DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College football team will play the second of three straight home games this Saturday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field against #9 Colorado School of Mines starting at noon.

The Skyhawks (1-5, 1-5 RMAC) battled back this past Saturday against Colorado Mesa and nearly pulled off the comeback before falling just short, 31-24. FLC tallied a 24-yard touchdown from Nick McNamee to Ta'Jon Mondy-Smith and then a 39-yard field goal from Beau McCannon to pull to within seven before Colorado Mesa was able to run the clock out and get a late interception to take the victory.

FLC is averaging 25.83 points per game and allowing 33.33 points. The offense has tallied 2,027 yards and 20 touchdowns, while the defense has forced 12 turnovers.

McNamee has completed 91-156 for 934 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 155.67 yards per game. Mason Hatton has caught 41 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns. Mondy-Smith has added 16 catches for 314 yards and five touchdowns. Parker Strahler adds 278 yards and two scores, while Arealous Hughes has 138 yards and a touchdown. Brayden Lucero has rushed 96 times for 440 times and a touchdown. On defense, Donell Pleasant III leads the team with 50 tackles, 35 solo, along with 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Isiah Mayberry adds 46 tackles, with eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Dre Cortez has 39 tackles, an interception and four passes broke up, along with a blocked kick. Lorenzo Tanner leads the team in sacks with three and both Suli Tukumoeatu and Cam Thierry have five passes defended.

FLC ranks high in the RMAC in several categories and nationally as well including fourth in the RMAC and 46^th nationally in fourth down conversion percentage on defense (.375), first in the RMAC and tied for first nationally in defensive touchdowns (4), first in the RMAC and sixth nationally in fumbles lost (2), fourth in the RMAC and 26^th nationally in fumbles recovered (6), third in the RMAC and 30^th nationally in net punting (37.34), fifth in the RMAC and 60^th nationally in passes intercepted (6), 60^th nationally in passing offense per game (236), third in the RMAC and 76^th nationally in rushing defense per game (148.8), fifth in the RMAC in scoring defense (33.3), fourth in the RMAC and 40^th nationally in team sacks per game (2.50), fourth in the RMAC and 46^th nationally in team tackles for loss (7.5), fifth in the RMAC in total defense per game (435.2), fourth in the RMAC and 46^th nationally in turnovers gained (12). Individually, Javonte Norman is seventh in the RMAC and 84^th nationally in combined kick return yards (257), while Ethan Williams is 10^th in the RMAC in the same category (222), McNamee ranks high in several categories including seventh in the RMAC and 63^rd nationally in completion percentage (0.583), fifth in the RMAC and 75^th nationally in completions per game (15.17), ninth in the RMAC and 90^th nationally in passing efficiency (118.2), sixth in the RMAC and 51^st nationally in passing touchdowns (10), seventh in the RMAC and 94^th nationally in passing yards (934), seventh in the RMAC in passing yards per game (155.7), 11^th in the RMAC in passing yards per completion (10.26) 10^th in the RMAC and 77^th nationally in points responsible for (62), 10^th in the RMAC and 87^th nationally in points responsible for per game (10.3) and ninth in the RMAC in total offense per game (150.2). Mayberry is tied for first in the RMAC and 26^th nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.33), he is also tied for sixth in the RMAC and 66^th nationally in fumbles recovered with one, along with Trevor David, Tim Paogofie and Jaelon Wright. Tukumoeatu is tied for first in the RMAC and fifth nationally in the same category with two. Pleasant III is sixth in the RMAC and 96^th nationally in interceptions per game (0.3), second in the RMAC and 21^st nationally in solo tackles per game (5.8) and ninth in the RMAC and 86^th nationally in total tackles per game (8.3). Williams is ninth in the RMAC and 74^th nationally in kickoff return yards per game (22.2), Thierry and Tukumoeatu are tied for eighth in the RMAC and 99^th nationally in passes defended (1.0), Max Peets is first in the RMAC and fifth nationally in punting per game average (45.1), Monday-Smith is fourth in the RMAC and 34^th nationally in receiving touchdowns (5), Hatton is eighth in the RMAC in receiving yards (363), Mondy-Smith is eighth in the RMAC in receiving yards per game (62.8), while Hatton is ninth in the RMAC in the same category (60.5), Hatton is third in the RMAC and 12^th nationally in receptions per game (6.8), Lucero is ninth in the RMAC and 63^rd nationally in rushing yards (440) and he is also ninth in the RMAC and 73^rd nationally in rushing yards per game (73.3), Mayberry is fourth in the RMAC and 72^nd nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.3), while Christopher Blanton, Tanner and George Marpaung are tied for eighth in the RMAC in the same category at 1.2 per game.

