On Saturday, the Fort Lewis College football team defeated the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers 44-35 in Durango at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
FLC jumped on SDMU early on when redshirt-freshman quarterback Jake Lowry tossed a 14-yard touchdown to junior receiver Ta’Jon Mondy to give FLC a 7-0 lead.
The Hardrockers responded rapidly on their next opportunity with the ball, scoring on a five play, 62-yard drive that was capped off by a 50-yard touchdown throw from SDMU junior QB Jake Sullivan to freshman RB Brandon LaBrie.
However the Skyhawks answered quickly. FLC came back and answered with another touchdown on their next drive. Lowry linked up with redshirt freshman WR Arealous Hughes for a 57 yard touchdown.
Again, SDMU came back with a three play drive to the endzone, which ended with Sullivan running the ball across the goalline himself, tying up the game 14-14 with 3:15 left in the first quarter.
FLC took another hit with Lowry being sacked in the endzone for a safety making the score 16-14 in favor of SDMU on FLC’s next drive.
The Hard Rockers used that to their advantage, senior running back Kevin Thompson took the ball for a 46-yard run to the end zone, extending SDMU’s lead up to nine, 23-14.
FLCs Tyler Telphy initiated the comeback late in the second quarter with a 61-yard run to the end zone, decreasing SDMU’s lead to two, 23-21.
On the last drive of the first half Hardrockers sophomore kicker Sefa Enis made a field goal and sent the game into halftime 26-21.
Throughout the second half, FLC played with a different energy. FLC was able to hold the Hardrocker offense to zero points on their first three drives of the half.
For FLC, their first three drives of the second half ended with their freshman kicker Ben Raybon kicking field goals and extra points making the lead 30-26. Raybon scored 14 points with his leg this game and was named RMAC special teams player of the week after his performance.
The Skyhawks’ good fortune continued with a nine yard rushing touchdown by Lowry with 12:15 to play in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 11, 37-26.
SDMU put up their first points of the second half with another field goal by Enis to make it a one possession game.
However, FLC clutched its win with an interception for a touchdown very late in the fourth quarter by junior defensive back Donell Pleasant III, making the score 44-29.
The Hardrockers pushed in their last opportunity to tie the game. As the clock struck zero Sullivan lobbed a touchdown pass to freshman QB and receiver Spencer Zur, the score was FLC 44 SDFB 35.
FLCs Telphy ran for 170 yards while Lowry threw for 137 and rushed for 58. SDMUs Sullivan threw for 196 yards and their top rusher, Thompson, rushed for 56 yards.
This win puts the Skyhawks at 4-5 overall and 4-4 in the Rocky Mountain National Conference.
FLC is currently sixth place in RMAC standings. With only two more games in the regular season, FLC is hoping to end the season with a winning record.
The Skyhawks next game is next Saturday, November 4th against New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, New Mexico at 12pm.
Roy W. Adams is one of The Independent’s reporters. For more on FLC sports and other campus news, follow Roy on twitter at @Roywade_ and the Independent at @FLCindependent, or visit theindyonline.com