The Fort Lewis College football team looked like it belonged with a nationally ranked team, at least for a half.
The NCAA Division II Skyhawks traveled north to Bozeman, Montana, to play Division I Football Championship Subdivision No. 11 Montana State for the season-opening game Thursday.
FLC trailed only 7-0 most of the first half before a late failed fourth-down attempt helped set up a second touchdown with 9 seconds to play in the first half.
The Skyhawks went down 21-0, after the Bobcats stormed down the field to score again right out of halftime. But senior quarterback Jordan Doyle found senior wide receiver Juquelle Thompson for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 4:34 to play in the third quarter to narrow the deficit to 21-7. The drive took eight plays and spanned 67 yards.
FLC went on to trail 42-7 before scoring again. After Doyle checked out of the game with it out of hand, backup quarterback A.J. Thigpen connected with Durango native Jordan Gillen on a nine-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-14.
Later in the fourth quarter, Durango’s Isiah Mayberry recorded his first collegiate tackle for the Skyhawks from the linebacker position.
Chad Newell rushed for a pair of touchdowns for the Bobcats, and Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop passed for a pair of touchdowns to Mitchell Herbert. Prukop added a rushing touchdown to go with 69 rushing yards on 11 carries. He finished 14-of-24 passing for 197 yards.
Backup quarterback Jake Bleskin came on to throw for 61 yards and another touchdown.
Luke Daly added a late 47-yard field goal for the game’s final score.
Newell finished with 44 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Doyle’s night ended early in the fourth quarter after he went 8-of-14 for 50 yards, the touchdown to Thompson and one interception. Doyle added 58 rushing yards on 13 carries in his first game back from a broken leg suffered late last season.
Thigpen finished 2-of-3 for 53 yards and the touchdown to Gillen that capped off a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
PJ Hall led the Skyhawks in rushing with 75 yards on 20 carries, but he fumbled once to set up Montana State on the Skyhawks’ 25-yard line. Five plays later, the Bobcats were in the end zone to take a commanding 35-7 lead.
Thompson led the Skyhawks in receiving with 67 yards on two catches.
FLC’s defense stood strong early, and the Skyhawks’ athletes matched up well with the Division I team. The game was played in front of 19,367 fans in sold out Bobcat Stadium.
FLC avoided any serious injuries, which was a big goal for head coach John L. Smith going into the game.
The Skyhawks will return home to host Oklahoma Panhandle State at noon Sept. 12.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
