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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Erik Ornduff
Bradley Blume, SDSMT
34
Fort Lewis College FLC 1-9 , 1-9
35
Winner SD MINES SDFB 5-6 , 4-6
Fort Lewis College FLC
1-9 , 1-9
34
Final
35
SD MINES SDFB
5-6 , 4-6
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
FLC Fort Lewis College 7 14 0 7 6 34
SDFB SD MINES 7 14 7 0 7 35

Game Recap: Football | | Brian Kortz

Football Caps Season With Wild OT Game Against Hardrockers

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Battling a lengthy road trip, a fierce wind and a fast-paced offense, the Fort Lewis College football team showed fight as they stayed right with South Dakota Mines. After forcing a late turnover to keep the game tied and send into overtime, the Hardrockers were able to survive with a 35-34 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon.

Fitting for a game between these teams over the years, as it usually comes down to the final play. After South Dakota Mines (5-6, 4-6 RMAC) scored first late in the first quarter, FLC (1-9, 1-9 RMAC) would strike right back when Erik Ornduff hit Arealous Hughes for a 65-yard TD to tie the game at seven with 2:22 to play in the opening quarter.

A muffed snap on a punt attempt helped setup the Skyhawks deep in Hardrocker territory early in the second quarter. On the very next snap after the turnover on downs, Brayden Lucero broke free for a 13-yard TD to push FLC to a 14-7 lead with 14:47 to go before halftime.

South Dakota Mines answered with a pair of scores to go in front 21-14, although FLC would knot it back up before the break. A big third down pickup on a 29-yard pass from Ornduff to Ta'Jon Mondy-Smith set the table for a 16-yard TD strike from Ornduff to Mason Hatton to tie the game at 21 heading into halftime.

Despite all the scoring in the first half, it was tough sledding for both teams in the second half. FLC went against the wind to start the third quarter and used a heavy ground attack to chew up clock and yards.

After trading several possessions, a key special teams play by South Dakota Mines helped setup their fourth touchdown of the game when they blocked a punt that rolled out of bounce at the FLC 21. Three plays later, the Hardrockers found the end zone to move in front 28-21 with just 37 seconds to play in the third quarter.

FLC answered in the fourth quarter and with the wind at their back, began to move downfield. Faced with a fourth-and-four at the South Dakota Mines' 38, the Skyhawks lined up for a field goal, but faked it and Nick McNamee tried to find Tim Paogofie, but he was held resulting in a pass interference penalty for a key first down.

Following a first down rush by Ornduff, he then found Mondy-Smith for a 22-yard strike resulting in a touchdown to even the score at 28 with 11:38 to play in the game.

Both defenses made big stops the rest of the way, with Cam Thierry coming away with an interception to stop one drive and then with just two minutes remaining, South Dakota Mines got the ball back and looked to drive for the winning score.

On a pass completion that went across midfield, Suli Tukumoeatu made a big play when his hit forced a fumble that was recovered by Thierry. Thierry picked it up in stride and went 15 yards down to the Hardrocker 38 with still 59 seconds to play.

The Skyhawks moved the ball down to the 13 and after setting up the ball in the middle of the field, it setup a 35-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left. Beau McCannon's kick, with the wind swirling, had the distance, but went just wide left right at the buzzer to keep the game tied at 28 and heading into overtime.

FLC got the ball first in OT and having to start at the 40 due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, moved right down the field, with a pass from Ornduff to Jack Harper going for 11 yards down to the 22. After a rushing loss, Ornduff went back to Hughes down by the goal line hauling in a 22-yard completion to the one. On the next snap, Ornduff bootlegged out to the right and went in untouched for the score to give FLC a 34-28 lead. The ensuing extra point was missed leaving it a six-point game.

That would prove to be big as the Hardrockers picked up a third-and-five and on the next snap, Sullivan found Zur for a 12-yard TD to tie the game at 34. Sefa then converted the extra point, with the Skyhawks generating a lot of pressure off the edge, but just missed blocking it, as the kick sent South Dakota Mines to a 35-34 victory.

South Dakota Mines held a 394-360 edge in total yards, with both teams passing for over 200 yards with the Hardrockers going for 293 and 245 for FLC. Ornduff completed 13-19 for 245 yards and three touchdowns, he also added 41 yards on the ground and another score. Harper led the rushing attack going for 67 yards on 20 carries. Lucero added six carries for 31 yards and a touchdown. Hughes caught four passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. Mondy-Smith brought in a pair of receptions for 51 yards and a score.

On defense, Tukumoeatu was once again all over the field with 12 tackles, nine coming solo. He also forced two fumbles and had two passes broken up. Darrian Stickney collected nine tackles, with four being solo.

Sullivan completed 26-50 for 293 yards and four touchdowns to pace South Dakota Mines. Hoopman rushed 16 times for 57 yards and a score. Manley caught 11 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Broekmeier had 15 tackles, with nine solo, along with three tackles for loss and a sack.

It was the second overtime game of the season for FLC, as the other one also came on the road at Adams State back on Sep. 29. This year's game in Rapid City had a similar feel to the last meeting the teams played in South Dakota, as FLC won 53-52 back in 2016 on a two-point conversion in overtime.
 
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