An early lead wasn’t enough for the Skyhawks to hold back the ThunderWolves on homecoming day in Pueblo.
Colorado State University-Pueblo had its way with the Fort Lewis College football team in a 33-12 victory on an 88 degree day in Pueblo.
“Everybody played hard,” FLC head coach Ed Rifilato said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “Pueblo is very powerful.”
CSU-Pueblo (4-3, 4-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) avoided third-down situations, only facing eight the entire game compared to 17 for the Skyhawks (1-6, 1-6 RMAC). The teams had comparable numbers rushing and passing, but field position played a big part in the game, as FLC started on its 20 or worse nine out of 11 drives. The Skyhawks were backed inside their own 10-yard line three times, including once on their own 1.
“Our first drive, we came out and threw the ball a bit and made some plays,” Rifilato said. “I thought we would continue to do that, but they pinned us back all day and played a great field-position game.”
FLC struck first only 2 minutes into the game, as sophomore quarterback Bo Coleman led a four-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Dominick Barnett. But the Skyhawks wouldn’t score again until there was 6:44 left in the fourth quarter, as Coleman ran for a TD from six yards out.
Coleman finished the game 13-of-21 passing for 155 yards, one TD and two interceptions. He also ran 19 times for 86 yards and the one TD. FLC’s leading rusher Drake Griffin was held to 58 yards on 16 carries, and PJ Hall was limited to 35 total yards on 12 touches.
Rex Dausin was 12-of-24 passing for the ThunderWolves. He threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers in Zach Boyd, Osha Washington and Daniel Wise. Boyd had three catches for 92 yards.
The ThunderWolves spread the rushing load around after Bernard McDondle went down with an ankle injury. He exited after only two carries for six yards. Austin Micci was the team’s leading rusher with 54 yards and a TD on 11 carries.
“We were trying to keep the ball between the tackles,” Rifilato said of the team’s defense. “They line up so many tight ends, and they have a new formation every week shifting those guys around.”
FLC’s defense was led by its secondary, as cornerback Ryneal Lewis-Adams had a sack, six tackles and two pass breakups. Dre Cortez also had an interception.
The Skyhawks will look for their first home win of the season at noon Saturday against Western New Mexico. That is the only non-conference game of the season for FLC, as this is Western New Mexico’s first year in the Lone Star Conference.
“There’s no quit in this team,” Rifilato said. “We just need to get better.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
