Box Score

ALAMOSA, Colo. — Fort Lewis College (2-5 overall, 1-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) defeated Adams State College (3-5, 2-4) 14-7 tonight at Rex Field to reclaim the old Springfield military-issue rifle that serves as the traveling trophy between the two schools in the annual Musket Game.

Justin Garman's nine-yard touchdown reception from Tim Jenkins with 9:16 remaining in the third quarter held up as the Skyhawks kept the Grizzlies off the scoreboard in the second half.

The tale of the tape proved what the final score indicated: a relatively even, defensive showdown between the two rivals. The two teams amassed nearly identical numbers. Fort Lewis ran 68 plays for 255 total yards and possessed the ball for 30:19. Adams State ran 66 plays for 236 yards and had 29:41 in possession. 

“The defense did a very good job today,” said first-year FLC head coach Cesar Rivas-Sandoval. “They bent, but they didn't break. They had a very solid showing.”

The overwhelming majority of FLC's yardage came through the air. Jenkins completed 28 of 45 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception. FLC was limited to just 10 yards rushing on 22 carries.

Adams State had a more balanced attack, rushing for 105 yards on 31 carries, while Grizzlies quarterback Todd Eggleston completed 18 of 32 passes for 131 yards with no interceptions or touchdowns.

Fort Lewis had one long, sustained drive that put them on the board first with a two-yard A.J. Miko plunge 3:25 into the second quarter.

Adams State used a short field to tie the score at 7-7 with 1:35 remaining in the first half. Scott Kellogg returned a Frank Atherton punt 29 yards to the FLC 31 to give the Grizzlies great field position with 2:50 left on the clock in the opening half. Three plays later, Thomas brown bolted 23 yards for the equalizer.

Garman's game-winning touchdown was set up by a short Dustin Bolt punt that went out of bounds at the ASC 45 early in the third quarter. Jenkins needed just six plays and 1:57 to move the Skyhawks into the endzone, completing first-down passes to Brandon Schneider (18 yards) and Justin Johnson (16 yards) to get into the red zone.

The Skyhawk defense held tough, forcing the Grizzlies to punt six times in the second half and stopping ASC after a 10-play, 37-yard drive on a fourth-and-13 at the Adams State 49 with 23 seconds remaining. Sam Loeblein had the key play in the drive, sacking Eggleston for a three-yard loss to force third-and-13 with 35 seconds remaining. Harrison Hunter broke up Eggleston's final pass attempt to Shane McBurney to end the drive.

The Grizzlies were led by Brown's 84 rushing yards on 15 carries. He also caught a nine-yard pass.

Johnson led the Skyhawks with eight catches for 76 yards, but was held under 100 yards for the first time in eight games, dating back to Oct. 31, 2009, when he caught nine passes for 83 yards in a 39-35 loss at New Mexico Highlands.

Garman caught six passes for 38 yards and one touchdown, while Miko had five receptions for 28 yards to go along with 27 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Tim Muhovich had 11 tackles (three solo) and one pass break-up to lead the FLC defense. Hunter had 10 tackles (four solo) and three pass break-ups, while Loeblein had nine tackles (two solo), one sack, one tackle-for-a-loss and one quarterback hurry.

Van Valkenburg led the Grizzlies defense with 10 tackles (four solo), 0.5 tackles-for-loss, one pass break-up and one quarterback hurry.

Atherton was busy all game long, punting nine times for a 39.6 average. He also pinned the Grizzlies inside their 20 three times.

Fort Lewis hosts Chadron State (5-3, 4-2) at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.