Skyhawks Football Game Day Notes

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 | 12 p.m.
Fort Lewis Vs. Western New Mexico University | Durango, Colo. | Ray Dennison Memorial Field

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The Skyhawks will play their third home game in four weeks when they play host to Western New Mexico University in the Skyhawks annual Homecoming Game.
 
Fort Lewis is 23-19-1 all-time against Western New Mexico, and 14-8 when playing the Mustangs at home.
 
The Skyhawks will face a potent offensive unit from WNMU.  Quarterback Mitch Glasmann leads the league with 397.0 passing yards per game and 389.2 total offensive yards per game.  His top target is Xavier Ayers who has a league high 7.2 receptions per game for a league high 126.8 receiving yards per game.
 
Glasmann is coming off a game where he threw 501 yards and four touchdowns at Colorado State-Pueblo.  The four touchdowns gave him 100 for his career, marking a new RMAC record.  He needs 597 yards to become the RMAC career record holder for passing yards.
 
Western New Mexico is second in the league in scoring offense with 39.0 points per game, but they allow 34.5 points per game (sixth most in the RMAC).
 
For the first time in school history, the Fort Lewis College football team has was three straight games by scoring 40 or more points. The Skyhawks defeated New Mexico Highlands University Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas, N.M., 49-7, in the Cowboys Homecoming game.
 
The Skyhawks three game winning streak started Oct. 12 with a 41-20 home win over Oklahoma Panhandle State University, followed by last week's 48-7 home win over Black Hill State University. 
 
In three games against Division II teams, the Skyhawks are outscoring their opponents, 46.0-11.3 points per game.
 
Fort Lewis' 2-0 start in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is the first time the Skyhawks have started 2-0 in the RMAC since 1997.
 
The Skyhawks first score of the game was set up by junior linebacker Andrew Ike's interception.  Ike intercepted NMHU at the 32-yard line and returned it 18 yards. One play later, PJ Hall rushed in from 14 yards to give FLC a 7-0 lead at 6:44 in the first quarter.
 
Ike had a hand in the Skyhawks next score when he forced a fumble on NMHU's 18 yard line which was recovered by Theo Chambers who ran it in for a score to give the Skyhawks a 14-0 lead with 13:37 left in the first half.
 
Juquelle Thompson returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown to give FLC a 28-7 lead at NMHU on Saturday.  He finished the game with three punt returns for 75 yards and 2 kick off returns for 45 yards.  He totaled 154 all-purpose yards (34 receiving yards) against the Cowboys.
 
The Skyhawks lead the league in punting (39.5 yards net punting) point after touchdowns (20-for-20).  FLC ranks second in the league in total defense (335.5 yards per game), rushing defense (106.5 yards per game), fewest sacks against (24), and third down conversions (22-51, 43.1 percent).
 
PJ Hall is averaging 99.2 rushing yards per game, ranking him sixth in the league.  He has carried the ball 90 times and has rushed in for five scores.
 
Jordan Doyle's 82-yard pass to Juquelle Thompson against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sept. 12 is the second longest pass and reception in the RMAC this season.
 
Kipp Castanha's 47-yard field against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sept. 12 is the longest made field goal in the league.
 
Castanha ranks in the top 10 in the league in several categories, including PAT kicking percentage (first, 100%),  scoring-kicking (fifth, 7.5 points per game), punting average (sixth, 39.6 average), and field goals made (sixth, 66.7 percent).
 
Andrew Ike's 32 tackles are the 13th most in the league.  Fourteen of his tackles have been solo stops.
 
FLC's 4-2-5 defensive unit features Shane Nelson and Andrew Ike at linebacker.  Ike moved over to the defensive side of the ball after playing wide receiver in 2014. 
 
The Skyhawks secondary of Theo Chambers, Daniel Walker and Amery Duncan boasts speed and experience.
 
The offensive front line is the most experienced group for the Skyhawks.  Tyler Jones, Taylor Suta and Kenny Shinley have combined to start 49 games.  Accompanying them on the front line is Preston Geib and Matt Mahe, both of whom redshirted in 2014.
 
Sophomore tight end Austin Shaw played in 10 games as a true freshman.  His versatility to block and catch complement the Skyhawks passing game.