Fort Lewis College led a tough foe on the road in the fourth quarter. The lead disappeared in a flash behind a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown and an interception returned for another score, as Chadron State beat the Skyhawks 31-21 on Saturday afternoon in Nebraska.
With 5 minutes, 14 seconds to go in the game, the Skyhawks dropped back to punt from their own 17-yard line. Chadron State’s Jackson Dickerson and a host of fellow Eagles blew past the FLC line and blocked the punt, and Dickerson recovered it in the end zone for the go-ahead score.
“You know, we end up getting the punt blocked,” FLC head coach Joe Morris said. “We’re just not doing a good enough job protecting there. We gotta get better on punt. It falls on us coaching it.”
FLC (0-3, 0-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) would punt on its next possession, and the Eagles (2-1, 2-1 RMAC) were able to run the clock down to 1:54 to play in the game before a punt to the Skyhawks gave FLC one more chance to drive with no timeouts left. FLC had the ball on its own 15, but the second place of the series was intercepted by Chadron State’s DeAndre Barthwell, who jumped the route, tipped the ball to himself with both hands and then corralled it before going 21 yards for a Chadron State touchdown to put the game away.
The Skyhawks tried one more drive. But, with 12 seconds to play in the game, an FLC field goal attempt by Hogan Keasler was blocked by the Eagles. With a successful field goal, FLC would have been able to try an onside kick and one more Hail Mary into the end zone, but FLC never got that chance.
McNamee entered the game early off the FLC bench. FLC starting quarterback Jake Lowry broke an ankle after he had started 2-of-3 passing for 63 yards. McNamee came in and went 22-of-39 passing for 263 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also fumbled once.
“As far as the interception at the end, we’ve got a new quarterback in there battling his butt off, and stuff happens sometimes,” Morris said.
Morris said McNamee will be the starter going into the week of practice, as FLC will prepare for its first true home game of the season against Black Hills State.
“Nick did a great job controlling the offense. He’s gotta hang onto the football, but other than that he did a tremendous job. We do have some other guys that will be ready to get in there and compete for a spot.”
FLC also lost linebacker Darrian Stickney to injury in the game. Trevor David filled that spot and had six tackles. A highlight for the FLC defense was a strip sack in the end zone by Lorenzo Tanner. Durango High alum Isiah Mayberry fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a Skyhawks touchdown. That play gave FLC a 14-10 lead with 7:29 to play in the third quarter.
But Chadron State quarterback Dalton Holst gave the Eagles back the lead with his second touchdown pass of the game, this time a 9-yard strike to Brandon Fullerton. The Eagles led 17-14 with 14:02 to play in the fourth quarter.
FLC reclaimed the lead when McNamee hit Mason Hatton for their second touchdown connection of the game. The 1-yard score gave FLC its 21-17 lead with 8:07 to play.
Hatton finished with eight catches for 61 yards and the two touchdowns. Xavier Thibodeaux had three catches for 86 yards, and Parker Strahler had three catches for 67 yards.
Brayden Lucero led FLC in rushing with 125 yards on 16 carries.
Holst finished 19-of-34 for 221 yards and two touchdowns for Chadron State. Fullerton led the Eagles in receiving with 92 yards on five carries. FLC defense bottled up the traditionally stout Chadron State run game. Kevin Coy Jr. led the team with 77 yards on 23 carries.
“As a whole, I’m proud of the football team,” Morris said. “Nobody quit. They played their tails off. But the devil is in the details, and we gotta get better.”
FLC will host Black Hills State at noon Saturday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
