Thursday, August 27, 2015

In the second of our 2015 GNAC Football Video Previews, we focus on South Dakota Mines.

Despite their 2-9 record and sixth place GNAC finish, South Dakota Mines had one of the most potent passing offenses in Division II. Returning First Team All-GNAC quarterback Trent McKinney, the league’s Newcomer of the Year, finished seventh in Division II in total offense at 333.3 yards per game. He led a Hardrockers’ offense that led the GNAC and finished 12th in Division II in passing offense, averaging 321.8 yards per game. The Hardrockers also ranked 11th In Division II in red zone offense, converting 77.3 percent of the time inside the 20-yard line (51-66).

Supplementing McKinney on the offense will be senior Second Team All-GNAC tight end Elijah Balavitch and Honorable Mention All-GNAC running back Kevin Thompson.

The Hardrockers are in their final season as GNAC football members. The program will play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference beginning in 2016.

This is the second of seven football preseason videos that the GNAC will release leading up to the season opener between Azusa Pacific and West Texas A&M on Thurs., Sept. 3. All of the videos will be posted on the GNAC YouTube Page.

Wed., Aug. 26: Simon Fraser
TODAY: South Dakota Mines
Fri., Aug. 28: Dixie State
Sat., Aug. 29: Western Oregon
Mon., Aug. 31: Central Washington
Tues., Sept. 1: Humboldt State
Wed., Sept. 2: Azusa Pacific