Christopher Thomas Jr. vs. Adams State University - Sep. 24, 2022

Angela Roberts, FLC Athletic Communications

Christopher Tomas Jr. celebrating his 20-yard touchdown reception against the Grizzlies last season.

Skyhawks kick off home schedule and conference play against invading Cowboys

9/15/2023 2:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

DURANGO, Colo. – Following two tough road trips to Missouri and Arizona, the Fort Lewis College football team is finally back at Ray Dennison Memorial field to open its 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and home schedule against the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys this Saturday, Sep. 16.

Game Information
Saturday, Sep. 16 – 2:00 p.m.
Vs. New Mexico Highlands
Ray Dennison Memorial Field – Durango, Colo.

Tickets and Tailgating
With Fort Lewis College Athletics going cashless this season, fans are encouraged to skip the lines and purchase their tickets ahead of time through Primo Ticketing HERE. This Saturday only, game tickets will grant fans access to every event of the day at one low price including the women's soccer match against Angelo State University at 10:30 a.m. and the volleyball conference opener against 12^th-ranked Colorado Mesa University at 6:00 p.m.

Tailgating for the football game will also take place in the art lot just next to the main entrance. Fans will need a Skyhawks Club Gold VIP Pass in order to park in the lot, but all fans are encouraged to stop by and join in the festivities. Additionally, Fort Lewis College Athletics will offer free admission to all regular season home athletic events for Native Americans with a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB) card or Tribal Identification Card. The motion is an effort to welcome more of our local communities to campus to support the blue and gold and experience college athletics, academics, and everything that the Skyhawks experience has to offer.

Last Time Out
Fort Lewis is finally back at home after a pair of losses on the road to William Jewell College and Arizona Christian University. While the Skyhawks came home empty-handed, there were plenty of highlights showing trends in the right direction. In Glendale, Ariz., senior Braden Wingle set new career highs with 248 total passing yards and a 79-yard touchdown completion to Christopher Thomas Jr., who became the first Skyhawk to score two touchdowns in a single game since 2019.

Peyton Monson showed out on special teams with an 89-yard return touchdown on the opening play of the second half. Monson's return stands as the longest in the conference thus far putting him as the lead return man in the RMAC with 139 total return yards. Additionally, the Skyhawks have rolled out over 300 yards of total offense in each of its first two games for the first time since the 2021 season.

Scouting the Cowboys
Statistically speaking, New Mexico Highlands ranks last in the conference in total offense per game (267.0), yet the Cowboys boast the best rushing offense in the league averaging 172.0 yards on the ground. Highlands is just 13-for-30 through the air, primarily on the arm of senior quarterback Jonathan Jerry (8-for-20), for 190 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. On the ground, however, NMHU has only rushed for three individual touchdowns.

Fortunate to the Skyhawks' recent success, the Cowboys have allowed an average of 371.0 yards of total offense per game thus far. Both FLC and NMHU have produced three takeaways this season, Fort Lewis by way of three forced fumbles and Highlands by two forced fumbles and an interception. Senior Roderick Woods, who finished third on the roster last season with 46.0 total tackles, has taken the helm of the defense with 20.0 tackles this season and two pass break-ups.

Looking Ahead
Next week is slated to be the Skyhawks' second night game of the season as the blue and gold are heading to Alamosa, Colo., for rivalry week at Adams State University. The Skyhawks and Grizzlies are set for a 6:00 p.m. kick-off at Rex Field.

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