GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University football's three game win streak was broken on Saturday. The Mountaineers fell to Fort Lewis College 39-24.
 
After outscoring opponents by 105 points in the previous three games, Western (3-6, 3-4 RMAC) was unable to get their offense started against FLC (5-4, 4-3 RMAC).
 
The Mountaineers were held to just seven points in the first half, and went into the break down 19-7. It was the first time Western trailed at the half since Oct. 3 against Chadron State College.
 
After going down 26-7 to start the second half, kicker Ryan Winke (Jr., Aurora, Colorado) made the third longest field goal in Western history at 55 yards. The field goal was also a career best for the junior.
 
Western's Brett Arrivey (Jr., Woodinville, Washington) led the game with 214 yards passing. Arrivey also threw for three touchdowns to three different receivers. One of those touchdown passes went to running back Austin Ekeler (Jr., Eaton, Colorado). Ekeler took an Arrivey pass 85 yards for the score, running around and through Fort Lewis defenders.
 
Along with leading all players with 98 yards receiving, Ekeler ran for 102 yards on the ground. It's the sixth straight game Ekeler has rushed for 100 yards or more and scored at least one touchdown. Ekeler sits at 4,113 career yards rushing, 184 yards behind Western's all-time leading rusher Bill Rhodes.
 
Defensively, Jacob Bernhard (Sr., Fort Lupton, Colorado) once again led the Mountaineers in tackles with 16. In all eight games played by the senior captain, he has recorded 14 or more tackles and led the Mountaineers each game in that category.
 
After FLC's starting quarterback Jordan Doyle left the game with an injury, Allen Thigpen led the Skyhawks with 137 yards passing, throwing for one touchdown.
 
FLC's Gabe Ogbonnaya led the game in rushing with 112 yards on the ground.
 
Western will continue the season next Saturday against Colorado School of Mines. Western Alumni will be holding a pre-game rally tailgate starting at 10 a.m. in the South Parking Lot of Harry D. Campbell Field. Kickoff against the Orediggers is set for 12 p.m.