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Fort Lewis College Athletics

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Jamal Johnson vs. William Jewell
Kaitlyn Silva
Jamal Johnson (24) hurdles a Cardinals defender in his collegiate debut on Ray Dennison Memorial Field (Aug. 31, 2024)

Skyhawks to welcome Cardinals for Saturday afternoon showdown

9/13/2024 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
DURANGO, Colo. – After coming up one possession shy just two weeks ago, the Fort Lewis College football team (0-1) is looking to use its extra week of rest, film, and preparation to bounce back against Arizona Christian (0-0) in an afternoon matchup on Ray Dennison Memorial Field this Saturday.
 
The Basics
Opponent: Arizona Christian University
Date: Saturday, Sep. 14
Time: 2:00 p.m. MST
Location: Durango, Colo.
Stadium: Ray Dennison Memorial Field
Series Overall: Firestorm lead 2-0
Series at Fort Lewis: Firestorm lead 1-0
Last Meeting: ACU won in Glendale, Ariz., 49-25 (Sep. 9, 2023)
Live Broadcast: RMAC Network
Live Statistics: Sidearm
Tickets: HomeTown Ticketing

Themes and Promotions
Saturday will be Youth and Community Day presented by Nunn Construction. Fans are encouraged to show out in their best and favorite football gear. 
 
Pregame Festivities and The Club at FLC
Get here early on game day and start the party with our pregame festivities in the North Stadium Lot located just north of Ray Dennison Memorial Field. Available two hours before kickoff through the end of the first quarter, fans are encouraged to bring friends, family, yard games, food, drinks, and more. This week, the Skyhawks grill master will also feature a menu of tri-tip, brisket, pulled pork, sausage, beans, and potato salad. Members of the Skyhawks Club and those who have purchased tailgating passes will also have access to reserved parking. 
 
New this season is the introduction of The Club at FLC, a dedicated kid's zone provided in partnership with The Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County and Four Corners Community Bank for youth ages 5-14. The Club at FLC will be open two hours before kickoff and run through the first quarter.
 
Best Start Yet
A glance at the box score from the Skyhawks week-zero loss to William Jewell (1-0) will show you a 35-20 finish, but the eye test told a different story. Fort Lewis produced 374 yards of total offense in the contest; more than all but one outing last season (385 yards at Adams State, Sep. 23), and found itself in a one-possession game in the fourth quarter. FLC also won the turnover battle three-to-one and time of possession 31:37 to 28:23. The Cardinals only managed 75 yards through the air on eight completions, but instead relied on redshirt senior Keaundre McCullough who rushed for 402 yards to finish 23 yards shy of the NCAA Division II record. Outside of McCullough, the Cardinals only rushed for 28 yards.
 
Welcome To the Walker Era
Redshirt freshman Stone Walker, a native of Houston, Texas, and a graduate of Northland Christian School made quite the impression two weeks ago when he displayed his dual-threat abilities. The six-foot-three gunslinger went 12-for-26 (46.1 percent) through the air for 141 yards and an interception, however, Skyhawks receivers did drop a handful of catches on the afternoon. On the ground, Walker rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 17 attempts. Walker is the first Skyhawk to record more than 150 yards rushing in a game and two or more touchdowns since 2021 and 2018, respectively.
 
Week One Bye
New in 2024 is the addition of the week-zero option for NCAA Division II. The Skyhawks took full advantage of moving up its week-one contest against William Jewell to Aug. 31 to allow for an extra week of rest and preparation following its first appearance on the gridiron. Starting in 2026, however, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference will institute a mandatory week-seven bye for all member institutions. The implementation of the week-zero option gives teams greater scheduling opportunities as well as an extra week to rest and recover in the middle of the season shortly before the post-season.
 
Seasoned Foe
Head coach Jeff Bowen (55-28) will enter his ninth season leading the Arizona Christian Firestorm and eleventh at ACU overall on Saturday afternoon. A 1987 graduate of Northern Arizona, Bowen has led the Firestorm to three Frontier Conference (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Championships and two appearances in the NAIA Football Championship Series. Bowen was named the NAIA Coach of Character Award Winner in 2021.
 
Season Opener
Saturday's matinee will mark the first time the Firestorm takes the field in 2024. Last season, Arizona Christian owned a 2-8 overall record with wins over the Skyhawks (49-25, Sep. 9) and Montana State Northern (21-20, Sep. 16). It will be a new look under center for ACU as Johnny Herrera takes the reigns of the offense. The five-foot-ten senior quarterback graduated from Volcano Vista High School down in Albuquerque, N.M. In 2023, Herrera was 15-for-27 (55.5 percent) in the air for 105 yards and two interceptions. On the ground, Herrera added 88 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries.
 
Rocky Mountain Gauntlet
Next Saturday Fort Lewis will begin its run through the 2024 RMAC up in Spearfish, South Dakota. The Skyhawks will take the field opposite Black Hills State (1-0) for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff at Lyle Hare Stadium. Fans can catch all of the action for free on the RMAC Network.
 
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