The Fort Lewis College football team got an 89-yard house call from Peyton Monson and a pair of trips to the end zone for Christopher Thomas Jr., but the Skyhawks could not otherwise find an answer for Arizona Christian University and the Firestorm prevailed 49-25 on Saturday.
The Skyhawks dropped to 0-2 with the loss while the Firestorm moved to 1-1.
Senior quarterback Braden Wingle set career-highs in total passing yards and longest completion, slinging the rock for 248 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 79-yard dime to Thomas Jr. Thomas Jr. hauled in both touchdown throws – matching his two scores last season – in the fourth quarter.
Arizona Christian's Tyler Duncan threw for 259 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding added another 97 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.
After giving up a pair of scores in the opening quarter, the Skyhawks' defense came up big in the second to force a turnover on downs. Hunter Villavicencio then got FLC o the scoreboard with 37-yard field goal.
Out of the half, Monson returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown breaking two tackles to cut ACU’s lead to 14-10.
ACU would not be denied, however, as the Firestorm answered Monson's return with a touchdown on the following drive and then exploded for 28 fourth-quarter points. Arizona Christian's offense racked up 611 yards of total offense while Fort Lewis gained 330.
FLC will next start league play in their home opener against New Mexico Highlands University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Emmett Layman and Gabriel Legendre both scored goals on Saturday, leading the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team to its first shutout of the season, 2-0, over West Texas A&M University at Dirks Field.
FLC improved to 2-1-0 overall with the win while West Texas slid to 0-2-0. The Skyhawks will next play a pair of games in British Columbia, Canada. FLC will play Simon Fraser University on Thursday and Montana State University Billings on Saturday.
A goal from senior Hannah Paschke helped the Skyhawks women's soccer team score a 1-1 draw against Chaminade University on Sunday in Gunnison. Elizabeth David was credited with the assist on the first-half goal, which gave FLC the early lead. The Skyhawks allowed one second-half goal, but finished tied with the Silverswords.
FLC is now 2-0-2 overall, its best start since the 2013 season. It will play its home opener at 7 p.m. Thursday against West Texas A&M.
The FLC men’s and women’s cross-country teams began their seasons on Saturday in Alamosa at the Joe Vigil Invite. Brady Burrough led FLC in the men’s 8K, finishing in 25:34 to place 15th in the loaded field.
Linda Weigang led the Skyhawk women with a 13th place finish, running FLC’s fourth-fastest 5K ever in of 18:01.95.
FLC will next run in the Mountaineer/Cowboy Invite on Saturday in Gunnison.
The Fort Lewis College women's golf team kicked off its fall season at the Swan Memorial, hosted by Colorado Christian University, at The Broadlands Country Club on Friday and Saturday. Senior, Emma Tornroos, led the Skyhawks, finishing tied for 26th place.
Tornroos shot a 77, 76 and 82 to finish with a three-round total of 235. Vivianna Holguin (242), Kendal Gutierrez (255) and Sarah Grenemyer (259) and Sabrina Ladd (265) also played for FLC.
