ALAMOSA, Colo. – Having come close in a couple of games this season, the Fort Lewis College football team was able to break through with a dominating defensive performance on their way to the 20-point win against Black Hills State. They will look to carry that momentum into the annual Musket Game matchup with Adams State University this Saturday at 1 p.m.

It will be the 53^rd edition of the Musket Game, as Adams State leads the Musket Game series, 35-16-1 and the all-time series between the teams at 38-17-1.

Last year's game went right down-to-the-wire in Durango with Adams State pulling out the 34-27 victory. FLC took the last meeting in Alamosa in 2016, 21-16 and also won convincingly in 2015 in Durango, 51-10.

In last year's game, Bo Coleman completed 14-31 for 181 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 16 yards and a TD. TJ Telphy rushed 13 times for 125 yards with a score. Mason Hatton caught six passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Arealous Hughes added five catches for 60 yards. On defense, Dominic Cochrane and Darrian Stickney led the team with 10 tackles. Frank Larriva had a sack and Donell Pleasant III added an interception.

Brayden Lucero leads the ground attack having rushed for 329 yards this season and a touchdown on 70 carries. Nick McNamee has completed 39-64 for 387 yards and three touchdowns. Jake Lowry leads the team with 482 passing yards, completing 33-72 and two touchdowns. He's also the second-leading rusher with 166 yards on 33 attempts and two touchdowns. Hatton has caught 26 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Ta'Jon Mondy-Smith adds eight receptions for 218 yards and two scores.

On defense, Pleasant III leads the way with 34 tackles, 22 solo, along with 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception. Dre Cortez and Isiah Mayberry are second on the team in tackles with 28 apiece. Mayberry and Christopher Blanton leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. Blanton and Lorenzo Tanner had a pair of sacks each, while Nathan Aguilar, Pleasant III, Suli Tukumoeatu and Cortez all have an interception this season.

On special teams, Max Peets remains one of the top punters in the nation averaging 44.48 yards per attempt. He has a long of 74 yards, forced five fair catches, landed eight inside the 20 and has 11 that have traveled over 50 yards. Hogan Keasler is 2-4 on field goals and is averaging 61 yards on kickoffs, with four going for touchbacks.

FLC ranks in the top-five in the RMAC and high in several national categories including fifth in the RMAC in third down conversion percentage on defense (.387), fourth in the RMAC and 20^th nationally in blocked kicks (2), first in the RMAC and tied for first in the nation in defensive touchdowns (3), fourth in the RMAC in first downs allowed on defense (81), second in the RMAC and 26^th in the nation in fumbles lost (2), fifth in the RMAC and 67^th nationally in fumbles recovered (3), fifth in the RMAC and 37^th nationally in net punting (37.46), fifth in the RMAC and 56^th nationally in passes intercepted (4), second in the RMAC and 61^st nationally in punt return yards allowed per return (6.50), fourth in the RMAC and 92^nd nationally in punt return yards per return (7.67), third in the RMAC and 69^th nationally in rushing defense (141), fifth in the RMAC in scoring defense (30.3), fourth in the RMAC and 28^th nationally in team tackles for loss (8.3), fourth in the RMAC and 57^th nationally in time of possession (31:05), third in the RMAC in total defense (394.3) and fourth in the RMAC and 62^nd nationally in turnovers gained (7).

Individually, Javonte Norman is fifth in the RMAC and 61^st nationally in combined kick return yards (227), Ethan Williams is eighth in the RMAC in the same category (127), Nick McNamee is third in the RMAC and 46^th nationally in completion percentage (.609) and he is ninth in the RMAC in completions per game (9.75). Jake Lowry is ninth in the RMAC in completions per game (11.00) and 12^th in the RMAC in completion percentage (.458). Keasler is seventh in the RMAC and 77^th nationally in field goal percentage (.500) and eighth in the RMAC and 92^nd nationally in field goals per game (.50). Mayberry is second in the RMAC and 12^th nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.50) and third in the RMAC and 29^th nationally in fumbles recovered (1). Tukumoeatu and Jaelon Wright are also tied with Mayberry in the fumbles recovered category with one each. Williams is seventh in the RMAC and 84^th nationally in kickoff return yard average (21.), while Norman is eighth in the RMAC and 96^th nationally in the same category (20.6). Tukumoeatu is fourth in the RMAC and 34^th nationally in passes defended per game (1.5), McNamee is 10^th in the RMAC in passing efficiency (114.7) and Lowry is 10^th in the RMAC in passing yards (482), eighth in passing yards per game (160.7) and third in the RMAC and 25^th nationally in passing yards per completion (14.61). Peets is second in the RMAC and 10^th in the nation in punting average (44.5), Mason Hatton and Ta'Jon Mondy-Smith are tied for seventh in the RMAC in receiving touchdowns (2), Hatton is ninth in the RMAC in receiving yards (244), Mondy-Smith is sixth in the RMAC and 84^th nationally in receiving yards per game (72.7), Hatton is third in the RMAC and 23^rd nationally in receptions per game (6.5). Brayden Lucero is eighth in the RMAC and 51^st nationally in rushing yards (329), while also being eighth in the RMAC and 61^st nationally in rushing yards per game (82.3). Pleasant III is fourth in the RMAC and 46^th nationally in solo tackles per game (5.5), Blanton and Mayberry are tied for fifth in the RMAC and 54^th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.6), while George Marpaung is seventh in the RMAC and 65^th nationally in the same category (1.5) and Tanner is ninth in the RMAC at 1.3. Lowry is eighth in the RMAC and 74^th nationally in total offense (216) and Mondy-Smith is first in the RMAC and eighth in the nation in yards per reception (27.25).

Adams State is 2-2 overall and in the RMAC having dropped their first two games of the season to Colorado Mines and New Mexico Highlands. Since then they've picked up wins against Black Hills State (44-41) and Western State (55-52). The win over the Yellow Jackets was at home and is the only game they've played at Rex Stadium so far this year.

Against Western State, they piled up 590 yards of offense and allowed 419. They forced three turnovers and committed two. Nick Rooney has completed 87-157 for 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns to six interceptions. John Buksa also has a touchdown pass this year. On the ground, Tyree Harris has rushed for 378 yards on 71 carries with five touchdowns. Quarterback Rooney is the next-closest at 80 yards. Chad Hovasse has hauled in 31 passes for 421 yards and six touchdowns. Surrell has 20 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns.

On defense, Garrett Jackson leads the way with 45 tackles, 29 solo, along with 2.5 tackles for loss and both a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Sipa Leafa adds 37 tackles, 22 solo, with a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. They only have one sack this season and that belongs to Pemelton and Bryce Barnes has the only interception this season.

Live video and stats will be available for the game.