October is here and the fall sports season rolls on as the days get shorter and the nights get colder.
Most teams are entering the middle phase of their season. Nonleague and nonconference games are over. Teams get to see if their nonconference/nonleague games aptly prepared them for the games that matter as postseason play will be here in no time.
Durango High School and Fort Lewis College football return home as the highlighted games in Durango this upcoming week. The Skyhawks soccer teams also return home and look to bounce back from losses.
One team that is near the end of its season is Durango boys golf; the Demons compete at state at the beginning of next week.
Here’s the local sports schedule for the upcoming week:
Friday: Women’s soccer vs. Colorado Mesa at 4:30 p.m.
Notes: The Skyhawks have had a gauntlet of a schedule recently and have struggled. FLC has lost four consecutive games, all against teams in the Division II top 25 or receiving votes, with all four games on the road. FLC is 3-4-1 overall and 0-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Colorado Mesa is ranked No. 22 in Division II at 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the RMAC. The Mavericks’ game against the Skyhawks is Colorado Mesa’s first road conference game and is FLC’s first home conference game.
The two RMAC foes faced off twice last season, with Colorado Mesa winning 3-1 in the regular season and FLC winning in penalty kicks in the RMAC tournament.
Volleyball at Adams State at 5 p.m.
Notes: The Skyhawks are off to a fantastic start at 9-2 overall and 3-1 in the RMAC. FLC is closing in on last season’s win total of 10 wins. FLC could easily be 11-0 after dropping matches to Western New Mexico and South Dakota Mines, 2-3.
Adams State is 4-9 overall and 1-3 in the RMAC. The Grizzlies and the Skyhawks have faced South Dakota Mines; Adams State beat the Hardrockers, 3-1.
Last season, Adams State went 2-1 against FLC.
Men’s soccer vs. Colorado Christian at 7 p.m.
Notes: The Skyhawks unbeaten season has come to an end with their 2-1 loss at No. 8 CSU Pueblo on Sunday. FLC dropped to 4-1-2 overall and CSU Pueblo moved to 4-0-4 with the win.
Colorado Christian is 0-7-1 overall with six of its seven losses coming by a goal.
Last season, FLC and Colorado Christian tied, 2-2.
Saturday: Football vs. Western Colorado University at noon
Notes: The Skyhawks are still learning how to put away close games. FLC is coming off a tough loss to South Dakota Mines, 22-21, where FLC led 21-10 heading into the fourth quarter. The loss dropped FLC to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the RMAC.
Western Colorado is 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the RMAC and is ranked No. 7 in Division II in the American Football Coaches Association. The Mountaineers have won their four games by an average of 27.25 points.
Last season, Western Colorado beat FLC, 44-7.
Volleyball at New Mexico Highlands at 7 p.m.
Sunday: Women’s soccer vs. Westminster at noon
Men’s soccer vs. MSU Denver at 2:30 p.m.
Monday: Men’s golf at University of Missouri St. Louis National Preview in Boulder City, Nevada
Tuesday: Men’s golf at University of Missouri St. Louis National Preview in Boulder City, Nevada
Volleyball at Westminster at 6 p.m.
Thursday: Bayfield boys soccer at Alamosa at 4 p.m.
Durango football vs. Rampart at 6 p.m.
Bayfield volleyball vs. Piedra Vista at 6:15 p.m.
Friday: Durango cross country at Pantherfest
Bayfield cross country at Alamosa Cross Country Meet at 9 a.m.
Bayfield football at Alamosa at 7 p.m.
Saturday: Ignacio volleyball at Greeley Tournament
Durango softball at Fruita Monument at 10 a.m.
Durango softball at Fruita Monument at noon
Ignacio football vs. Centauri at 1 p.m.
Monday: Durango boys golf at state
Durango softball vs. Delta at 2 p.m.
Durango softball vs. Delta at 4 p.m.
Bayfield boys soccer vs. Montezuma-Cortez at 4 p.m.
Tuesday: Durango boys golf at state
Durango volleyball at Pagosa Springs at 6 p.m.
Bayfield volleyball vs. Montezuma-Cortez at 6:15 p.m.
