Skyhawks meet Eagles in Chadron for Battle of the Birds

10/6/2023 10:00:00 AM

By: Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

DURANGO, Colo. – Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play continues this week as the Fort Lewis College football team (0-5, 0-3 RMAC) heads to Chadron, Neb., for a 1:00 p.m. showdown against Chadron State College (1-4, 0-3 RMAC) as both teams search for its first league win at Don Beebe Stadium.

Last Time Out
Fort Lewis is back on the road after falling at home to Colorado State University Pueblo (2-3, 1-2 RMAC). The ThunderWolves dished out 764 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns while holding the Skyhawks to 200 yards of total offense. The Pack had maintained a shutout until just under seven minutes in the fourth quarter when sophomore Croix Burney rushed for an 80-yard touchdown: the longest by a Skyhawk since at least 2013. Quarterback Braden Wingle was 11-for-18 for 82 yards while being sacked five times.

Key Numbers
Fort Lewis has scored 79 points through the first five games this season, just three points shy of 2022's combined total of 82. Wingle ranks sixth in the conference with 195.2 yards per game, fourth in completion percentage at 61.0%, and owns a 125.2 efficiency rating. Cameron Mack, the Skyhawks leading rusher out of the backfield, leads the roster with 209 yards and one touchdown. Additionally, Mack sits eighth in the conference in total attempts (57) and yards per game (52.3) and has been dropped for a combined loss of only nine yards across the year.

Scouting the Eagles
Chadron has been unable to find success in recent weeks after winning its season opener 35-34 on the road at Quincy University (4-1, 1-0 GLVC). Guided by sophomore quarterback Preston Pearson, CSC's offense is averaging 279 total yards, primarily through the air with 177 per game. Pearson has thrown for 350 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, but senior Heath Beemiller leads the pair of gunslingers with 524 yards and four touchdowns while throwing four interceptions. Tommy Thomas has been the most legal target on the outside, hauling in five touchdowns, four receiving, on 30 total touches. Defensive back Dax Yeradi is the biggest threat on the defense as the sophomore has hauled in three interceptions while making 32.0 total tackles.

Looking Ahead
Next week is Homecoming and Chamber Day presented by Durango Coca-Cola and Morehart Murphey Regional Auto Center. Fort Lewis will square off with Colorado Mesa University (2-3, 1-2 RMAC) at 12:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets ahead of game day and arrive early to join in on all of the tailgating and homecoming festivities.

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