DURANGO, Colo. – A gritty performance by the Western State Colorado University football defense helped spoil Fort Lewis College's homecoming on Saturday. The Mountaineer defense forced four Skyhawk turnovers and made a number of key stops to help Western defeat FLC 13-6.
 
With 38 seconds remaining, FLC (1-5, 1-5 RMAC) was knocking on the door, down by seven points, on Western's 6-yard line, but facing a fourth and one. Western's defense rose to the occasion, like they did all game, and stopped the FLC run for no gain.
 
Western (4-2, 4-2 RMAC) was able to run the victory formation and end the game ahead, 13-6.
 
On the previous possession, Western's defense had their backs against the wall as FLC was at the Mountaineer 14-yard line. A sack by Desmond Marfizo on third down, put the Skyhawks into a fourth down situation with under six minutes left to play. FLC dropped back to pass but the Mountaineer pass rush forced quarterback Bo Coleman out of the pocket. A pass to the sideline was broke up by David Velazquez, giving the ball back to Western.
 
In total, the Mountaineer defense forced four turnovers. Three turnovers were by way of fumble. Victor Alvarez and Carter Wasser each forced fumbles and Will Halligan recorded his team leading third interception of the season.
 
Two of Western's fumble recoveries resulted in the only two scores by the Mountaineer offense.
 
Linebacker Kristopher Bass led the game in tackles with 11, while Carter Wasser added seven, two tackles for loss and one sack.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, the Mountaineers opened the second quarter with a 94-yard, eight play drive to put the first points on the board. Quarterback Cameron Shumway completed a 34-yard pass to Isaac Fuqua for the touchdown. Western was unable to convert on the two-point try and went ahead 6-0.
 
Fuqua led the Mountaineers in receiving with 53 yards and one touchdown.
 
The Skyhawks responded with a touchdown of their own on the following possession. However, Western's special teams preserved the tie, blocking the FLC extra point attempt.
 
Wasser's forced fumble and fumble recovery at the FLC 7-yard line with 3:13 left in the second quarter put Western in striking distance. Running back Austin Ekeler ran the ball into the end zone from one yard away, giving Western a 13-6 lead going into halftime.
 
Ekeler ran for 85 yards on Saturday. However, 66 yards in the first quarter were negated due to penalties called.
 
Officials called 11 penalties against Western during the game, accounting for 163 total yards. Fort Lewis was flagged seven times for 51 yards.
 
Shumway threw for 94 yards and one score while also recording 69 yards rushing.
 
With five games remaining Western matched the two previous seasons' win totals with four. The last time Western started a season 4-2 was in 1995. The Mountaineers went 5-1 in 1997.
 
Western has now won the last four meetings against FLC in Durango, Colorado.
 
Western will return home for the next game. The Mountaineers will host Black Hills State University at 1 p.m. in Mountaineer Bowl. BHSU is tied for first in the conference after defeating Colorado Mesa University on Saturday.