Black Hills State football coach John Scott knows how important today's game against Dickinson State is to his team's season.
He also knows how important it is to the Blue Hawks' season.
"It's a very pivotal game for both of us," Scott said. "With the conference schedule the way it is, to be 2-0 in (DSU's) case can make those first three weeks nonexistent."
The Yellow Jackets and DSU are both 1-3. While the Blue Hawks found solid ground with a convincing win over South Dakota Mines last week, BHSU suffered a crushing 30-14 loss at Minot State.
In the loss, true freshman quarterback Drew Hodgs threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted six times.
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"We're experiencing the growing pains and learning from his mistakes," Scott said. "We've gone through feast or famine. A lot of that is to be expected with what he (Hodgs) was thrust into."
Hodgs, who was also recruited by DSU out of his high school in Douglas, Wyo., is stepping into the starting role because all-Dakota Athletic Conference quarterback Erik Osborne was ruled ineligible due to using his last of 10 allowable academic semesters this spring.
With Osborne expected to return, NAIA coaches placed BHSU at No. 10 in their preseason poll. The Yellow Jackets went 8-3 and finished 7-0 in the DAC in 2006.
"Undoubtedly coming off last season, we really didn't expect to be in this position," Scott said. "We're a really vulnerable football team right now."
DSU will also have to keep an eye BHSU senior safety Tanner Tetrault, a first-team All-American last season.
He leads the Yellow Jackets with 17 solo tackles and has relieved Hodgs at quarterback at different junctures this season.
"He's a talented athlete," DSU coach Hank Biesiot said. "With him backing everything up, you're going to be pretty good."
