RAPID CITY - Just a few days removed from a big win over rival Black Hills State, South Dakota Mines head coach Dan Kratzer spoke about it as a signature win for his program.

It was a signature win in what turned out to be a signature season as the Hardrockers finished the season with a 5-5 record.

"We really feel positive about the direction we are going," Kratzer said. "The kids really played hard and overcame adversity throughout the season and never gave up."

Mines posted a .500 record for the first time since 1995 and took a major step forward in Kratzer's fourth year with the team as he entered the season with just five wins in the previous three campaigns.

While the season for the Yellow Jackets did not finish the way they had hoped, coming off back-to-back Dakota Athletic Conference titles, the team still managed to post a winning mark at 6-4.

"We might not have been quite as good as we have in the past," BHSU head coach John Scott said. "But the thing that I really liked about this group was its willingness to do whatever we asked of it. They never conceded anything and always kept working."

Both teams return a solid core of players next season, and despite their different recent pasts, both will have the goal of winning the conference next season.

The Hardrockers were led by freshmen at key positions in quarterback Nick Russell and running back Jamie Dale. Add in strong performances from Jason Beilstein and return specialist Dustin Meneley and the team has plenty to build on.

"We have some young, talented football players on both sides of the ball," Kratzer said. "That doesn't even include a freshman like Josh Sherman who had 20 tackles in our last game."

While Kratzer is excited with the possibilities, he knows his team has to keep building and moving forward.

"We lose some all-conference performers in the secondary, and we have to be able to find and recruit those players that can play on our offensive and defensive lines," he said.

BHSU will also return a talented quarterback-running back tandem themselves in Drew Hodgs and Tanner Ehrlich as well as wide receiver Corey Wheeler.

"We do return quite a few kids but you never know what can happen between now and the start of practice next fall," Scott said.

Scott said the offense should be strong if it can fill in a few key areas heading into next season, and he is hopeful the youthfulness of some on the defense will pay dividends next season.

"We played more first-year kids this year - especially on defense - that we had to put in there because we didn't have a lot of other options," Scott said.

Scott said a scholarship crunch led to some issues that manifested themselves this year, but he believes they are now better under control.

Kratzer sees the biggest obstacle to his team's ability to take its play to the next level is consistency.

"We have to become a more consistent football team in all three phases," he said. "We have our team meeting on Monday and the key elements I will express to them is dream, believe, train and achieve."

For the Yellow Jackets, Scott said the motivation for next season is found in the weight room.

"The weight room is kind of the hub of our program and that is where we keep our trophies," he said. "It is pretty bare right now, but we have enough kids that have experienced success that I know they will work hard and they want to get back on top."

While the season may have come to a close for both teams, the offseason, and preparation for next year, will soon be under way.

"The offseason is becoming kind of a misnomer because our kids will be working hard and see each other as they get ready for the new season," Kratzer said.

"I know this season has motivated me and I am sure it has for our kids," Scott said.