October 3, 2009.  Gunnison, CO. -  The Fort Lewis Football team fought all sixty minutes earlier this afternoon in a game that went back and forth but fell to the Mountaineers of Western State in the final seconds of the game by the score of 27-31. The Skyhawks fall to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the RMAC.

Western State was able to strike first when QB Tyler Daniels found Aguilar in the endzone for four yard pass making it 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Skyhawks were quick to answer back in the first few minutes of the second quarter when Tim Jenkins aired a pass to Phillip Dodd for a 12 yard TD tieing the game at 7 apiece. Western state came back with three minutes left in the first half to go up once again on a 26 yard TD pass to make it 14-7.

The game looked like it was slipping from the Skyhawks in the start of the second half as the Mountaineers kicked a field goal to go up 17-7 but the Skyhawks weren't done yet. On their next possession the Skyhawks scored in just three plays on a 26 yards strike from Jenkins to WR Brandon Schneider to cut the Mountaineers lead to17-14. Western State looked to have pulled away again by scoring on their following drive on another Daniels TD pass making it 24-14. It was Fort Lewis's turn and they wasted no time scoring on another 3-play scoring cap. A 22 yard pass and a 6 yard pass to Justin Johsnon set up the one yard rushing TD by Jenkins to bring the score to 20-24 after a failed extra point.

On the ensuing drive by Western, Kevin Wegrzyn was able to force and recover the fumble by the Mountaineers QB. A few plays later the Skyhawks found themsleves with the lead after another Jenkins rush from 4 yards out  to mkaie 27-24. The Skyhawks stopped Western on their next drive and put themselves in field goal territory but missed giving the ball back to the Mountaineers who were able to score with 12 seconds left in the game to defeat the Skyhawks 31-27.

Fort Lewis accumulated 281 total offense yards, 272 of those in the air. Jenkins went 23-44 with 4 total touchdowns on the day. Justin Johnson finished with 13 catches for 171 yards. Joel Johnson led the defense with 12 total tackles followed by Kelly Bradley with 8.

The Skyhwaks return to Durango for Homecoming next weekend as they take on Adams State on Saturday at 2:00 pm.