The biggest week of the season is upon the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks.
No. 2 CSU-Pueblo (5-0, 3-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) is in town for a game noon Saturday, and No. 16 Colorado Mines (5-0, 3-0 RMAC) looms just five days later when FLC (1-4, 0-3 RMAC) will host its first-ever nationally televised game on a homecoming Thursday night game.
But first up are the ThunderWolves, who have struggled a bit in RMAC play after they beat Division I Sam Houston State 47-21 on Sept. 13.
Still, CSU-Pueblo has maintained its No. 2 ranking all season despite a narrow 26-23 win at Western State (2-3, 1-2 RMAC) and a 17-7 home win against Adams State (1-4, 0-3 RMAC) last week.
“We don’t need any motivation against these guys. We know they are an awfully good football team, and I hope our guys take it as a personal challenge to stand up and play against one of the best teams in the entire country,” FLC head coach John L. Smith said Friday night in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “I know they’re going to do that. I feel good about us simplifying some things, and I know we will come out and give them everything they could want.”
FLC will use two quarterbacks Saturday. Trevor Bonifasi saw time last week and went 3-of-5 for 76 yards and a touchdown in a comeback bid that fell just short at Western New Mexico. Jordan Doyle will start the game Saturday, and he has completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 1,075 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions this season.
Doyle also is the Skyhawks’ leading rusher this season with 257 net yards and five touchdowns in five games.
“Doyle definitely is starting, but we want to work ‘Bono’ in the game in different situations to see both kids play,” Smith said of the QB situation.
Passing should be tough for FLC, as the ThunderWolves have the top-passing defense in the RMAC after allowing just 160.4 yards per game so far this season. Their 10 interceptions is tied for fourth best in the country and is just one shy of first. CSU-Pueblo has scored two touchdowns on interceptions this season.
The ThunderWolves boast one of the best pass rushes in the nation. Morgan Fox is fourth in the country with 7.5 sacks, and RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Darius Allen has another 4.5 sacks for CSU-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves are the best scoring defense in the RMAC by a wide margin, as they have allowed just 12.8 points per game, good for 11th in the country. They have allowed opponents just 277.2 yards per game and only seven total touchdowns through five games.
“We need to simplify our protections to block for (the quarterbacks), because Pueblo comes out with their hair on fire with the pass rush when they get you in long situations. We have to move the pocket a bit and make sure we don’t face those long yardage situations,” Smith said.
CSU-Pueblo has the most balanced offensive attack the Skyhawks have seen so far this season. Quarterback Chris Bonner, the RMAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has 11 touchdown passes this season, and running back Cameron McDondle is averaging 115.4 rushing yards per game and has seven touchdown runs, which is good for 22nd in the nation.
“Their quarterback is a tall, good-looking guy who can throw the ball all over the field, and they’ve got great speed receivers,” Smith said of the ThunderWolves. “They don’t have the big tight ends and H-back type guys like a year ago that they lost, and it seems to me they’re trying to give you a lot more motions to adjust to this year instead of lining up two tight ends and getting after you. This year, there is more to deal with mentally against their offense than a year ago.”
Linebacker Ryan Ross has led the FLC defense with 50 tackles (25 solo), which is third best in the conference. He also has one sack and one interception. Defensive back Jake Faust has another 41 tackles for FLC.
Since 2008, when CSU-Pueblo reinstated football, the ThunderWolves have outscored the Skyhawks 42.7 points per game to 7.5 points per game. But Smith is confident his team can narrow the margin this season and make a better showing.
“Right now, we just want to get better every day and see if we can execute when we need to,” Smith said. “But I really believe the guys will come out and perform.”
jlivingston@ durangoherald.com
