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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Larriva, Cuellar
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography
21
Fort Lewis College FLC 0-3 , 0-3
31
Winner Chadron St. CSCFB 2-1 , 2-1
Fort Lewis College FLC
0-3 , 0-3
21
Final
31
Chadron St. CSCFB
2-1 , 2-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FLC Fort Lewis College 0 7 7 7 21
CSCFB Chadron St. 0 10 0 21 31

Game Recap: Football | | Brian Kortz

Football Plays Wild Fourth Quarter at Chadron State

CHADRON, Neb. – No matter the location, when the Fort Lewis College football team matches up with Chadron State College, it always seems to come down to the fourth quarter. It was no different this time, as the teams exchanged leads in the final frame before Chadron State was able to use a couple of big plays to take the 31-21 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Elliott Field.

Both defenses had their way throughout the first half, with CSC (2-1, 2-1 RMAC) moving out to a 10-0 lead before halftime. Although FLC (0-3, 0-3 RMAC) didn't score until the next drive after trailing 10-0, they had some solid chances earlier in the game.

On their second drive, the Skyhawks moved to the Chadron State 25, thanks to a big 47-yard pass from Jake Lowry to Xavier Thibodeaux. A big sack helped stall the drive and resulted in a punt. With Nick McNamee in a quarterback, he completed a 25-yard pass to Parker Strahler and then an 11-yard strike to Mason Hatton in front of a 49-yard scamper by Brayden Lucero that had FLC in business at the three. The Skyhawks tried four cracks at the end zone and after the first two rushes netted one yard each, an incomplete pass made it fourth-and-goal at the one. Lucero then took the carry, but was hit in the backfield for a loss to turn the ball over on downs. Keenan Johnson had some big plays on the series as he came up with all three tackles on the run attempts.

After all this, the game was still scoreless until Chadron State capped an 18 play, 75 yard drive with a 39-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead with nine minutes to play before halftime. The Eagles moved the lead to 10-0 on their next possession, but FLC was able to answer right before the break.

Lucero started the drive with a 27-yard run and then McNamee completed three of his next four passes, the first to Ta'Jon Mondy-Smith for 25 yards and then two straight to Hatton, one for nine yards and the other for a four-yard touchdown leaving CSC with a 10-7 lead at halftime.

It was a struggle to gain traction again for both teams in the third quarter when the FLC defense came up big. On third-and-nine at the CSC eight, TD Stein looked to pass and rolled back into the end zone when he was strip-sacked by Lorenzo Tanner and Isiah Mayberry fell on the recovery in the end zone to give FLC a 14-10 lead with 7:29 to play in the third.

The Eagles looked ready to answer, as they moved right back into FLC territory before the defense came up big to stop the drive and force a 42-yard field goal that was missed wide left leaving FLC in front.

Just when FLC had all the momentum, a similar play the Skyhawk defense made was also made by the Eagle defense. Out near midfield, McNamee rolled out to his left and Tyler Lewis hit him from before for his own strip-sack and Calder Forcella recovered the ball at the FLC 31. Five plays later, Chadron State was in the end zone as they regained the lead 17-14 early in the fourth quarter

The Skyhawks didn't go away, as an early interference call on third down kept a drive alive that would end up going 14 plays and 75 yards. A big third-and-14 was converted at the CSC 23 when McNamee found Arealous Hughes for 14 yards to the nine for a first down. On third-and-goal at the one, McNamee hit a wide open Hatton in the corner of the end zone to boost the Skyhawks to a 21-17 lead with 8:07 to play in the game.

FLC stuffed Chadron State on a drive down to the Skyhawk four to turn the ball over on downs, but then a big special teams play turned the game around. On the next possession, FLC went three-and-out and on the ensuing punt, Max Peets had no time to get the punt away as the Eagles sent the house and Dickerson blocked the punt and also recovered it in the end zone to push Chadron State back in front 24-21 with 5:14 to play.

The teams traded possessions and FLC still had time with 1:54 to play to try and either tie or win the game, but on second-and-five, McNamee's pass was intercepted by Barthwell and he returned it 21 yards for the touchdown to seal the victory for the Eagles.

FLC outgained CSC 426-372, with 326 coming through the air. McNamee completed 22-39 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Lucero rushed 16 times for 125 yards and Thibodeaux caught three passes for 86 yards. Strahler added three for 67 yards, Hatton with eight catches for 61 yards and Mondy-Smith snagged three passes for 53 yards.

Donell Pleasant III was all over the field for FLC as he led the way with 14 tackles, nine solo, along with two tackles for loss. Dre Cortez reached double-digit tackles with 10. Joshua Cuellar, Christopher Blanton and Tanner all had a sack.

Dalton Holst completed 19-34 for 221 yards and two touchdowns to lead Chadron State. Kevin Coy, Jr. rushed 23 times for 77 yards. Fullerton caught five passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. Johnson led the defense with 11 tackles, one for loss and had seven solo stops.

FLC will now return home for the first time over the past two weeks and will play their first game of the season at Ray Dennison Memorial next Saturday at noon against Black Hills State. Black Hills State fell in a shootout earlier in the day to Adams State, 44-41.
 
 
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