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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Dylan Holt 10.9
Angela Roberts, FLC Athletic Communications
FLC junior wide receiver Dylan Holt finished with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown against South Dakota Mines (File Photo).
7
Fort Lewis FLC 0-6 , 0-5
42
Winner South Dakota Mines SDM 4-2 , 2-2
Fort Lewis FLC
0-6 , 0-5
7
Final
42
South Dakota Mines SDM
4-2 , 2-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FLC Fort Lewis 0 7 0 0 7
SDM South Dakota Mines 14 0 14 14 42

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

Skyhawks hang tough early, fall on the road to South Dakota Mines

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Fort Lewis College football team played toe-to-toe with South Dakota Mines through the game's opening 30 minutes, but couldn't overcome a tough second half in a 42-7 road loss to the Hardrockers.

Fort Lewis (0-6), after playing a solid first half against Black Hills State University last Saturday in Durango, put themselves in a good position again at the break against South Dakota Mines (4-2 overall, 2-2 RMAC), trailing just 14-7 and scheduled to receive the second-half kickoff in a one-possession game.

"We're still trying to piece these things together. You can see the building blocks, where we'll play well for a full quarter or a half, but we still have a ways to go to formulate a team that can put together four strong quarters of football," said FLC head football coach, Darrius G. Smith.

The hometown Hardrockers jumped out to a 14-0 lead and were driving early in the second quarter when momentum flipped, courtesy of an interception in the end zone by junior defensive back Jalani Blade at the 13:18 mark.

It was the second interception resulting in a touchback in as many weeks for Blade, and the second of two interceptions for the FLC defense in the half; the first coming on South Dakota Mines' opening drive by redshirt sophomore safety, Jayden Helms.

The Skyhawks' offense responded with a four-play, 80-yard drive that featured a heavy dose of junior wide receiver Dylan Holt.

Holt drew a 15-yard defensive pass interference penalty to pick up a first down, then blew the top off the Hardrockers secondary on back-to-back 29-yard completions; the second deep ball from sophomore quarterback Brayden Miller put the Skyhawks on the scoreboard with 11:16 remaining in the half.

It was the second touchdown of the season for Holt — third of his career — for the former Colorado State University defensive back turned wide receiver.

"I'm not just saying this because I'm his head coach, but Dylan Holt is one of the best wide receivers in the RMAC," Smith said. "We've got to play complimentary football around him. He is to our offense what Jayden Helms is to our defense. They are special talents and we need to continue to play complimentary football and provide support around them."

Riding the momentum, the FLC defense rose up and forced a turn over on downs on the Hardrockers next possession. The Skyhawks' offense marched out to midfield with a chance to tie the game before the end of the half, but had the drive stall and settled for a 14-7 score at the break.

In the second half, the Skyhawks were unable to get the offense back on track as key penalties and eight sacks by the South Dakota Mines defense kept FLC behind the chains much of the final 30 minutes.

"Sacks and penalties are drive stoppers. And if you can't overcome them, you are literally playing behind the sticks," Smith said.

The Hardrockers' offense took advantage, scoring the game's final 28 points in the second half — 14 points in each the third and fourth quarters — to seal the 42-7 final.

Offensively, Holt led the FLC offense with three catches for 66 yards and the touchdown, while Miller finished 9-of-12 through the air for 102 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers; the third straight game without an offensive turnover for the FLC offense.

On the ground, redshirt junior Jeff Hansen rushed 12 time for 31 yards and fellow redshirt junior Emmanuel Nwosu added 10 carries for a net of 29 yards.

Defensively, redshirt freshman linebacker Fred Mady III led all Skyhawks with 11 total tackles and freshman Josiah Flores tallied a career-high 10.

Helms finished with nine tackles to go with his second interception of the season, while redshirt sophomore Max Hyson added seven tackles (2.5 TFL) including a sack to pace the FLC defense.

The Skyhawks will now turn their attention toward Homecoming week, where they will welcome in rival Colorado Mesa University for a 12 p.m. kickoff at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.

FLC Athletics will honor inductees from the Class of 2021 FLC Athletics Hall of Fame at halftime, including the 1984 football team (RMAC Champions) and the program's all-time leading rusher Joe Moore.
 
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