Box Score

CHADRON, Neb. — For three quarters, Fort Lewis (2-7 overall, 1-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) gave Chadron State all it could handle, trailing 28-21 entering the final stanza.

But 17 unanswered points in the fourth gave Chadron State (5-4, 5-2) a 45-21 victory today at Don Beebe Stadium.

“After feeling kind of disheveled last week, we came back with a good week of practice and kept growing,” said second-year FLC head coach Cesar Rivas-Sandoval. “We tried to come in and execute our game plan. The kids came back and played real hard. I was very proud of our kids that we grew from last week. We showed that we have the potential to be a pretty good team. We just need to keep working hard and it will eventually come.”

Fort Lewis struck early in both halves.

Freshman running back Van Gramann scored on a three-yard run just 3:39 into the first quarter after Tyree Ogsbury recovered a fumble at the CSC 12-yard line. FLC fumbled the PAT try, but held onto its 6-0 lead until late in the first period, when the Eagles' Cody Roes caught a four-yard TD pass from Brandon Gorsuch and took the lead on Alex Ferdinand's extra point with 3:48 left in the first.

Chadron scored 14 points in the second quarter on a 40-yard run from Brandon Gorsuch and a 20-yard TD pass from Gorsuch to Roes, but FLC answered each score with short field goals by Ryan Baldwin to go into halftime trailing 21-12.

The Skyhawks leveled the score at 21-21 early in the third quarter on a safety and a one-yard run by Tim Jenkins on the ensuing drive. Fort Lewis was aggressive to start the second half, recovering an onside kick and sacking Gorsuch for a safety.

From there, the Eagles composed themselves to score the game's final 24 points. Travis Reeves caught a seven-yard pass from Gorsuch with 6:14 left in the third to put CSC on top for good, 28-21.

The fourth quarter saw Gorsuch connect with Jeremy Sondrup on a 25-yard strike, Glen Clinton punch it in on a two-yard run, and Ferdinand hit a 36-yard field goal.

“We just ran out of bullets in the fourth quarter,” Rivas-Sandoval said. “We've got to play a full game, but that's a good Chadron team. It shows what a great job they've done in building one of the top programs in Division II.”

Gorsuch completed 24 of 36 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns in the game. His favorite target was Roes, who caught nine passes for 104 yards and two scores.

Following their first touchdown, the Eagles' offense stalled — producing just 24 yards on three drives — but CSC's defense did the same to Fort Lewis, forcing the Skyhawks into four straight three-and-outs. Third downs were particularly brutal for FLC, as the Skyhawks converted just one of 17 third down attempts.

Jonathan Price had a big game for the Skyhawks, returning four kickoffs for 118 yards — including a 60-yard runback to set up Baldwin's 22-yard field goal as the first half expired. Price also caught five passes for 41 yards.

Joey Alvarez led the FLC defense with 13 tackles (seven solo), including two tackles-for-losses of -6 yards and one sack. Eric Hills added 12 tackles (six solo).

Fort Lewis returns to Durango for its home finale next weekend, when it hosts No. 11 Nebraska-Kearney (8-1, 6-1) at noon at Ray Dennison Memorial Field. The game marks the final home appearance for eight seniors: Frank Atherton, David Ferris, Justin Garman, Jason Gay, Eric Hills, David Matos, Justin Peters, and Harrison Scheider.

The Skyhawk Booster Club will once again host a tailgate party in Skyhawk Gardens, located in the northeast corner of Dennison Field. Tailgating will begin at 11 a.m. and continue through the end of the third quarter. Campus dining will provide food, while beverages from Coca-Cola of Durango, A&L Coors, and Steamworks Brewing Company will be available for purchase.