GUNNISON, Colo. – Fort Lewis College led Western State Colorado University football for 1:26 on Saturday in Gunnison. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, it was the final 1:26 of the game as the Skyhawks defeated Western 14-13.
 
Western (0-6, 0-6 RMAC) was cruising through the game and had built a 13-0 lead through three quarters. The Mountaineers looked to be in complete control as Fort Lewis (2-4, 2-4 RMAC) took over possession with 8:49 left to play.
 
With time running out for the Skyhawks, the Fort Lewis offense put together a 75-yard drive get down to Western's five-yard line. The Mountaineer defense forced a Fort Lewis third down before Jonah Mitchell force a fumble by Skyhawk quarterback Bo Coleman. Coleman recovered his own fumble, but it was now fourth and goal for Fort Lewis from the Western 10-yard line.
 
Coleman found a seem to the outside and ran the ball in for the score, cutting the Mountaineer lead to six points, 13-7 with 5:38 left to play.
 
Western managed a seven play drive on the following possession, but it was cut short when a Skyhawk defender came across the middle and intercepted the ball, returning it six yards to the Western 39-yard line.
 
Fort Lewis once again made their way deep into Western territory. On third down from the Mountaineer seven-yard line, linebacker Justin Barham forced Coleman to make a hurried throw and was nearly intercepted near the one-yard line.
 
On fourth down, the Skyhawks put tight end AJ Shaw in motion across the field. Coleman snapped the ball and found Shaw running toward the back pylon, giving Fort Lewis their first lead of the game, 14-13, with 1:26 left to play.
 
The catch was Shaw's only reception of the game.
 
Mountaineer kicker Max Smith scored the first six points of the game. Smith hit a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter before making a career long 50-yard field goal in the second quarter. Smith was 2-for-4 in field goal attempts on the day, missing a 53-yard field goal late in the second quarter and a 37-yard field goal in the fourth.
 
Western scored its only touchdown of the day on a 45-yard reception by Rodray Perkins. Quarterback Dylan Jacob connected with the receiver 15 yards down the field before Perkins broke free and made with way into the end zone at the 12:56 mark of the third quarter.
 
Perkins recorded a game high 122 yards receiving. The touchdown was the first of the season for Perkins.
 
Jacob threw for a game high 230 yards, completing 19-of-39 passes.
 
Defense was in control for much of the game for the Mountaineers. In the first half, Western held the Skyhawks to just 37 yards passing and forced two interceptions. Defensive back Sean Eremia came away with both picks.
 
Overall, Western held Fort Lewis to just 298 yards of total offense, the fewest yards allowed by the Mountaineers this season.
 
Linebacker Desmond Marfizo led the Mountaineers in tackles with seven. Four other Western players added six tackles.
 
Western will be on the road next weekend in South Dakota, facing Black Hills State University at 12 p.m. from Lyle Hare Stadium.