2014 Skyhawks Football Game Day Notes

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Fort Lewis will travel to Adams State University to face the Grizzlies in the annual Musket Game.

The Springfield .45-70 military issue rifle that serves as the traveling trophy between Fort Lewis College and Adams State University was donated in 1966 to the two athletic departments by Mahlon "Butch" White, who was involved with the First National Banks in both Alamosa and Durango, in memory of William White. The rifle is to be retained by the winning school at their annual football game. Traditionally, seniors from the winning team get to fire the rifle at the conclusion the game.

The Skyhawks are 14-33-1 all-time in the Musket Game.  The last time they won at Adams State was in 2010 (W, 14-7).  The last time the Skyhawks defeated Adams State was last season at Ray Dennison Memorial Field (W, 27-24).

Both teams enter Saturday's matchup with identical records (3-6 overall,  2-5 RMAC).

The Grizzlies are ranked eighth in the league in scoring offense (27.3 points per game), fifth in scoring defense (31.0), ninth in total offense (377.1), eighth in sacks (13-72 yards) and fifth in sacks against (16-99).  In the red zone, the Grizzlies are second in the league after scoring 27 times on 31 chances (87.1 percent).  They are fifth in the league when their opponent is in the red zone, allowing their opponent to score 24 of 29 chances (82.8 percent).


Individual Notes
Sione Folaumoeloa recorded a season high three sacks and three tackles for a loss against Western State.  Folaumoeloa finished the game with six tackles.  Four of his tackles came on third down.

In nine games this season, Folaumoeloa ranks 13th in the league in sacks and 12th in tackles for loss.  He has recorded 3.5 sacks for a loss of 12 yards.  Nine of his tackles have gone for a loss of 28 yards (seven solo TFL).

Trevor Bonifasi started his first game of the season after replacing starting quarterback Jordan Doyle who suffered a season ending leg injury at Colorado Mesa.  Bonifasi completed 13-of-27 passes for 86 yards and one touchdown (no interceptions). He also carried the ball 10 times for 65 yards.

Junior transfer Cameron Padilla saw significant playing time against the Mountaineers.  Padilla rushed for 133 yards on 27 carries and scored his first touchdown of the season.  His fourth quarter, 11-yard touchdown run gave the Skyhawks a 23-21 lead.

Junior linebacker Ryan Ross continues to be ranked in the top 10 in the league in tackles.  Ross has posted 82 tackles (47 solo) through nine games, averaging 9.1 tackles per game.


Academic Success
Four Skyhawk student-athletes were named to the 2014 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic Football Team: junior quarterback Jordan Doyle, sophomore wide receiver Jordan Gillen, junior offensive lineman Taylor Suta, and senior linebacker Derik Wetzel.
 
To qualify for Academic All-RMAC, student-athletes must have a grade point average of 3.30 or better, be a starter or reserve, and have completed two consecutive semesters or three quarters at their current institution. Their cumula­tive GPA is what they had earned prior to football season beginning. RMAC Sports Information Directors at schools that sponsor the sport of football selected the first team. 
 
A Business Administration major with a 3.57 grade point average, Jordan Doyle has completed 144 passes on 253 attempts for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.  The RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15, Doyle threw for a season high 373 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 86 yards and three scores in a come-from-behind win at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sept. 13.  Doyle is fifth in the league in total offense with 252.9 yards per game, and second on the team in rushing with 341 yards.
 
A Durango native, Jordan Gillen has a 3.55 GPA in Accounting.  A wide receiver, Gillen has caught 15 passes for 167 and two touchdowns.  In an upset win on Oct. 11 against Colorado State-Pueblo, Gillen caught the first touchdown of the game.  He then finished the game throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Juquelle Thompson to seal the win, 23-22.  He is averaging 11.1 yards per catch.
 
Suta is an offensive lineman from Littleton, Colo.  He owns a 3.42 GPA in Political Science.  Suta has played in six of the Skyhawks games this season.
 
Senior Derek Wetzel is an Exercise Science major with a 3.34 GPA.  In four games, he has tallied nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss of eight yards, and one sack.