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Darrius practice 3.24
Hayden Raymond, High Altitude Productions
FLC first year head coach Darrius G. Smith leads the Skyhawks into the 2021 spring season.

Skyhawks football opens unique spring season, new era under head coach Darrius G. Smith on Saturday against Dixie State

3/24/2021 11:30:00 AM

By: David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colorado — Fast. Tough. Aggressive.

Those were the three key words and a mission statement from first-year head football coach Darrius G. Smith when asked what identity the Fort Lewis College football team would embody when it returns to the grid-iron this spring, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday on the road against Dixie State University.

"We're going to be aggressive in all three aspects of the game — offense, defense and special teams — and we're going to keep the pedal down as long as we need to," said Smith, who came to Fort Lewis in February 2020 after successful stops at Bryant University, UMass and Villanova as an assistant. "I won't say, 'All gas, no brakes.' But that brake is only going to get tapped. It won't get stomped on. If we make mistakes, they are going to be aggressive mistakes and mistakes we can live with. With me saying that, we're also going to be sound."

Saturday's road game against Dixie State, the former RMAC foe turned NCAA Division I FCS opponent, will mark the first time in 497 days that the Skyhawks will have strapped on the shoulder pads against another opponent.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic made competing in a traditional fall schedule impossible for many collegiate football programs across the country. But the Skyhawks have been able to construct a three-game spring schedule, including two games against RMAC rivals Western Colorado (April 17) and Adams State University (April 24).

Winning is the name of the game. And while the chance to compete for a RMAC title won't be possible this spring, FLC's mindset has not looked ahead or wavered during training camp.

"For us, we're not even looking at it as preparation for Fall 2021. This is our season. We have young men who stayed around and will be graduating. If all they could play was three games, they've been dedicated to our vision and playing these three games," Smith said. "We're approaching this the same way we'd approach an 11-game season. We want to win as many as we can."

One of the top priorities for the Skyhawks during Smith's early tenure has been revitalizing a FLC offense that brings back a handful of talented pieces, but struggled to move the ball consistently in 2019 as the team ranked 10th in the RMAC in scoring (13.3 points per game) and total offense (240.2 yards per game).

FLC is set to return a trio of experienced running backs in redshirt junior Jeff Hansen, redshirt junior Brayden Lucero and redshirt sophomore Emmanuel Nwosu. Hansen led all FLC players in rushing during 2019 with 671 net yards with two touchdowns and 3.8 yards per carry, while Lucero (5'9, 190) and Nwosu (6'0, 230) — each sidelined in 2019 — bring experience and contrasting running styles to the table.

Lucero rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns as the starting running back in 2018. Nwosu, a transfer from Santa Barbara City College, rushed for 1,745 yards and 15 touchdowns during his decorated junior college career.

Fort Lewis also welcomes back three key pass catchers from a season ago in sophomore tight end Zach Russell (32-263-4), as well as senior wide receivers Isaac Leppke (11-222-4) and Markez Boykin (12-203-2).

"All those guys are the core of our offense and integral parts of what we do, offensively," said Smith, referencing the returning skill position players. "Our job is to give them the ball in ways that highlight their strengths."

Additionally, the Skyhawks also boast a talented crop of newcomers on the offensive side of the ball. The team signed wide receivers Dylan Holt (Colorado State) and Jaelin Hood (Nassau Community College), as well as junior quarterback Armon Hickson (Bubba), who is competing alongside redshirt freshman Connor Apodaca for time this spring.

"I've been very pleased with the guys we've brought in and who are new to the program. We have two receivers in Dylan and Jaelin who are guys that will add tremendous depth to our playmakers on the field," Smith said. "We also have a good quarterback battle going on with Connor and Bubba. They've both shown the ability to be good leaders and commanders behind center."

As with any offense, the Skyhawks' success this spring will rely heavily upon a retooled offensive line that returns starter junior Devon Taylor (6'4, 340) and redshirt freshman center Ethan Vlchek (6'3, 280). FLC then added Durango's own Ryan Barkley (6'5, 290) — a transfer from Montana State — Jason Sitala (6'1, 320) and Chase LeBlanc (6'6, 330).

"I love the size and athleticism that Barkley, Sitala and LeBlanc all bring to what we had returning. All three are very good athletes and guys we're blessed to have because they could have all played me for me at any FCS schools I was at," Smith said. "It was huge to build on that offensive line because we can draw up all the plays and schemes we want, but if the core of your offense is not established up front you're rolling the dice every time."

Defensively, the Skyhawks were a force in 2019 as they ranked third in the conference in total defense, allowing just 325.2 yards and 21.3 points per game.

The team brings back key pieces in the machine in the form of defensive linemen Oscar Oliva and Blayke De La Rosa, linebackers Jason Nettles and Shawn Garcia Jr., and secondary players Duane Jones Jr., Jayden Helms and Dakota Helms.

Jayden was third on the Skyhawks in total tackles in 2019 with 52, while Dakota (45 tackles, 3 forced fumbles), De La Rosa (41 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Jones Jr. (22 tackles) were all integral pieces for the Skyhawks last fall.

"You don't get any more gutsy, tough, intelligent football players than the Helms twins," Smith said. "Don't let size fool you. Those guys can play ball. They have a tremendous work ethic and are very good students of the game. They're going to be contributing on a lot of downs, along with a lot of key returners."

The graduation of stalwarts Darrian Stickney — now a running backs coach for the Skyhawks — Shane Wetzel, Maxwell Scott, Nathan Aguilar, George Marpaung, Suli Tukumoeatu and Ka'Lonn Milton has opened the door for younger players like Vincent DeLeo, Clayton Rutz, Fred Mady III and Eden Smith to pick up the mantle for the FLC defense, led by coordinator Ed Rifilato.

"On the defensive side of the ball, we do have a lot of new faces or young players needing to step up. But the best part about that is all those guys are hungry to show what they can do," Smith said. "No one wants to be the reason why the standard was lowered. Everyone wants to be the reason why 'This particular unit is better because.' That's the challenge all our defensive players have. They're aware of the success defensive units have had at this program and they want to make their mark, as well."

The first chance for the Skyhawks to do that will be Saturday evening out in St. George, Utah. Fort Lewis will then wrap up the spring season with a home matchup against Western Colorado (2 p.m. Saturday, April 17) and a road trip to Alamosa to take on Adams State (1 p.m. Saturday, April 24).

Smith said the Skyhawks weren't picky in who they got to play, but were excited to see they'd get to finish out the 2021 school year with clashes against two in-state rivals.

"The fact that we're playing is the exciting part. To have two conference opponents on the schedule; we'd have played anybody. But we're happy that Western Colorado and Adams State wanted to play so we could have some conference games," Smith said. "We get to measure ourselves against opponents we're going to see again not even five months later. But the fact that we're playing is what we care about. We just wanted to play meaningful football games. The kids have been through so much this past year, we wanted to make this spring meaningful and purposeful. So let's turn on the scoreboard, let's get the officials up here, line up and play some football."
 
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