The middle of November is quickly approaching, which means a mix of fall sports playoff games and the start of winter sports at the college level.
Veterans Day has passed (thank you to all of our brave Americans who have served this country) and Thanksgiving is on the horizon. Many local high school athletes hope to be thankful for a successful season once Thanksgiving comes as football and volleyball state playoffs continue this week. The athletes, coaches and fans of Durango High School football will be thankful if this beautiful fall weather continues for their games.
At Fort Lewis College, volleyball and football will finish their regular seasons within the next week, and the basketball teams will begin their regular seasons on the road.
Here’s the local sports schedule for the upcoming week:
Wednesday: Women’s soccer at Colorado Mesa at 4 p.m. in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament Semifinals.
Notes: The No. 4-seeded Skyhawks women’s soccer team defeated No. 5 Regis, 2-0, on Sunday at home in the RMAC tournament quarterfinals. The win extended FLC’s undefeated streak to 10 games; the Skyhawks completed an undefeated record at home, and the Skyhawks weren’t scored on at home. FLC improved to 11-4-3 overall with the win.
Top seed in the RMAC and No. 20 in Division II, Colorado Mesa enters the tournament semifinal matchup 13-2-2 overall and won the RMAC regular season championship with a 9-0-2 conference record. The Mavericks haven’t allowed a goal against an RMAC opponent this season and finished the last five games of the regular season 3-0-2, with 0-0 ties at Colorado School of Mines and vs. UCCS.
The Skyhawks and the Mavericks started playing a match on Oct. 3, but it was declared a no contest after about 15 minutes of play due to weather. Last season, FLC beat Colorado Mesa in the RMAC tournament quarterfinals via penalty kicks. The winner of this year’s tournament game will go on to face the winner of No. 2 Colorado School of Mines and No. 3 UCCS in the RMAC tournament championship in Grand Junction on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Friday: Women’s basketball vs. Western New Mexico at 5 p.m. in Las Vegas, New Mexico as part of Conference Challenge
Notes: The Skyhawks women’s basketball team enters Year 2 under head coach Lauren Zuniga looking to improve on last year’s 6-22 overall record and 3-17 record in the RMAC. FLC returns seven players from last year’s roster and brings in a mix of college transfers and freshman.
Western New Mexico finished last season 4-22 overall, 4-18 in the Lone Star Conference, and the Mustangs lost their top-four scorers from last year’s team.
Last season, FLC beat Western New Mexico, 53-47, in Durango to begin the season.
Volleyball at Colorado Christian University at 6 p.m.
Notes: The Skyhawks volleyball team is looking to snap a four-game losing streak after a tough stretch of games against MSU Denver, UCCS and Colorado School of Mines. The last loss was a 2-3 loss vs. UCCS on senior day on Saturday. That loss dropped FLC to 14-9 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
As of Tuesday afternoon, FLC is 8-4 overall and is fifth in the RMAC standings. A win against Colorado Christian would go a long way to the team securing a spot in the RMAC tournament (the top eight teams in the conference make it.)
Men’s basketball vs. Eastern New Mexico University at 7 p.m. in Portales, New Mexico as part of Conference Challenge
Notes: The FLC men’s basketball team kicks off its 2025-2026 season with a promising group of returners, transfers and freshman. FLC went 19-12 overall, 12-8 in the RMAC and lost in the conference semifinals in Year 1 under head coach Jordan Mast. The Skyhawks bring back second-leading scorer and leading rebounder in fifth-year forward Chuol Deng and one of their top defenders in redshirt sophomore guard Stewart Erhart.
Eastern New Mexico finished 18-11 overall and 13-9 in the Lone Star Conference last season. FLC beat Eastern New Mexico, 66-55, in Durango last season.
Saturday: Football vs. Colorado School of Mines at noon
Notes: FLC looks to bounce back from its 31-14 road loss at New Mexico Highlands on Saturday. FLC had four turnovers and the loss dropped it to 2-8 overall and 1-7 in the RMAC.
Colorado School of Mines is 6-4 overall and 4-4 in the RMAC after its 41-34 overtime loss to CSU Pueblo on Saturday. Last season, FLC lost 67-9 to Colorado School of Mines.
Women’s basketball vs. Cameron University at 1 p.m. in Las Vegas, New Mexico, as part of the Conference Challenge
Men’s basketball vs. Western New Mexico at 5 p.m. in Portales, New Mexico as part of Conference Challenge.
Volleyball at CSU Pueblo at 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Volleyball in RMAC tournament if it makes it
Women’s basketball vs. St. Edward’s University at noon.
Thursday: No. 6 seed Bayfield vs. No. 11 Aspen at 11 a.m. in 3A girls volleyball state championships in the Denver Coliseum.
No. 7 Sedgwick County vs. No. 10 Ignacio at 12:30 p.m. in the 2A girls volleyball state championships in the Denver Coliseum.
Saturday: No. 4 seed Durango football vs. No. 13 Ponderosa at noon in 4A state championships.
