SPEARFISH - Black Hills State University scored four unanswered touchdowns to open the game against Dakota State University and went on to record the convincing 37-14 Dakota Athletic Conference victory Saturday at Lyle Hare Stadium.

Led by sophomore Tanner Ehrlich's 223 yards the 15th-ranked Yellow Jackets ran over the Trojans (2-3 overall, 0-2 DAC) with 365 yards on the ground to win the Missouri River Shootout. The ground game helped offset three interceptions by BHSU (4-1, 2-0) quarterback Drew Hodgs and an attempted rally by Dakota State to begin the second half.

"It was good to defend the home turf," Black Hills State head coach John Scott said. "We got some big plays and got a big conference win."

After Hodgs was intercepted on the first play of the game, the BHSU defense forced a punt and Ehrlich was in business racing 68 yards on the first play of the drive for the touchdown. One possession later it was a quick 14-0 lead for the Yellow Jackets as Hodgs connected with Corey Wheeler from 22 yards out.

The BHSU defense was able to hold Trojans' running back Andrew Fatten - who entered the game leading the DAC in rushing - in check early on and the passing game did not click. Fatten finished the game with 127 yards, but less than 40 of those came after halftime.

"I was really concerned coming in to see if we could stand in there against the first team we have seen that came at us with a two back running attack," Scott said. "Our blitzing was well timed … and guys finished the plays."

Clint Nicholes, the Yellow Jackets fullback, found the end zone next as he raced 21 yards to make it 21-0 before adding an 8-yarder on the next drive.

"Our line was getting off blocks and opening up holes all day long," Nicholes said. "Tanner is a good runner but we are all good runners and we know we all have to step up when we get our opportunities. It felt good."

The Yellow Jackets' success on the ground came despite the fact BHSU is struggling to find healthy bodies to put in the backfield. Scott said his backfield options are limited right now due to injuries which were added to Saturday when Mike Jager was lost early in the game leaving just two healthy running backs.

Just as the game looked to be headed for a complete blowout, Dakota State responded with a 14-play drive that ended with a Fatten 3-yard TD run with just 38 seconds left in the first half to make it 28-7 heading into the locker room.

The Trojans intercepted another pass early in the third quarter and turned to the passing game to move the ball down the field capping another drive with a score on a 15-yard strike from quarterback Donald Strand to Trevor Cucinello to close the deficit to 14 with just under five minutes in the third. Stand finished the game going 19-for-34 for 184 yards.

The Trojans defense would force a three-and-out on BHSU's next possession seemingly snatching all of the momentum, but the Yellow Jackets' defense turned up the intensity on the most important series of the game shutting down Dakota State and forcing a punt of its own.

BHSU would score its first touchdown of the second half with just under two minutes left in the third quarter as Hodgs crashed over the goal line from 1-yard out. The only other score of the game came when the Trojans snapped the ball out the back of the end zone on a punt attempt.

The Yellow Jackets are at home for the second straight week Saturday when they host Valley City State.