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Skyhawks football vs. New Mexico Highlands
Kaitlyn Silva
MJ Dailey V (95) getting hyped up after a tackle for loss against the Cowboys on Ray Dennison Memorial Field (Sept. 12, 2026)

Football to test unbeaten record at Colorado School of Mines

9/18/2026 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College football team (2-0, 1-0 RMAC) will carry an unbeaten record into Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where the Skyhawks will test their mettle against one of the blue-bloods of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football at Colorado School of Mines (0-2-1, 0-1 RMAC).
 
Game Details
Fort Lewis (2-0, 1-0 RMAC) at Colorado School of Mines (0-2-1, 0-1 RMAC)
Saturday, Sept. 19, at 12 p.m.
Golden, Colo. – Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium
TV: The Spot Denver 3 | RMAC Network | Live Stats | Tickets
 
Opportunity Ahead
For the first time since 1979, Fort Lewis football is off to a 2-0 start to the season after downing Arizona Christian University (0-1), 27-9 (Sept. 5), and handing New Mexico Highlands University (2-1, 0-1 RMAC) its first loss of the season, 31-28 (Sept. 12) in overtime, last weekend.  The Skyhawks opened conference play 1-0 for the first time since 2019 and won its first overtime contest since 2018 thanks to a walk-off 37-yard field goal in the second overtime possession by Lucas Schmitten, who was later named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Heading into week three, the Skyhawks are one of four teams in the league and 38 teams in all of Division II to remain undefeated.
 
Early Leaders
Trenton Sullivan has emerged as the Skyhawks 'Agent 0', picking up right where he left off two seasons ago, posting 25 tackles and 2.5 tackles for nine yards lost alongside two pass breakups in two games thus far. Drennan Dowell has seemingly shot out of cannon besides Sullivan, as the sophomore linebacker has racked up 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles for five yards lost, recovered one fumble, and sits tied for the RMAC lead with two interceptions in as many games.
 
True freshman KhaVontae Paul has given Fort Lewis life on the ground as the Glendale, Ariz., native has rushed for 97 yards on 21 carries, posting 4.6 yards per carry while being tackled for just three yards lost thus far. Out wide, Solomon Latimer has been elite on limited targets, hauling in nine catches for 161 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns. Latimer is averaging 17.9 yards per catch and 80.5 yards a game.
 
Series with Mines
Saturday's contest will mark the 64th meeting all-time between the two sides. Colorado School of Mines leads the series 36-27 all-time and 18-13 up in Golden, Colo., and most notably, have defeated the Skyhawks in 18 straight games since 2007. Fort Lewis' last win came by a 41-34 decision at Mines back on Oct. 21, 2006. Head coach Bob Stitt, in his second stint with the Orediggers, is 13-3 against the Skyhawks.
 
Early Struggles for the Orediggers
Colorado School of Mines has yet to emerge the victors in 2026, starting the season with a 22-20 loss (Aug. 29) to No. 22/14-ranked Western Oregon University (2-0, 0-0 LSC) before tying 16-16 (Sept. 5) with Washburn University (1-1-1, 0-1 MIAA) on the road and falling 45-17 to No. 5/7-ranked Colorado State University of Pueblo (3-0, 0-1 RMAC) in its RMAC opener last weekend (Sept. 12).
 
Mines enter the weekend ninth in the RMAC in scoring, averaging 17.7 points per game behind 315.3 yards of offense, split between 105.3 yards rushing and 210.0 yards passing. Joseph Capra awaits under center, where the six-foot-one gunslinger has thrown for 630 yards and four touchdowns against one interception on 72 completions in 112 attempts (64.3 percent). Max Barnes takes the lead out of the backfield, rushing for 119 yards and 3.1 yards per carry on 39 attempts. Pierce Richards is the workhorse out wide, hauling in 31 of the team's 72 receptions thus far for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Orediggers have allowed opponents to average 27.7 points per game on 426.3 yards of offense. Foes have had the most success through the air, throwing for 282 yards per game and eight touchdowns over Mines. Linebacker Mo Russolillo leads the squad with 25 tackles, 2.5 tackles for eight yards lost, and one fumble recovery. Linebacker Luke Johnson is the biggest threat in the backfield, adding another 21 tackles and 4.0 tackles for a combined seven yards lost as well as one of five Mines' sacks thus far.
 
Looking Ahead
Fort Lewis will make its second conference road trip in as many weeks next Saturday, Sept. 26, as the Skyhawks head up to Spearfish, S.D., and Lyle Hare Stadium to challenge Black Hills State University (3-0, 1-0 RMAC), who have received votes on back-to-back American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Polls. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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