BOULDER, Colo. — After three weeks of practice, the Fort Lewis football team was eager to line up against a different team in preparation for their 2012 season.
 
They took full advantage of their opportunities last night, beating Cole College 47-13 in an exhibition game at Recht Field. The score was 47-0 at intermission.
 
“We probably could have scored a couple more touchdowns before halftime,” said third-year FLC head coach Cesar Rivas-Sandoval. “We pulled all the starters and played every single person who made the trip, other than the kids we wanted to redshirt.
 
“It was a good day,” Rivas-Sandoval summarized. “Everybody played and we walked out relatively injury-free.”
 
Statistics were not kept at the exhibition contest and the victory does not count toward FLC's overall record — although the game does count against FLC's NCAA-allowable 11-game schedule. Cole College is a second-year, unaffiliated program with hopes of joining the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) in the future.
 
Now the Skyhawks prepare for their regular season, conference, and home opener at 1 p.m. next Saturday against New Mexico Highlands (1-0 overall) at Ray Dennison Memorial Field. Gates will open at noon.
 
Fort Lewis was one of two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams to not play an official game on opening weekend (RMAC newcomer Black Hills State was the other).
 
Next weekend's foe, Highlands, trounced Eastern New Mexico 42-14 in Las Vegas, N.M., yesterday.
 
All totaled, RMAC teams went 5-3 in opening weekend action. In addition to the Highlands win, Colorado State-Pueblo beat West Texas A&M 44-34, Colorado Mines best William Jewell 57-16, Western New Mexico beat Sul Ross State 54-44, and Adams State beat Dixie State 17-9.
 
RMAC teams suffering losses included Colorado Mesa (38-19 to Humboldt State), Chadron State (33-6 to Montana State), and Western State (42-14 to Angelo State).