DURANGO, CO - October 20, 2007 - The Fort Lewis College football team's fourth quarter surge with under a minute in regulation was not enough on Saturday as the visiting Orediggers of Colorado Mines kicked a 36-yard field as time ran out to take the 25-22 victory. The Skyhawks fall to 1-6 overall and 1-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), while the Orediggers improve to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
With 17 second left on the clock, the Skyhawks culminated a game-tying 10-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown on a Brandon Cummings (Lakewood, CO/Alameda) 8-yard touchdown caught from Dave Nieman (Chino Hills, CA/Chaffey CC). Just 17 seconds later the Orediggers nailed the game-winner after a 40 yard kickoff return by the Orediggers. They took one pass and got out-of-bounce to stop the clock with four seconds left, which got them in field goal range.
The exciting end of the game was the second for these two teams in the last two seasons. Last year the Skyhawks grabbed the win with a touchdown in the twindling second of the fourth quarter as well.
The Orediggers opened scoring in the first quarter on a 53-yard punt return to a touchdown by Tom Kastens. The extra point attempt was good.
In the only other score before halftime, the Skyhawks put together an 11-play, 57-yard drive, which took 5:34 off the clock and ended on a 23-yard pass by Nieman to Ryan Ames (Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit). The ensuing extra point snap and hold were botched, but the Skyhawks got within one, 6-7, going into the half.
The Skyhawks then scored first in the second half when Nieman ran for one yard on third and goal with 3:13 left in the quarter. Cummings grabbed the ball to set up the touchdown run on a 24-yard catch which brought him down on the one yardline. The two-point conversion failed when Nieman was caught in the backfield. Fort Lewis took their only lead of the game with the 12-7 turnaround.
The Orediggers then went on a 15-0 run to re-gain the lead. Two 37-yard passes, a two-point conversion and a PAT gaves Colorado Mines the commanding 22-12 lead. With 8:52 left in the fourth, Ames connected on a 30-yard field goal, with the wind at his back to bring the score to 22-15 and within seven for the Skyhawks.
Mines then took possession of the ball with 8:43 left in regulation. They continued to hold possession for the next seven minutes and seven seconds in which they ran 13 plays for just 27 yards. Fort Lewis burned their remaining timeouts to ensure another possession before the end of the game, but Mines continued to get first downs. The Skyhawk defense eventually held the Orediggers and forced a pooch punt by the Mines quarterback.
The ensuing drive the Skyhawks took it the distance to tie the game at 22 a piece. Aaron Abel, the Orediggers' back up place kicker, then nailed the 36-yard field goal as time ran out.
Nieman finished the day 20-of-33 for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 15 yards and a score. Cummings grabbed seven catches for 102 yards and the touchdown, while Ames grabbed five catches for 36 yards and a score. Joel Johnson (Englewood, CO/Cherry Creek) led the Skyhawks' back field with 76 yards on 17 carries. He added five catches for 46 yards.
Fort Lewis racked up 290 yards of total offense compared the 357 yards by the Orediggers. Mines also held a slight advantage in time of possession with 31:30 compared to the Skyhawks' 28:30.
Mark Meng (Lake Arrowhead, CA/Chaffey CC) led the FLC defense with a game-high 14 tackles, eight of which were solo tackles. He added 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass break up in the loss. Justin Cuttbirth (Fontana, CA/Chaffey CC) finished with 11 total tackles, a sack and a pass break up.
David Pesek went 27-for-42 for 294 yards and two touchdowns in the game to lead the Orediggers' offensive attack. Adam Saur was his favorite receiver and grabbed five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown in the game. Derek Dykstra caught the other touchdown for Colorado Mines and added four other catches for 40 yards.
The Mines defense was led by Hunter Wardlow who had 10 tackles on the afternoon. The Orediggers defense recorded five sacks and seven pass break ups in the win.
The Skyhawks return to action next Saturday when they travel to Las Vegas, NM to take on the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands University for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
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