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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Isaac Leppke CSC
Maureen Pasley, FLC Athletics
Junior wide receiver Isaac Leppke (left) made five catches for 73 yards in Saturday's loss to Western Colorado (File photo).
0
Fort Lewis FLC 3-5 , 3-5
31
Winner Western Colorado WCU 4-4 , 4-3
Fort Lewis FLC
3-5 , 3-5
0
Final
31
Western Colorado WCU
4-4 , 4-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FLC Fort Lewis 0 0 0 0 0
WCU Western Colorado 3 3 19 6 31

Game Recap: Football | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Special teams plays key piece in 31-0 road loss to Western Colorado

GUNNISON, Colorado — Special teams played a major role in Saturday's RMAC showdown between the Fort Lewis College football team and Western Colorado University.
Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, it was the Mountaineers who were able to make the most out of the third facet of the game as they finished with four made field goals and a blocked punt touchdown en route to the 31-0 final.

Fort Lewis (3-5 overall, 3-5 RMAC), currently third in the RMAC in points allowed (20.6) and fourth in yards allowed, turned in a strong defensive effort.

The Skyhawks limited Western Colorado (4-4 overall, 4-3 RMAC) to 239 total yards of offense, a fourth of which came on one play; 60-yard touchdown pass from WCU quarterback Luke Nethercot to Xander Witt with 1:14 remaining in the third quarter.

Sophomore safety Jayden Helms led all FLC players with nine total tackles, while senior corner back Max Scott and senior linebacker Darrian Stickney added eight tackles and six tackles, respectively. Four of Scott's eight tackles were for a loss, including his first career sack.

The Skyhawks defense held the Mountaineers to pair of field goal attempts in the first half, a 25-yard and 49-yard attempts cashed in by kicker Chandler Davis.

Offensively, Fort Lewis was able to move the ball in the first half and finished with more first downs (14-12) than Western Colorado, but struggled to put points on the board down in the red zone.

Fort Lewis had a 12-play, 60-yard drive end in a missed field goal with 12:11 remaining in the first half. Two possessions later, the Skyhawks drove 63 yards in nine plays right before the end of the half.

With six seconds remaining, Fort Lewis had appeared to get on the scoreboard when freshman Matthew Waid, FLC's starting punter making his first start as place kicker, split the uprights with a 23-yard field goal.

However, a false start penalty on the Skyhawks was called on the play and Waid's ensuing 28-yard attempt was blocked at the line of scrimmage, sending the game to the half with the Mountaineers up 6-0.

Western Colorado then took control of the game in the third quarter, cashing in on an interception with a 32-yard field goal by Davis that made it a 9-0 lead. On the ensuing Fort Lewis possession, the Mountaineers blocked a punt and returned it 10 yards for the game's first touchdown to up their lead to 15-0 with 8:33 remaining in the third quarter.

WCU added a 48-yard field goal from Davis and the 60-yard touchdown pass from Nethercot to Witt to cap a 19-point third quarter, sealing the 31-0 final.

Fort Lewis junior quarterback Erik Ornduff finished the afternoon 21-of-35 through the air for 159 yards and an interception.

Junior wide receiver Isaac Leppke was a bright spot as the University of Wyoming transfer set career highs in receptions (5) and receiving yards (72) to lead the FLC receiving corp.
On the ground, redshirt sophomore running back Jeff Hansen churned out 71 net rushing yards on 16 attempts.

The Skyhawks will look to right the ship next Saturday when they return to the friendly confines of Ray Dennison Memorial Field to square off against Colorado State University-Pueblo. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
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