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Fort Lewis College Athletics

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Frankie Ayon & Jayden Helms vs. Arizona Christian 2022
Jack Hulett, FLC MARCOM
Frankie Ayon (12) and Jayden Helms (1) directing the Skyhawks defense agains the Firestorm.

Football Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

Skyhawks football ready for Homecoming matchup with Hardrockers

DURANGO, Colo. – All roads lead back home, and there is no place better than Ray Dennison Memorial Field. Celebrating Homecoming, the Fort Lewis College football team welcomes the South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game at noon on Saturday, Oct. 22, presented by Durango Coca-Cola.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday, October 22
12:00 p.m. MDT
Fort Lewis vs. South Dakota Mines
Ray Dennison Memorial Field
Durango, CO
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Network
Play-by-Play: Bob Bonnar
Color: Rick O'Block
 
WEATHER REPORT
Saturday is calling for sunny skies and a 21% chance of rain. The high for the day is predicted to be 64 degrees with possible winds between 10 and 20 miles per hour.

SERIES VS SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
The Skyhawks and Hardrockers have met just six times all time. Saturday's game will come with bragging rights, as the series between the two is currently tied 3-3. Fort Lewis owns the advantage at home with a 2-1 record at Ray Dennison Memorial Field, but the Hardrockers have won the last three consecutive matchups.
 
SCOUTING THE HARDROCKERS
"Real excited about this opportunity this weekend," Fort Lewis College Head Coach Johnny Cox said. "South Dakota Mines is a very good time on both sides of the ball, a very complete team. They'll be a big challenge that we are excited about. I feel like we've played well at times, and with the energy from our Homecoming crowd were expecting to make some big plays and try to come home with a victory."
 
South Dakota Mines owns a 4-3 overall record alongside a 3-2 record in RMAC games. Don't let the record fool you, the Hardrockers have one of the most effective offenses in the conference. Averaging 352 yards per game in the air, SDSM ranks second among all NCAA Division II programs. South Dakota Mines is also second in the RMAC converting on third downs (43.6%).
 
Redshirt sophomore Jayden Johannsen has been on a tear recently as the Hardrockers dual-threat quarterback. The South Dakota native ranks sixth among RMAC rushing leaders with 390 net yards and seven touchdowns on 97 carries. In the air, Johannsen stands alone atop the conference. Completing 159 of his 256 passing attempts (62.11%) for 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions, Johannsen has a quarterback efficiency rating (QBR) of 150.62 alongside an average of 309.14 yards per game.
 
The Hardrockers quarterback has connected with 12 different receivers this season, scoring touchdowns with seven different receivers. Jeremiah Bridges has been the young quarterback's favorite target, hauling in 46 catches for a combined 860 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
Sophomore linebacker Hunter Newson spearheads the Hardrockers defense. The six-foot, 225-pound Missouri native has made a team-leading 51 total tackles. Newsom has made 31 solo tackles alongside 13 assisted tackles, four and a half tackles for a loss of 26 yards, and three and a half sacks for a loss of 22 yards.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Fort Lewis suffered a 70-10 loss to the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks last Saturday, Oct. 15. The Skyhawks were shut out in the first half, allowing the Mavericks to take a 49-0 lead. Final score aside, Fort Lewis had its strongest game offensively all season producing 295 yards of total offense with just a single turnover. Braden Wingle had a solid performance completing 24 of his 38 passing attempts (63.15%) for 221 yards and one touchdown. Wingle connected with wide-open Drake Cortez on a slant route to the back left corner of the endzone. Hunter Villavicencio drilled a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter for the only other Skyhawks score of the game.
 
SKYHAWKS LEADERS
Wingle remains the commander of the Fort Lewis offense. Owing a 93.35 QBR, Wingle has completed 124 of his 215 passing attempts (57.67%) for 994 yards, four touchdowns, and ten interceptions. The junior quarterback has not thrown an interception since the Skyhawks matchup with Colorado State University-Pueblo back on Oct. 1.
 
Jeff Hansen has emerged as the Skyhawks leading rusher, totaling 81 net rushing yards on 27 carries with an average of 3.0 yards per carry. Cortez has been Wingle's favorite target through week six, leading the roster with 25 total catches. Cortez has amassed 173 total yards and one touchdown. Dylan Holt leads the receiving core in total yards, securing 206 yards on just 19 catches for an average of 10.84 yards per catch.
 
On defense true freshman Carter Cameron leads all Skyhawks with 46 total tackles. The Arizona native has made 31 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, four and a half tackles for a 14-yard loss, and one and a half sacks for a loss of nine yards. Cameron also owns just one of two Fort Lewis interceptions this season alongside James Reyes. With three and a half sacks for a loss of 19-yard loss, Max Hyson leads FLC in pressuring the quarterback and breaking through the line of scrimmage. Hyson has three quarterback hits and one forced fumble as well.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Skyhawks have the longest road trip of the season next Saturday, Oct. 29, at Black Hills State University. Fort Lewis will challenge the Yellowjackets at Lyle Hare Stadium in yet another RMAC game. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in Spearfish, South Dakota.
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Players Mentioned

Max Hyson

#37 Max Hyson

DL
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Jeff Hansen

#16 Jeff Hansen

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Drake Cortez

#29 Drake Cortez

WR
5' 10"
Freshman
James Reyes

#44 James Reyes

DL
6' 0"
Senior
Hunter Villavicencio

#36 Hunter Villavicencio

K
6' 3"
Sophomore
Dylan Holt

#3 Dylan Holt

WR
6' 2"
Junior
Carter Cameron

#52 Carter Cameron

LB
6' 1"
Freshman
Braden Wingle

#14 Braden Wingle

QB
6' 6"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Max Hyson

#37 Max Hyson

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
DL
Jeff Hansen

#16 Jeff Hansen

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
RB
Drake Cortez

#29 Drake Cortez

5' 10"
Freshman
WR
James Reyes

#44 James Reyes

6' 0"
Senior
DL
Hunter Villavicencio

#36 Hunter Villavicencio

6' 3"
Sophomore
K
Dylan Holt

#3 Dylan Holt

6' 2"
Junior
WR
Carter Cameron

#52 Carter Cameron

6' 1"
Freshman
LB
Braden Wingle

#14 Braden Wingle

6' 6"
Junior
QB