ALAMOSA, Colo. – November 8, 2014 – For the second week in a row, the Fort Lewis College football team had a 16-point lead before falling in the final quarter.  The Skyhawks lost a 34-30 decision at Adams State University Saturday afternoon at Rex Stadium in the annual Musket Game.
 
Shane Nelson scored the first touchdown of the game after picking off Auston Hillman and returning it 34 yards for the score, marking his second interception this season.  Nelson finished the game with the second most tackles on the team (seven).
 
Adams State tied the game on the ensuing drive, running four plays for 62 yards.
 
The Skyhawks scored 16 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 23-7 lead at halftime.
 
In the second quarter, Cameron Padilla rushed into the end zone from two yards out, capping a 14 play, 75 yard drive that lasted 5:40.  Padilla carried the ball seven times for 19 yards on the scoring drive for a 14-7 Skyhawks lead.
 
Fort Lewis added two points on the scoreboard to extend their lead to nine, 16-7 after a safety.  The Skyhawks defense forced the Grizzlies to a three-and-out and a punt on the ASU 41 yard line.  A bad snap on the punt resulted in a Skyhawks safety with 4:46 left in the first half.
 
Padilla scored his second touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive.  The Skyhawks drive was set up by a 55-yard return by Juquelle Thompson.  Thompson fielded the ball on the Skyhawks 25-yard line and was brought down to the ASU 20-yard line.  Padilla carried the ball for a one yard gain to start the drive before Trevor Bonifasi completed a nine yard pass to DJ Robinson for a first down.  Padilla rushed again for a four yard gain before punching it in from three yards out.  The four-play, 20-yard drive lasted 1:50 and gave the Skyhawks a 23-7 lead.
 
On the last drive of the half, the Grizzlies ran 12 plays for 51 yards but the Skyhawks defense held them out of the end zone.
 
Adams State scored quickly to start the second half, running four plays that lasted 96 seconds.  Hillman completed a 44 yard pass to cut the Skyhawks lead to 10, 23-13 (ASU missed the extra point attempt).
 
The Skyhawks were forced to punt on their first drive of the second half, but a 51-yard punt by Kipp Castanha put the ball on the Grizzlies 12 yard line.  Ten plays later and four personal foul penalties on the Skyhawks for 60 yards led the Grizzlies to their third score of the game.  The Skyhawks 16-point halftime lead was down to three points, 23-20.
 
After not scoring in the third quarter, the Skyhawks found the end zone on the first drive of the fourth quarter.  Bonifasi started the drive with a 14-yard scamper before Louis Mensah rushed for 19 yards on the next four plays.  Bonifasi found Mensah on the sixth play of the drive for a 28-yard touchdown score to bring the Skyhawks lead back to 10, 30-20.
 
On the next drive, Theo Chambers recorded his third interception of the season and the Skyhawks second of the game when he intercepted Hillman's pass on the Grizzlies second play of the drive.  However, the Skyhawks were forced to punt on their next drive with 7:49 left in regulation.
 
The Grizzlies would find the end zone two more times to earn the win, 34-30.
 
The Skyhawks ran 67 plays for 322 yards of total offense.  They out-rushed the Grizzlies, 149 yards to 122 yards.  FLC committed 11 penalties for 126 yards but scored 14 point off of turnovers.
 
Padilla led the Skyhawks running game with 57 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns.  Bonifasi completed 13-of-24 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown (one interception).  He also added 54 rushing yards.
 
Esley Simmons, III caught three passes for 51 yards.  DJ Robinson also added three catches for 32 yards and Andrew Johnson tallied 31 receiving yards on three catches.
 
Castanha punted eight times for 349 yards, an average of 43.6 yards per punt.  He landed three inside the 20-yard line, including two that were at least 50-yards and two that were fair caught.
 
Ryan Ross recorded a game high 10 tackles (six solo) and one tackle for a loss.  Two of Sione Folaumoeloa's five tackles went for a loss of six yards.
 
The Skyhawks will play their final game of the season on Nov. 15 at 12 p.m.  The Skyhawks will play host to Chadron State College at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.