Quick turnaround needed as the Hardrockers play away to the Skyhawk's……
RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines football team faced a tough Chadron State football team in Nebraska last weekend. The Hardrocker defense came up with four key turnovers in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup, but couldn't quite produce a winning result as the visitors dropped the "Battle For The Eagle-Rock Trophy, 29-17.
On the docket this week is a long road trip to face the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks in a 12 p.m. RMAC game. The Hardrockers enter Saturday's game with a 4-4 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the RMAC. SD Mines is 1-3 on the road this season but have earned wins in two of their last three games.
FLC leads the all-time series against the Hardrockers, 2-0. The two teams first faced each other in 2011 in a non-conference game at FLC. Fort Lewis earned a 53-52 overtime win last year on Oct. 29 in Rapid City, S.D., in the first meeting between the two teams in a conference game.
FLC is third in the league in interceptions, recording nine interceptions in eight games, including three picks for touchdowns. The Skyhawks also boasts the third most interception return yards in the league (158 yards). The Skyhawks have committed 11 turnovers (six fumbles, five interceptions), while forcing 14 turnovers (nine interceptions, five fumbles). The Skyhawks +3 turnover margin is second in the league.
The Hardrockers are looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic performance. Sullivan has been great at running the ball this season with over 600 yards rushing and nine TD's. He will look to get back on track and into form this weekend in Durango.
Sullivan will need to be ready, since Fort Lewis is Top 5 in the RMAC in rushing defense. Other impact players that will need to show up are senior running back
Dorian Cowart and senior linebacker
Blake Stone, who is the RMAC Defensive Player Of The Week.
Fort Lewis is coming off a monster win against powerhouse CSU-Pueblo two weeks ago in Durango (35-24), but couldn't keep the pressure on as they dropped last weekend's road game to non-conference opponent Western New Mexico (20-17).
FLC junior
Donell Pleasant III is tied for the second most interceptions in the league. Pleasant has three picks for 48 yards. Freshman
Ben Raybon has converted 6-of-8 field goals, the second most made by any kicker in the league. Combined with his six field goals and 18 extra-points, Raybon's 36 points are the fifth most in the league by a kicker.
Linebacker
Darrian Stickney has recorded 74 tackles this season, the fourth most in the RMAC. Forty-four of his tackles have been solo stops. He is averaging 9.2 tackles per game. Junior running back
Tyler Telphy leads the team and is 10th in the RMAC in all-purpose yards. In seven games this season, Telphy has carried the ball 99 times for 532 yards and four scores. He has eclipsed 100-yard rushing yards in a game three times.
FLC's clock management is No. 1 in the RMAC, possessing the ball an average of 33:32 minutes per game, more than two minutes longer than the next opponent.
Players to watch:
Jake Sullivan – No. 2 RMAC Passing Avg./GM (259.8); No. 1 RMAC Total Offense/GM (31.9.8)
Brandon LaBrie – No. 3 RMAC Receptions/GM (7.1); No. 2 RMAC Receiving YDS/GM (99.7); No. 3 RMAC All Purpose YDS/GM (149.4)
Blake Stone – No. 6 RMAC Tackles (68 TOT / 8.5 GM)
The Hardrockers will have just three more games left in the season and have their eyes set on a victory Saturday in Durango. Watch the game StretchInternet.com at 12 p.m. (MST) here:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .
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