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Solomon Latimer at CSU Pueblo
Antonio Clark
Solomon Latimer (8) checks his position with the line judge against the ThunderWolves at the CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl (Oct. 11, 2025)

Skyhawks face Mavericks in Western Slope showdown

10/24/2025 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
Fort Lewis College at Colorado Mesa University
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2 pm | Stocker Stadium | Grand Junction, Colo.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets | FLC Notes | CMU Notes
 
DURANGO, Colo. – Fort Lewis will play as the road team in its second-straight homecoming contest this Saturday afternoon at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Colo., as the Skyhawks (1-6, 0-5 RMAC) soar up the Western Slope to face off with the Mavericks (3-4, 2-3 RMAC) from Colorado Mesa University in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest.
 
Find a Way
The Skyhawks will be eager to bounce back this weekend after suffering a 41-0 loss to Chadron State College (6-2, 6-0 RMAC) at home in their own homecoming game last Saturday. Fort Lewis mustered up 128 yards of total offense, primarily thanks to 77 yards rushing on the ground, including a 48-yard effort from KB Broadus. Outmatched in time of possession by 17 minutes, the Skyhawks' defense did all that it could to hold the red-hot Eagles to 4-of-14 on third down and 0-of-1 on fourth down while also making a pair of sacks. FLC also forced two fumbles, but could not recover either.
 
Force the Issue
Through week eight of the season, the Fort Lewis defense has risen to the task, leading the RMAC in forced fumbles with 13 and ranking second in interceptions with nine. FLC is also fifth in sacks recorded, with 13 total for 82 yards lost. While eight different Skyhawks have punched out fumbles, Aaron Francis sits as the team and conference leader with three thus far, including two by way of strip-sacks. In the secondary, Elijah Portela and Kalib Davis have each hauled in two picks to tie for the fifth-most in the league. In the box, and across the field, nobody in the conference has impacted the game quite like Jake Penney. The inside linebacker boasts 88 total tackles thus far for an average of 12.6 tackles per game, marks that both rank third overall across all of NCAA Division II.
 
Skyhawks Leaders
  • Jacob Morris (R-So., QB) (679 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 64-112 (57.1%) completions-attempts, 10.6 yards per completion, 113.2 passing yards per game)
  • Jake Jones (R-Fr., QB) (209 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 19-33 (57.6%) completions-attempts, 11.0 yards per completion, 29.9 yards per game, 37 carries, 224 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 6.1 yards per carry, 32.0 rushing yards per game)
  • KB Broadus (R-Jr., RB) (46 carries, 169 yards, 5 touchdowns, 3.7 yards per carry, 24.1 yards per game)
  • Zachary Gaumont (Jr., WR) (14 catches, 274 yards, 2 touchdowns, 19.6 yards per catch, 39.1 yards per game)
  • Solomon Latimer (So., WR) (15 catches, 217 yards, 2 touchdowns, 14.5 yards per catch, 31.0 yards per game)
  • Jake Penney (R-Jr., ILB) (88 tackles, 6.0 tackles for 15 yards lost, 1.5 sacks for 7 yards lost, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass breakup)
  • Elijah Portela (R-Jr., BS) (40 tackles, 0.5 tackles for 2 yards lost, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries)
 
One-Score Mavericks
Colorado Mesa enters the weekend with a 3-4 overall record and a 2-3 mark in conference action; however, the Mavericks are arguably just three touchdowns away from a possible 6-1 overall record and an undefeated record in the RMAC. CMU has fallen 24-31 to No. 12-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo (7-1, 6-0 RMAC), 27-34 at Chadron State College (6-2, 6-0 RMAC), and 22-28 at New Mexico Highlands (4-3, 2-3 RMAC). In its most recent victory at home at Stocker Stadium, the Mavericks trampled Adams State University (0-7, 0-5 RMAC) 54-17 while out-gaining the Grizzlies 513 yards to 315 and forcing two takeaways.  
 
Solid on Both Sides
Through seven games, the Mavericks carry the league's sixth-best scoring offense and fifth-best defense, scoring 28.1 points per game while holding opponents to 26.0 points per game. Between the lines, CMU has averaged 390.9 yards of total offense, but opponents have nearly matched it with an average of 379.1 yards per game. The ground game has been Colorado Mesa's bread and butter, boasting 228 rushing yards per game for 15 rushing touchdowns, which is the third-most in the league and just two back from the league-leader New Mexico Highlands. Five different Mavs have rushed for scores, but Aiden Taylor has shouldered much of the burden thus far with nine rushing touchdowns.
 
Mavericks Leaders
  • Liu Aumavae (R-Jr., QB) (691 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 61-103 (59.2%) completions-attempts, 11.3 yards per completion, 138.2 passing yards per game)
  • Aiden Taylor (Sr., RB) (111 carries, 645 yards, 9 touchdowns, 5.8 yards per carry, 92.1 yards per game)
  • Brandon Belgrave (R-Sr., RB) (56 carries, 395 yards, 3 touchdowns, 7.1 yards per carry, 79 yards per game)
  • Trek Keyworth (R-So., WR) (19 catches, 405 yards, 2 touchdowns, 21.3 yards per catch, 57.9 yards per game)
  • Bryson Brown (Fr., WR) (9 catches, 219 yards, 2 touchdowns, 24.3 yards per catch, 43.8 yards per game)
  • George Soppe (So., LB) (66 tackles, 6.5 tackles for 21 yards lost, 3 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries)
  • Gibson Leafgreen (Jr., DB) (34 tackles, 1.5 tackles for 6 yards lost, 1.0 sacks for 5 yards lost, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 quarterback hurry)
 
Looking Ahead
It will be rivalry week up on the rim next Saturday, Nov. 1, as Fort Lewis welcomes Adams State for the second-annual Clash for the Pass! Rivalry matchup. The Skyhawks will also hold their annual Nike N7 game, presented by SkyUte Resort & Casino. Kickoff against the Grizzlies is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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