The Fort Lewis football team managed to improve its offense, but the defense was no match for Chadron State’s passing attack.
The Eagles had 321 passing yards and five touchdowns through the air, cruising to a 57-20 home win against the Skyhawks.
Chadron State improved to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Skyhawks fell to 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the RMAC.
The Eagles had 559 yards of total offense, while Fort Lewis had 257 yards of total offense.
“Well, I thought in moments, we competed well,” Fort Lewis coach Johnny Cox said. “We're disappointed with the overall outcome of the game. We have to continuously grow and make sure that we play mistake-free football. Once we do that, I think as we get closer to playing to our full capability.”
Chadron State’s passing attack started red-hot, as wide receiver Tommy Thomas couldn’t be stopped. Thomas caught 78-yard and 66-yard touchdown passes from quarterback Preston Pearson in the first quarter. The Eagles led 22-6 after one quarter.
The Skyhawks scored their first touchdown in the second quarter with a 4-yard run by Joseph Barreras. Chadron State led 36-13 at half.
Thomas scored his third touchdown for Chadron State just before halftime, as well as a fourth touchdown in the third quarter.
Fort Lewis scored its second touchdown on a Peyton Monson reception with 4:18 left in regulation. Skyhawks quarterback Braden Wingle completed 21 of 26 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown.
“Wingle was our offensive player of the game,” Cox said. “He just continues to progress. We ask him to go out there and compete and be out there extending plays and go through his reads. I thought he did a good job throughout the game of doing that. He was impressive and he continues to get better and more confident and we're hoping that he has he can follow that up with a good performance.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
