Email this article
Printable version
Fort Lewis College football lose late in Vegas
Cowboys score 21 4th-quarter points to defeat Skyhawks by 4
Herald Staff ReportFort Lewis College narrowly missed its penultimate shot at a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday, conceding 21 points in the fourth quarter of a 39-35 loss to New Mexico Highlands.
It's like a huge weight has been lifted off of this team's shoulders.
- Chad Roanhaus, N.M. Highlands coach
Trailing 35-25 with 3:37 to play at Perkins Stadium in Las Vegas, N.M., Brandon Torres scored Highlands' fourth rushing touchdown of the day to put the cherry on top of an 11-play, 83-yard drive, then Travis Lee caught a 17-yard pass from Cowboys quarterback Narcisco Diaz for the game-winning score with just 28 seconds remaining in regulation.
"It's like a huge weight has been lifted off of this team's shoulders," Cowboys head coach Chad Roanhaus said in a news release.
"We have always had it in us, and (Saturday) we fought through adversity and came out on top." Fort Lewis head coach Ed Rifilato was the RMAC coach of the year in 1999 while with the Cowboys.
Luis Marin opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal for the Cowboys (1-9 overall, 1-7 RMAC) with 5:26 left in the first, then FLC (1-9 overall, 0-8 RMAC) responded with three unanswered touchdown drives.
Sam Apraku took a seven-yard pass from Tim Jenkins to cap a five-play, 60-yard scoring drive, then Jenkins directed two long drives for a combined 176 yards that ended with the freshman quarterback crossing the goal line himself with 2-yard and 1-yard scrambles.
Robert Grant's 13-yard run drew Highlands to 21-10 with 1:22 to play in the first half, but the Skyhawks responded with another Apraku receiving touchdown after the restart.
The Cowboys took it 66 yards in six plays on the next drive, with Torres scoring on a 4-yard run.
Grant scored again just seven seconds after the start of the fourth quarter, this time on a 17-yard rushing touchdown.
Jenkins found Phillip Dodd for a 20-yard score and his fifth overall touchdown of the day (three passing, two rushing), but the FLC defense could not stop the Cowboys late.
FLC got the ball back after the game-winning drive and fumbled, allowing Highlands to run out the clock.
Jenkins finished 30-for-46 for 296 yards and added 92 yards on 17 rushing attempts.
Justin Johnson, entering action leading all NCAA Division II receivers with 96 receptions, added nine more for 105, and his 83 yards Saturday give him 993 in 2009.
Nick Becker led the Skyhawks' defense with 10 tackles.
FLC will host Western New Mexico University (2-7 overall, 1-7 RMAC) in its final game of the season at 1 p.m. Saturday.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
advertisement
Best value in Durango at $150/sq. ft. Large (6,000 sq. ft.) Lindal Cedar post & beam home with 5 bedrooms, 4 baths and 3 car garage. Has everything - well designed, spacious, quality home , 1.23 acre well treed lot, direct view of 13,000 ft. La Plata mountains, backs onto an open wildlife area, well established neighborhood, easiest access into Durago, and great investment as construction moves west with completion of ALP reservoir. Also has secluded area to park your RV or boat. Home has a large deck and patio, and a cedar sunroom off office. Great for a large, active family; home office business, related living, family timeshare or business retreat. $899,500.
Durango Herald Calendar of Events
