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Kamrin Joyce-Fairley vs. South Dakota Mines
Kaitlyn Silva
Kamrin Joyce-Fairley (2) and the Skyhawks run onto Ray Dennison Memorial Field ahead of an RMAC contest with the Hardrockers (Oct. 4, 2026)

Skyhawks to meet Eagles in penultimate RMAC road test on Saturday

10/30/2026 11:00:00 AM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
DURANGO, Colo. – Looking to build on the momentum of taking a top-five nationally ranked opponent down to the wire, the Fort Lewis Skyhawks football team (2-5, 1-5 RMAC) will challenge the Chadron State College Eagles (3-5, 2-4 RMAC) in another Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) contest Saturday afternoon on Elliot Field at Don Beebe Stadium in Chadron, Neb.
 
Game Details
Fort Lewis (2-5, 1-5 RMAC) vs. Chadron State (3-5, 2-4 RMAC)
Saturday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m.
Chadron, Neb. – Elliot Field at Don Beebe Stadium
RMAC Network | Live Stats | Tickets
 
Fought to the Finish
Fort Lewis is coming off one of its grittiest performances of the season after taking unbeaten and No. 4/5 nationally ranked Colorado State University Pueblo (8-0, 6-0 RMAC) down to one possession in a 28-21 loss last weekend. The Skyhawks put up touchdowns in three of the four quarters, and Wesley Wright recorded a heroic tackle at the one-yard line on fourth down, turning the ThunderWolves over on downs and giving his team a shot with 1:46 left. Cooper Payne made a 23-yard fumble recovery scoop-and-score, Thomas Gillispie blocked a punt to give the Skyhawks possession at the CSUP one-yard line, and KhaVontae Paul and Baylor Seabolt had rushing touchdowns of 25 yards and one yard, respectively. Elijah Portela made a game-high 13 tackles and forced a fumble.
 
Skyhawks Strengths
Defense has been the Skyhawks' strong suit thus far, with Fort Lewis ranking sixth overall, allowing 376.4 yards per game, but first in the league in passing defense, limiting opponents to just 157.4 yards passing per game, a league-low seven passing touchdowns, and a fifth-best defensive efficiency rating of 123.4. FLC are third in fumbles recovered (eight), fourth in interceptions (seven), fifth in sacks (16 for 69 yards), and sixth in fumbles forced (seven).
 
Fifth-year defensive back Trenton Sullivan spearheads the defense with a team-high and RMAC second-best 66 total tackles. Up front, fifth-year defensive end Walter Stauffer has made a team-leading 7.0 tackles for 22 yards lost, a mark that ranks fifth in the conference, including 3.5 sacks for 14 yards, another mark good for 11th in the RMAC. Sophomore linebacker Drennan Dowell leads the team with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
 
You Can Count on Eight
Fifth-year gunslinger Sam Jones has given Fort Lewis new life through the air, throwing for 820 yards and two scores on 92 completions in 150 attempts (61.33 completion percentage). Jones has primarily linked up with junior receiver Solomon Latimer, who has brought down 33 catches for 488 yards and four touchdowns. Latimer ranks fourth in yards per game (69.7), fourth in receptions per game (4.7), fourth in total yards (488), T-8 in touchdowns, and 11th in yards per catch (14.8), despite playing one game fewer than all other receivers.
 
Eagles Flying High
15-year head coach Jay Long has Chadron State fresh off its two biggest wins of the season, first a 69-0 shutout of Adams State University (0-8, 0-6 RMAC) in its last home game on Oct. 17, followed by a convincing 59-17 win on the road at New Mexico Highlands University (3-5, 1-5 RMAC) last weekend. The Eagles' only other win came at home back on Sept. 3, when Chadron State topped the University of Nebraska at Kearney (1-7, 1-5 MIAA), 24-21.
 
Scouting Chadron State
Led under center by fifth-year quarterback Aidan Thompson, Chadron State boasts the league's seventh-best offense, averaging 27 points and 343.8 yards per game, primarily with the RMAC's fourth-best passing offense of 204.9 yards per game. Thompson carries a 50 percent completion percentage with 78 completions for 1,126 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Four different receivers have hauled in touchdowns, but none more than junior wide receiver Devon Sundgren with 250 yards and four scores on 12 catches. Sophomore receiver Camden Walker is right behind him with three touchdowns and 138 yards on 14 catches. On the ground, junior running back Devon Rivers paces the backfield with 279 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns on 79 carries (3.5 yards per carry).
 
On the defensive side, the Eagles rank fifth in scoring and defensive yards per game, with opponents putting up 364 yards and 23.6 points per game. CSC is sixth with 13 total sacks and second in fumbles forced with nine, but fifth behind the Skyhawks with six interceptions. Senior linebacker Liam Blaser has won back-to-back RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after snagging two pick-sixes in as many games. Fifth-year linebacker Cooper Walton leads all Eagles with 61 tackles and 5.5 tackles for 20 yards lost.
 
Looking Ahead
Fort Lewis will play its final home game of 2026 next Saturday, Nov. 7, as the Skyhawks welcome the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks (4-4, 3-3 RMAC) for senior day and its annual Nike N7 game, presented by SkyUte Resort & Casino. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
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