DURANGO, Colo. — The Fort Lewis football team opens its 2012 season when they host New Mexico Highlands at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field. Not only is the game FLC's season opener, it's also the lone Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference league game slated this coming weekend.
 
“We are more than excited to get our RMAC schedule started this weekend with the Cowboys,” said third-year FLC head coach Cesar Rivas-Sandoval. “I believe they will have as much or more talent than anyone in our conference this year, so we will have a great indication of where we fit in the race for a conference title by late Saturday afternoon.”
 
The game is also youth day. Children age 12 and younger are admitted free of charge (normally children ages 6-12 are admitted for $3).
 
“We want to have our communities more involved with what we are doing up at FLC with football,” said Rivas-Sandoval. “Our players and staff have a vested interest in bring the youth from the Four Corners region in and around our program. They are what we hope to be a large portion of our talent for years to come. Plus, our players love having the young kids around. During our summer youth camps, our players say it's the most fun they get to have all summer. Other FLC athletic teams have laid out a great blueprint for us to follow. We hope to have a similar success in involving our Four Corners youth football program with ours.”
 
Prior to the game, Bent Urban Sports Bar & Grill will host a tailgate party at 11 a.m. in the parking lot directly east of Ray Dennison Memorial Field. Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, BBQ grills, pop-up tents and meet their friends before the game. Prizes will be awarded for best tailgating experience and enthusiasm.
 
Gates to Ray Dennison Memorial Field will open at noon. The Skyhawk Booster Club will once again sponsor a hospitality area at noon. The Highlands game features food from CJ's Diner, along with beverages from Coca-Cola of Durango and A&L Coors. The hospitality area will be open to qualifying members of the Skyhawk Booster Club and corporate partners; however, food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for sale to the general public.
 
“We are excited about our improved hospitality area and are encouraging our fans to come early and enjoy the entertainment,” said FLC Director of Athletics Gary Hunter.
 
Adult tickets cost $10, while tickets for senior citizens (ages 65+) and students (ages 13-18) cost $5. Fort Lewis College faculty, staff, and students are admitted free with valid FLC ID. Season ticket packages are also available (20-punch passes for $150, all-sport and hospitality passes for $250). Contact Assistant Director of Athletics for Development Wayne Barger at barger_w@fortlewis.edu or (970) 247-7576 for information about these passes.
 
Fort Lewis officially had a bye last weekend, although they did defeat Cole College 47-13 in an exhibition game at Recht Field in Boulder. Cole has aspirations of joining the NAIA in the future, but currently isn't recognized by the NCAA or NAIA.
 
New Mexico Highlands (1-0 overall) trounced Eastern New Mexico 42-14 in their season opener last Saturday.
 
The Cowboys own a 25-15 lead in the all-time series, although Fort Lewis has won the last two meetings — a 36-13 rout in Durango on Nov. 13, 2010 and a 6-3 nail-biter in Las Vegas, N.M., last Nov. 12 to end the 2011 season.
 
Skyhawk fans can expect the 2012 team to put up huge numbers offensively. Senior quarterback Tim Jenkins (6-foot-3, 220 lbs.) will start under center for the fourth year in a row. With 7,040 career passing yards, he needs just 178 yards to move into third place all-time in school history.
 
“Tim is the man,” said Rivas-Sandoval, who spent much of his off-season recruiting efforts solidifying the Skyhawk receiving corps.
 
Top newcomers include transfers Jordan Benton (Jr., 6-0, 190, Michigan State), Amery Duncan (R-Fr., 5-9, 185, Abilene Christian), and Micah Young (Jr., 6-3, 200, San Diego Mesa). The Skyhawks also have a strong contingent of returning receivers, including Jonathan Price (Sr., 5-11, 185, 44 catches for 546 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2011), Doyle Bode (Jr., 5-11, 195, 29 catches, 259 yards, 1 TD in 2011), and Jesse Freeman (So., 6-3, 220, 10 catches, 91 yards in 2011).
 
“Price, Bode, and Freeman are solid guys who return,” said Rivas-Sandoval. “We've added some speed to that group.”
 
The running backs are a young group, led by returning starter Van Gramann (So., 5-11, 170). As a true freshman in 2011, Gramann led FLC in receiving (47 catches, 273 yards, 3 TDs) and rushing (114 carries, 315 yards, 1 TD). He also made national headlines by scoring two touchdowns in a 10-second span in FLC's 2011 season-opening, 48-30 win over South Dakota Mines. Gramann scored on a 70-yard catch and run and then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and returned it 17 yards for a second score.
 
“Obviously Van Gramann had a solid freshman season,” said his coach. “We brought in a lot of running backs to compete with him, though.”
 
The offensive line will be anchored by three returners — left tackle Evan Wagstrom (6-4, 270), right guard Estevan Lucero (6-1, 290), and right tackle Antonio Alicea (6-7, 300). True freshman Robert Carlson (6-5, 220) and redshirt freshman Taylor Suta (6-1, 250) earned starting nods out of training camp at left guard and center, respectively.
 
“We're looking for our guys up front to really step up,” said Rivas-Sandoval.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, the Skyhawks will run a unique formation featuring three linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs.
 
The defense will once again be led by preseason All-RMAC linebacker Phil Odell (Sr., 6-1, 215), who has ranked among league tackling leaders in each of his first three seasons in the navy and white. With 260 career tackles, Odell is within striking distance of the No. 1 tackling spot in the school record book, held by FLC Athletic Hall of Famer Shane Voss (356 tackles, 1990-93).
 
“He's been a very productive football player the past three years in the conference and opposing coaches have noticed,” said Rivas-Sandoval.
 
The Skyhawks field their largest-ever roster in 2012. 123 players reported for training camp in August.
 
“We're a lot more competitive at each position,” summarized Rivas-Sandoval. “We're not thinking too much about our schedule yet. The kids who are been in the program are a year older and bigger, faster, stronger. Every year that you're at a place, your recruiting class gets better. We added some age and some experience at a lot of key positions.”