SPEARFISH, S.D.  The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's top rushing attack turned to the air instead Saturday, as No. 8 Western Colorado threw for four touchdowns in a 35-14 conference win over host Black Hills State University.

The Mountaineers accumulated 399 yards through the air, quarterback Drew Nash connecting on 34 of 45 pass attempts for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. Black Hills State, 35-14
Records: Western 6-0 overall (4-0 RMAC), Black Hills State 3-3 (2-2)
Location: Lyle Hare Stadium, Spearfish, S.D.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western's offense got into gear with its second possession of the game, starting at its own 42 and driving to the Yellow Jackets' 26 yard line before the drive stalled. The Mountaineers lined up for a field goal attempt, but the try was blocked and returned for a BHSU touchdown, Western's first deficit since the second game of the season.
• That seven-point hole faded quickly, though, as Nash took only two plays to push the offense down the field, first connecting with tight end Daniel Parsek for nine yards followed by a 65-yard catch and run touchdown by Victory David.
• The Mountaineers would explode for three touchdowns in the second quarter, converting consecutive Yellow Jacket turnovers for the second two of the three.
• The first of those drives went 80 yards in six plays and was capped by a 53-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Sage Yazzie to a wide-open Josiah Ayon. Nash tossed a long lateral out to Yazzie, who found Ayon downfield for the easy score.
• A fumble on BHSU's next play from scrimmage gave Western the ball at the Yellow Jackets' 20 yard line, from where Royce Pao took a handoff on second down and sprinted untouched off the right tackle for a 20-yard touchdown gallop.
• The Yellow Jackets then threw an interception on their very next offensive play, giving the ball back to the Mountaineer offense at the BHSU 43 and with 2:16 to play in the quarter.
• Western used 1:59 of the time remaining to finish off a touchdown drive on a 12-yard Nash to Yazzie pass just inside the front right pylon.
• Black Hills State finally put together a scoring drive late in the third quarter but were stymied the rest of the way.
• After a 4th-down Yellow Jacket incompletion, the short field and two BHSU penalties allowed Western to score one more touchdown, a 4-yard Nash to Parsek pass that closed the day's scoring.

'NEER NOTES

• Western dominated the first half in all statistical categories. It accumulated 359 yards of offense while holding BHSU to just 36 yards, had 318 passing yards to the Yellow Jackets' 38, and though held to 41 yards on the ground, limited the home team to minus-2 yards rushing.
• The Mountaineers registered 16 first downs to BHSU's 3, and possessed the ball for 20 minutes, 19 seconds while the Yellow Jackets were on offense for only 9:14 in the half.
• Western would finish with 452 yards, 53 on the ground and 399 through the air, while the Mountaineer defense limited Black Hills to 186 yards (29 rushing, 186 passing).
• Ayon would lead the Mountaineer receivers with eight catches for 100 yards and a touchdown, with Parsek coming down with seven receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown.
• Cy Shope had eight tackles, four solo, for the Western defense, while Kendall Lightfoot and Ricky Freymond would each finish with six tackles. 

NEXT UP
The Mountaineers will host South Dakota Mines on Hall of Fame Weekend Saturday, Oct. 19, for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Mojo Field at Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex.