Final-graphic-FBvLinc 211106
6
Lincoln (CA) LUC 1-7 , 0-0
72
Winner Western Colo. WCU 9-1 , 7-1
Lincoln (CA) LUC
1-7 , 0-0
6
Final
72
Western Colo. WCU
9-1 , 7-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LUC Lincoln (CA) 6 0 0 0 6
WCU Western Colo. 13 28 24 7 72

Game Recap: Football | | Gregg Petcoff

Defense Adds to Offense in 72-6 Win

GUNNISON, Colo.  The Mountaineer defense put its mark on Saturday's 72-6 Western Colorado University non-conference football win over visiting Lincoln (Calif.) University, scoring three touchdowns and generating a fourth score off a blocked punt.

The Oaklanders more than doubled up the Mountaineers in possession time – 40 minutes and 8 seconds compared to just 19:52 – but that statistic proved to be as meaningless as it often is, especially with a defensive effort from 18th-ranked Western that was responsible for 28 points.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western Colorado def. Lincoln, 72-6
Records: Western Colorado 9-1, Lincoln 1-7
Location: Mountaineer Bowl; Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Fans couldn't blink during Saturday's score-fest. Taking the opening kickoff and driving deep into Lincoln territory, Western surrendered the ball on a fumble at the 20-yard line, a turnover that flipped the field on Oaklander Quindarius Coles' fumble return to the Mountaineer 7-yard line.
  • It took Lincoln three plays to convert the turnover into points, taking a quick 6-0 lead following a missed extra-point attempt.
  • Each team took a three-and-out after the TD, but Western's third possession was the charm as it took only three plays to cover 30 yards – taking over at the Lincoln 30 after a punt return and 15-yard Lincoln penalty – capped by a Connor Desch pass to Elijah Garcia Gillespie for a tying TD, with the go-ahead point following on Alec Fonseca's PAT.
  • The Mountaineer defense surrendered just six yards on Lincoln's ensuing possession, forcing a punt that was blocked by Jeremiah Nunnery and giving Western the ball at the Oaklander 13-yard line. Desch made quick work of the defense's gift, tossing a TD pass to Cameron Colangelo on the first play.
  • Early in the second quarter the Mountaineers completed a 10-play, 43-yard drive with a Deyvon Butler 3-yard TD run, then picked up another TD on a fumble recovery in the Lincoln end zone.
  • Anthony Johnston sacked Lincoln quarterback Lamar Housely in the end zone, forcing a fumble along with the sack, one that was recovered by Jaden Armbrust for another second-quarter TD.
  • A third TD in the quarter came on a Desch keeper from the 9 yard line that completed a 60-yard drive, and then a fourth TD in the period was added on Joey Dill's 17-yard fumble recovery and return.
  • The Mountaineer defense forced yet another punt, but Lincoln's punter mishandled the snap, allowing the ball to squirt free where Dill scooped and scored to send Western into the halftime break leading 41-6.
  • The Mountaineers picked up an early 3rd-quarter TD and soon after added a field goal, before the defense did its part once more.
  • Pressured and forced out of the pocket, Housely tried a pass toward the Western sideline while scrambling, an ill-advised throw that Ethan Sanchez-Maxwell made him pay for, covering 13 yards with a pick-6 TD.
  • Two more TDs were later added to the lopsided score, in a second half that would end, by coach's agreement, with a 5-minute fourth quarter.
THE NUMBERS AND STUFF
  • Despite the massive difference in time of possession, the final score shouldn't leave any doubt on the overwhelming statistical advantage by Western in nearly every other category:
    • Rushing yards: Western 115, Lincoln 6
    • Passing yards (net): Western 167, Lincoln 28
    • Total offense: Western 282 yards, Lincoln 34
    • Red-zone scores-chances: Western 7-7 (6 TD, 1 FG), Lincoln 1-1 (TD)
    • Turnovers: Lincoln 5, Western 1
  • Desch finished with two TD passes and one rushing TD, and backup Luke Nethercot tossed a pair of TD passes in relief of Desch.
  • Three different runners – Desch, Butler and Braeden Hogan – scored once each in the ground game.
  • Five different receivers – Gillespie, Colangelo, Matthew Cordova and Kai Emmsley – caught one TD pass.
  • Johnston led the Mountaineer defense with 2.0 sacks, for a total of 10 yards lost, with one of those sacks the strip-sack resulting in Armbrust's TD.
UP NEXT
Western hosts Colorado State University Pueblo in the final regular season game, a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mountaineer Bowl.
    
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