Fort Lewis College hasn’t won the opening game of its football season since 2011. New head coach Joe Morris wants to change that Saturday.
The Skyhawks will open the season at home against Chadron State at noon Saturday on their home Ray Dennison Memorial Field. Morris, who was named the interim head coach in June, will walk the sidelines as a head coach for the first time when he leads his alma mater against the Eagles.
Chadron State has won 28 of 32 games against Fort Lewis and is 11-2 all time in Durango.
Saturday’s contest is expected to be evenly matched between two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams that also met in the season opener a year ago in Nebraska. The Eagles were picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, while the Skyhawks were selected ninth.
FLC will be led by junior quarterback Bo Coleman, who established himself as the team’s top QB during the second half of last year’s 17-10 loss in Chadron. The Skyhawks trailed 17-3 at halftime of that game, but Coleman’s presence brought the team to life in the second half when he came off the bench to replace Larry Cutbirth.
The Skyhawks will lean on defensive linemen OJ Thompson, a Preseason All-RMAC selection. FLC will focus on Chadron State senior running back Derek Jackson, who rushed for 564 yards and two touchdowns a season ago. The Eagles used two quarterbacks last season, and both returned for 2017. Matt Vinson saw the bulk of work last year, passing for 1,988 yards, 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. TD Stein also returned to the roster this season. He passed for 284 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions a year ago.
The FLC defensive backs may not get many opportunities to snare passes because of Chadron State’s focus on running the ball, but Dre Cortez, Malcolm Wright and Daniel Walker will be eager to get involved on passing downs.
In a close game, special teams could be key, and the Skyhawks boast two new kickers in 2017 in Craig Coffman, a senior transfer from New Mexico State and Northern Colorado and freshman Ben Raybon of Arvada.
Morris and the Skyhawks want to start strong before a trip to Black Hills State in South Dakota looms in Week 2. An opening-week win will make that bus ride a lot more enjoyable for a team ripe with expectations.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who: Chadron State at Fort Lewis College
What: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Football
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Ray Dennison Memorial Field, FLC campus
Listen Live: KIUP 930 AM, 97.3, 106.3 FM
Twitter: @karltschneider
