Football | 10/4/2014 7:43:00 PM

Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – October 4, 2014 – Trailing 24-0 late in the second quarter, the Fort Lewis College football team nearly tied the game with two minutes left in regulation to force overtime, but the Western New Mexico University Mustangs held on to win their Homecoming game, 24-17.
 
The Mustangs scored all 24 of their points in the second quarter.  Jordan Gillen caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Doyle that capped a five play, 72-yard, 52-second drive to cut the lead, 24-7 with 1:12 left in the first half. 
 
Kipp Castanha made a 43-yard field goal at 4:57 in the third quarter to cut the lead down to 14, 24-10. 
 
The Skyhawks capitalized on a negative two-yard punt by the Mustangs with 6:19 left in regulation.  Starting on the Mustangs 44-yard line, PJ Hall ran nine yards to the WNMU 35-yard line.  On the next play, Trevor Bonifasi found Juquelle Thompson for a 35-yard touchdown pass that ended a two-play, 44-yard, 44-second drive.
 
The Skyhawk defense forced WNMU to a three-and-out on the ensuing drive.  Trailing 24-17 with 4:33 left in regulation, the Skyhawks took over on their own 36-yard line.  Hall started the drive with a 15 yard scamper to put the Skyhawks on WNMU's 49-yard line.  Louis Mensah rushed for three yards to the WNMU 46.  Bonifasi then connected with DJ Robinson for a 37-yard catch to the WNMU nine-yard line.  The Skyhawks were unable to find the end zone as the Mustangs defense held them out on four straight attempts.
 
The Skyhawks totaled 347 yards off offense, 154 of which came on the ground.
 
Ryan Ross recorded a game high 12 tackles.  One of his tackles went for a loss of six yards.  Shane Nelson added nine tackles and a quarterback hurry.  One of Joshua Roybal's seven tackles went for a one-yard loss.  Jack Faust added five tackles (1.5 tackles for a loss of six yards).
 
Louis Mensah led the Skyhawks running game with 45 yards on seven carries.  Hall added 37 rushing yards on five carries.  Doyle completed 14-of-23 passes for 117 yards and one score.  Bonifasi threw the ball five times, completing three of his attempts for 76 yards and a touchdown.
 
Thompson notched 61 receiving yards and a touchdown on three catches.
 
Joseph Cavale averaged 58.4 yards on four kickoffs.
 
The Mustangs Mitch Glasmann completed 21-of-38 passes for 284 yards and three scores.
 
Fort Lewis (1-4 overall, 0-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference), will play host to No. 2 Colorado State University-Pueblo next Saturday at 12 p.m.