the Hardrockers score the only points of the period with just 23 seconds left as Connor Taylor was able to hit a 38-yard field goal.
The tempo picked up in the second quarter as Jayden Johannsen completed an 18-yard pass play that found the end zone to make the score 10-0 with 4:46 remaining in the half. The Grizzlies stayed in the game as Kenneth Ayers connected with a 41-yard field goal with 49 seconds left to make the halftime score 10-3.
The Hardrockers scored less than five minutes into the third quarter as Johannsen and Eastman connected for another 5-yard touchdown to make the score 17-3.
Adams State rattled off ten points, an 18-yard touchdown from Marckell Grayson to
Elijah Harper and a 23-yard Kenneth Ayers field goal to make the score 17-13 entering the final quarter.
The Hardrockers made it a seven-point game with 14 minutes left as Taylor hit a 23-yard field goal. Harper then ran an end-around and found the end zone as he broke four tackles en route to a 2-yard score to tie the game at 20 with 8:26 left. The Hardrockers milked as much of the clock as they could before a 22-yard field goal turned into a game-winner.
The Grizzlies drove down the field to field goal territory but with 22 seconds left a pass was tipped at the line and sailed for a Hardrocker takeaway to ice the game.
The Grizzlies had 67 plays in the game for 340 yards as they were 23-of-38 on pass attempts for 260 yards. The ball was carried 29 times for 80 yards.
The Grizzlies will look to return back to the winning side of things next week when they close out the home portion of the season on Saturday, Nov. 5 with a 1:00 p.m. match up with Black Hills State University.
