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Fort Lewis College Athletics

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Stone Walker vs. Arizona Christian
Kaitlyn Silva
Stone Walker (7) and teammates after Walker rushed for his third touchdown of the season against the Firestorm on Ray Dennison Memorial Field (Sep. 14, 2024)

Skyhawks and Hardrockers clash in white-out weekend matinee

9/27/2024 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis football team (1-2, 0-1 RMAC) plays its first home Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game of the season this week as the Skyhawks take on the Hardrockers of South Dakota Mines (2-2, 2-2 RMAC) at 2:00 p.m. up on Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
 
The Basics
Opponent: South Dakota Mines
Date: Saturday, Sep. 28
Time: 2:00 p.m. MST
Location: Durango, Colo.
Stadium: Ray Dennison Memorial Field
Series Overall: Hardrockers lead, 5-3
Series at Fort Lewis: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: SDM won in Rapid City, S.D., 48-10 (Oct. 21, 2023)
Live Broadcast: RMAC Network
Live Statistics: Sidearm
Tickets: HomeTown Ticketing
 
Themes and Promotions
It's White Out Weekend up on the rim this week, presented by Morehart Murphy Regional Auto Center. Skyhawks fans are encouraged to show up and show out in their best white attire, and the first 50 fans at the game can claim a limited edition white-out t-shirt.
 
Road Troubles
Fort Lewis is coming off a 33-7 loss to Black Hills State (2-1, 1-0 RMAC) up at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish, S.D. In addition to being the longest road trip of the season, it was also the first road contest of the season for a young Skyhawks roster that started only 11 upperclassmen (junior or senior). In addition to being out-gained 373 yards to 175 yards, FLC could only convert on 3-of-15 (20.0 percent) third downs and made three turnovers. Jacob Morris' one-yard connection through the air to Orlando Guevara was the only Skyhawks score on the afternoon.
 
Friendly Turf
Last time at home, the Skyhawks picked up a 17-12 win over Arizona Christian (1-1, 1-0 Frontier). Fort Lewis fired on all cylinders, especially defensively, where the Skyhawks limited its opponent to 239 yards of total offense, including only 77 yards in a first-half shutout. In a contest without turnovers, it was FLC who out-gained ACU 291 yards to 231 yards and dominated time of possession 32:44 to 27:16. Stone Walker rushed for 57 yards and one touchdown and connected with Christopher Thomas Jr. on a two-yard passing touchdown as well.
 
Death, Taxes, and Penney
One of the biggest staples of the 2024 Skyhawks football team has been redshirt sophomore and Sparks, Nevada, native Jacob Penney. The six-foot, two-hundred-and-fifteen-pound linebacker out of Spanish Springs High School leads the region and ranks second in all of NCAA DII, averaging 13.0 tackles per game. While Penney ranks fifth in DII in total tackles with 39.0, it's important to note that all four players in front of him, and the next five players behind him, have all completed four games: one more than Penney. Penney also leads the Skyhawks with 4.5 tackles for 10 yards lost, has one forced fumble, and has recorded two quarterback hurries.
 
Offensive Mastermind
It comes that South Dakota Mines has developed a high-powered offense under fifth-year head coach Charlie Flohr. Owning a 22-19 record as the head coach of the Hardrockers, Flohr made his way to Rapid City after spending 14 seasons at Norwest Missouri State, where, as the offensive coordinator, the Bearcats won three national championships and at least a share of six Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association titles. Since his arrival at SDM, the Hardrockers recorded their first winning season in 2022 and back-to-back winning seasons since 1985-86.
 
A Balanced Attack
The Hardrockers are one of the most balanced teams in the conference, averaging 28.3 points and 373.3 yards per game – marks that both rank fifth in the league – while owning the RMAC's fourth-best rushing and passing game, averaging 146.8 yards and 226.5 yards, respectively. While four different players have made 20+ rushing attempts on the season, redshirt senior Orlando Westbrook-Sanchez III leads the group with 218 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries. In the air, redshirt senior quarterback Jake Martinelli is 93-for-167 (55.7 percent) for 906 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions with an efficiency rating of 115.45.
 
Tough Tests Ahead
Next week, Fort Lewis will take a short trip up to Gunnison, Colo., for a 6:00 p.m. matchup under the lights of the newly renovated Mojo Field in the Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex against No. 14-ranked Western Colorado (3-0, 1-0 RMAC). The game will mark the first of back-to-back ranked opponents for the Skyhawks with a home game against No. 22-ranked CSU Pueblo (3-1, 2-0 RMAC) set for Oct. 12 up on the rim.
 
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