DURANGO, Colo. – September 9, 2016 – Trailing by nine points with 10 minutes left in regulation, the Fort Lewis College football team rallied back to take a 36-32 lead over Black Hills State University with 5:30 minutes left in the game.  The Yellow Jackets found the back of the end zone for the fifth time against FLC to hand the Skyhawks a 39-36 loss in their home opener at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
 
The loss moves the Skyhawks to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while BHSU stays undefeated (2-0, 2-0 RMAC).
 
On the second play of the game, the Skyhawks were intercepted on their 31-yard line by Drew Hebel who returned it 30 yards to set up Phydell Paris' one-yard touchdown run.
 
The Yellow Jackets second drive of the game resulted in a punt that was returned 29 yards by Daniel Walker to set up a short field for the Skyhawks on the BHSU 24-yard line.  Drake Griffin rushed for seven yards before PJ Hall scampered in from 17 yards out to bring FLC within one point, 7-6 (extra point attempt failed).
 
FLC took a 13-7 lead with 3:45 left in the first quarter.  Larry Cutbirth completed a 10-yard pass to AJ Shaw for the third score of the quarter. 
 
The Skyhawks were forced to punt on fourth-and-17 from their own 34-yard line to start the second quarter.  Joseph Cavale's 40-yard punt was fumbled on BHSU's 22-yard line and recovered by Matson Hatton.  Five plays later Cutbirth found Jordan Gillen for an eight-yard score to lift FLC to a 20-7 lead with 9:51 left in the first half.
 
BHSU came back on the ensuring drive and capped off a nine play, 75-yard drive to cut the Skyhawks lead down to six, 20-14.
 
With 23 ticks left in the half, BHSU took their second lead of the game to head into halftime, 21-20.
 
FLC's defense forced the Yellow Jackets to a three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half.  Five plays later the Skyhawks were forced to punt from their 16-yard line.  A bad snap out of the end zone resulted in a safety that gave the Yellow Jackets a 23-20 lead. 
 
BHSU tallied their fourth straight score at 2:18 in the third quarter to finish off a 13-play, 74-yard drive.  BHSU's two-point attempt failed to give them a 29-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Nine plays into their drive, the Skyhawks rally started when Cavale made a 26-yard field goal to bring FLC within six, 29-23.  BHSU answered on the next drive with a 42-yard field goal to regain their nine-point lead at 10:26. 
 
David Nesting's 12-yard kickoff return set the Skyhawks drive to start on their 42-yard line.  Drake Griffin carried the ball three times for 23 yards on the drive, including a 16-yard run for a touchdown.  The Skyhawks second missed extra point attempt brought them within three points of BHSU, 32-29, with 6:57 left in the game.
 
Tyrell Thomas gave the Skyhawks a 36-32 lead after he tallied a pick six from 29 yards out and the potential game-winning score.
 
On the ensuing drive, the Yellow Jackets ate up over four minutes of the clock and capped a 14-play, 77-yard drive with a touchdown to seal the win, 39-36.
 
FLC accounted for 356 yards of total offense on 69 plays.  The Skyhawks rushed for 224 yards and threw for 132 yards.  The Skyhawks converted on 3-of-11 third downs and went 5-for-5 in the red zone.
 
Griffin led the ground game with 113 yards and one score on 17 carries.  PJ Hall added 60 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.  Cutbirth completed nine passes on 22 attempts for 132 yards and two scores (two interceptions).  Gillen caught six of Cutbirth's passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
 
The defense was led by Andrew Ike who had 11 tackles.  Ryneal Lewis-Adams and Shane Nelson added nine tackles each.  Nelson posted two tackles for five yards.  OJ Thompson sacked the Yellow Jackets twice for a loss of 15 yards to go with his seven tackles.
 
FLC will travel to Adams State University next Saturday in the annual Musket Game.  Kick off is set for 1 p.m.