DURANGO, Colo. – Following two straight games away from Durango, the Fort Lewis College football team returns back home this week to get their first game at Ray Dennison when they face Black Hills State University this Saturday at noon.

FLC (0-3, 0-3 RMAC) came oh so close to a victory last week, as Chadron State had to use a couple of late scores to pick up the victory. Nick McNamee came on in relief at quarterback and completed 22-39 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Brayden Lucero rushed for 125 yards, while Xavier Thibodeaux brought down three receptions for 86 yards.

On defense, Donell Pleasant III posted 14 tackles, with two going for loss. Dre Cortez had 10 tackles. Lorenzo Tanner posted eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack that was a strip-sack in the end zone that Isiah Mayberry recovered for a touchdown.

So far this season, Lucero leads the rushing attack posting 234 yards on 51 carries. Jake Lowry has 166 yards and two scores. Lowry has completed 33-72 for 482 yards and two scores. Ta'Jon Mondy-Smith leads the receivers with eight catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Mason Hatton has 19 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns as well.

Max Peets remains one of the top punters in the nation as he averages 44.78 per punt, forcing four fair catches, three landing inside the 20 and eight that have traveled for over 50 yards. He has a long of 74 yards this season.

FLC and BHSU split the past two meetings, with the Yellow Jackets winning in Durango back in 2016, 39-36 and the Skyhawks claiming the 17-13 win in Spearfish last year. PJ Hall rushed 24 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in last year's game. Lucero added 12 attempts for 45 yards. Hatton had two catches for 37 yards. Darrian Stickney led the team with 10 tackles, with four bring solo. Cortez, Mayberry and Frank Larriva added eight tackles apiece.

Ben Sjobakken came on in relief of Ryan Hommel at quarterback for BHSU and completed 9-21 for 126 yards and a touchdown. Hommel rushed six times for 91 yards and a touchdown. Hairston-Belche grabbed two passes for 50 yards and a score. Thayer Sauter recorded 16 tackles, with three going for loss.

In the series between the teams since 2012, BHSU holds a 4-2 advantage, but FLC has won two of the past three meetings. FLC is 1-2 at home against the Yellow Jackets. The Skyhawks have the largest margin of victory in the series when they rolled to a 48-7 win in Durango back in 2015.

FLC ranks in the top-five in the RMAC in terms of fourth in the RMAC and 76^th nationally in third down conversion percentage defense (.364), fifth in the RMAC and 43^rd nationally in first downs offense (64), fourth in the RMAC and 56^th nationally in fumbles lost (2), fifth in the RMAC and 48^th nationally in passing offense per game (248.3), fourth in the RMAC and 50^th nationally in passing yards per completion (13.55), fourth in the RMAC and 67^th nationally in punt return defense (6.50), third in the RMAC and 19^th nationally in team tackles for loss (9.0), fifth in the RMAC and 75^th nationally in time of possession (30:20).

Individually, Javonte Norman is fourth in the RMAC and 27^th nationally in combined kick return yards (227), Hogan Keasler is sixth in the RMAC and 72^nd nationally in field goal percentage (50), while also coming in fourth in the RMAC and 67^th nationally in field goals per game (0.67). Tanner is second in the RMAC and 59^th nationally in forced fumbles (0.33), Mayberry is tied for first in the RMAC and 18^th nationally in fumbles recovered (1), Norman is fifth in the RMAC and 78^th nationally in kickoff return average (20.6), Suli Tukumoeatu is third in the RMAC and 23^rd nationally in passes defended per game (1.7), Lowry is third in the RMAC and 21^st nationally in passing yards per completion (14.61), Peets is second in the RMAC and 11^th nationally in punting per game (44.8), Hatton and Mondy-Smith is fifth in the RMAC and 70^th nationally in receiving touchdowns and Mondy-Smith is fifth in the RMAC and 72^nd nationally in receiving yards and fifth in the RMAC and 80^th nationally in receiving yards per game (72.7), Hatton is second in the RMAC and 30^th nationally in receptions per game (6.3), Pleasant III is third in the RMAC and 34^th nationally in solo tackles (6.0), Christopher Blanton is third in the RMAC and 24^th nationally in tackles for loss per game (2.0), while Mayberry is fifth in the RMAC and 62^nd nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.5), Pleasant III is fourth in the RMAC and 40^th nationally in solo tackles (10) and Mondy-Smith is first in the RMAC and 11^th nationally in yards per reception (27.25).

Black Hills State is also 0-3 overall and 0-3 in the RMAC. They fell just short this past Saturday at Alamosa against Adams State, 44-41. Hommel threw for 383 yards, completing 40-59 and two scores. He also led the rushing attack going for 73 yards on eight attempts and two touchdowns. Dylan Reiners caught four passes for 59 yards and a TD, while Jordan Pace added four catches for 58 yards and a score. On defense, Austin Goddard had 11 tackles eight solo and Luis Bach posted 10 tackles, also eight solo.

For the season, Hommel has rushed for 202 yards and two scores, while Payten Gilmore adds 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Hommel has completed 84-138 for 753 yards and four touchdowns to just one interception. Collin Powers has also seen time completing 7-14 for 56 yards. Eriq Swiftwater has hauled in 14 passes for 157 yards. Kielar Harpham and Pace add 121 yards and 105 yards, respectively. Goddard leads the defense with 27 tackles, 17 solo and also has a half-sack. Josh Gurnaby has 25 tackles, 14 solo.

Around the RMAC has Colorado School of Mines leading the way at 3-0 in the conference and 3-0 overall. They picked up a big win at home over then #9 CSU-Pueblo 35-21 this past Saturday. Colorado Mesa is also undefeated at 2-0 in the conference and 3-0 overall. They held on to defeat Western State in Gunnison this past Saturday, 24-20. Chadron State, CSU-Pueblo, Dixie State and New Mexico Highlands are all tied for third with 2-1 conference records. South Dakota Mines is 1-1, while Adams State also has one win in conference and are 1-2. Western State is 0-2 in conference play, while Black Hills State and Fort Lewis are 0-3. Other scores from games this past weekend include South Dakota Mines defeating Simon Fraser, 52-28 and Dixie State edging New Mexico Highlands in Utah, 28-23.

Entering this weekend, Colorado Mesa is ranked 14^th, Colorado School of Mines is ranked 17^th and CSU-Pueblo dropped to 22^nd. All of the rankings are based off of the AFCA Coaches Poll.

Games this week include Colorado School of Mines at New Mexico Highlands (1 p.m.), Chadron State at Colorado Mesa (1 p.m.), Adams State at Western State (2 p.m.), CSU-Pueblo at defending national champion Texas A&M-Commerce (5 p.m.) and South Dakota Mines at Dixie State (6 p.m.).

Live video and stats will be available for the game.