Colorado School of Mines enters the game ranked ninth nationally and are 6-0 on the season, 6-0 in the RMAC. Last year, the teams met in Golden on Sep. 30 and the Orediggers claimed a 41-7 victory. Bo Coleman passed for 174 yards and a touchdown in last year's game. Hughes caught one pass for 47 yards, while Hatton added five catches for 42 yards. Pleasant III had 11 tackles with an interception. Mayberry and Darrian Stickney posted eight tackles apiece. In 2016, the teams combined for 80 points in Durango with Colorado School of Mines taking the 45-35 victory. The Orediggers have won the last 11 meetings in the series with the last FLC win coming in 2006 (41-34 in Golden).  

Colorado School of Mines has won every game this season by at least double-digits, with the closest game being a 35-21 win over CSU-Pueblo. This past week, they took a 44-16 win over Western State in Gunnison. CSM averages 47.50 points per game and allows just 18.17. They average 549 yards per game and allow 331 yards. Isaac Harker has passed for 1,841 yards and 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Brody Oliver has caught 33 passes for 643 yards and 12 touchdowns. Sean O'Dell adds 34 catches for 459 yards and two scores. Riley Hoff also has over 400 yards, catching 33 passes for 431 and four touchdowns. Cameron Mayberry leads the rushing attack going for 740 yards on 125 carries and nine touchdowns. Brandon Farmer adds 247 yards on 39 attempts and three scores. Quarterback Harker also has three rushing touchdowns.

On defense, Averie Mansfield has 35 tackles, with 6.5 tackles for loss. Brockton Sterling has 3.5 sacks and Logan Bock adds three sacks. Geoff Keating has two interceptions.

Around the RMAC from this past week had Adams State defeating Chadron State in a shootout in Alamosa, 65-62. Colorado School of Mines remained perfect with a 44-16 win over Western State in Gunnison. CSU-Pueblo used a big second half to roll past New Mexico Highlands in Pueblo, 48-3. South Dakota Mines poured it on against in-state foe Black Hills State in Rapid City, 62-14. Dixie State ventured out of conference and traveled to Michigan where they faced Grand Valley State in Allendale with Grand Valley taking the 35-14 victory. This week's games have Colorado School of Mines at Fort Lewis kicking off first at noon, New Mexico Highlands travels to Black Hills State for a 1 p.m. kick, Adams State also travels to South Dakota to face South Dakota Mines at 1 p.m., Western State will play at Dixie State in St. George starting at 1 p.m. and CSU-Pueblo will be up in Grand Junction at Colorado Mesa for a 2 p.m. kick.

Standings around the RMAC have Colorado Mines as the only undefeated team entering the weekend at 6-0. CSU-Pueblo and Dixie State are tied for second at 4-1, Adams State and Chadron State are tied for fourth at 4-2, Colorado Mesa is sixth at 3-2, South Dakota Mines and New Mexico Highlands are tied for seventh at 2-3, Fort Lewis is ninth at 1-5, Western State is 10^th at 0-5 and Black Hills State is 11^th at 0-6.

Live video and stats will be available for the game.