It was a long day for the Fort Lewis College football team Saturday in Golden.
Up against No. 11 Colorado School of Mines (7-0, 7-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference), the Skyhawks (3-4, 3-4 RMAC) were run over in a 42-0 loss. It was a troubling defeat for a team that forced three turnovers and didn’t have any of its own. Once again, the anemic Skyhawks offense was responsible.
FLC had only four first downs the entire game and 78 yards of total offense on 46 plays. Mines racked up 195 yards on the ground and 362 through the air, as quarterback John Matocha went 27-of-37 passing for 339 yards and four touchdowns while he ran for 56 yards and another TD. Matohca even added a receiving TD, as he hauled in a 23-yard pass from running back Michael Zeman on a trick play that went for a score.
FLC quarterback Erik Ornduff was held to 10-of-22 passing for 41 yards with a long of 11 yards. He was sacked three times. Parker Strahler hauled in six passes for 27 yards.
Skyhawks running back Jeff Hansen was limited to 38 yards, and had the biggest FLC play of the day on a 14-yard run.
Zeman ran for 76 yards on 13 attempts to lead the Orediggers’ ground game, and he also had a receiving TD to add to his passing score. Josh Johnston was the team’s leading receiver with four catches for 86 yards and a TD. Mason Karp had six grabs for 72 yards and a score. Sean O’Dell also had a receiving TD as part of a four-catch, 44-yard day.
The FLC defense tried its best. Jayden Helms led the team with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. Shane Wetzel and Charles Roberts each also recovered a fumble, as FLC forced four fumbles in the game and recovered three. The Skyhawks had only one sack in the game split between Nathan Aguilar and Blayke De La Rosa.
The Skyhawks will close out a tough three-game road trip next Saturday at Western Colorado in Gunnison.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
