DURANGO, Colo. – It will be a different, but similar feeling for the Western New Mexico University football team when they play at Fort Lewis College this Saturday at noon. The same part is that playing Fort Lewis and in Durango has been a regular occurrence since the 2006 season. The different part is that the teams are no longer in the same conference with Fort Lewis remaining in the RMAC.

WNMU is 2-5 overall on the season having come close last time out against nationally-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce, falling just short 38-24. Senior QB Javia Hall (Dallas, TX/Skyline) passed for 412 yards and senior wide receiver Xavier Ayers (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) went for 123 yards. Redshirt junior Dominic Barry (Moreno Valley, CA/Vista Del Lago) led the team for the fourth straight game in tackles with 11. WNMU averages 30.7 points per game and allows 32.4. They average 425.0 yards per game and allow 446.3.

The Mustangs as a team are still near the top of the conference in several categories, coming in the top-three in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.333), second in the LSC and 31st nationally, blocked kicks (3), fourth in the conference and 32nd, tied for first in blocked punts (2) and 13th nationally, leading the conference in first downs (156), 43rd nationally, second in fumbles recovered (8), 16 nationally, third in net punting (35.19), 44th nationally, second in passing offense (310.3), 14th nationally, third in tackles for loss allowed (6.21), third in time of possession (29:46) and third in turnovers gained (17), which is good for 26th nationally.

Ayers continues to be on a tear this season as the All-American leads the team in receptions (53), yards (736) and touchdowns (7). He leads the LSC in receiving yards, receiving yards per game (105.1) and receptions per game (7.6). He is 18th, 21st and seventh nationally in all three categories. He is second in receiving touchdowns, 23rd nationally and also fourth in total touchdowns.

Redshirt junior Treydonte Hill (Nashville, TN/Cane Ridge) has had a strong first full season with the Mustangs as he has hauled in 21 passes for 321 yards and six scores. He ranks fourth in the conference and 42nd nationally in receiving touchdowns and eighth in total touchdowns in the conference.

Hall has burst onto the scene as well, completing 150-243 for 1,977 yards and 18 TD. He leads the conference in passing yards, points responsible for (122) and total offense (292.1). Nationally he is 17th, 19th and 24th in those categories. He is second in the LSC in completions per game (21.43), good for 25th nationally, passing touchdowns, 18th nationally, passing yards per game (282.4), 18th nationally and points responsible for per game (17.4), 25th nationally. Hall is in the top-five in two other categories including fourth in passing yards per completion (13.18), which puts him 54th nationally and fifth in passing efficiency (147.9), 37th nationally.

Freshman DeAndre Williams (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet) has taken on a bulk of the rushing duties and he leads the team with 77 carries for 388 yards and three scores. He has also caught 13 passes for 116 yards and a score.

On defense, Barry leads the team with 62 tackles. He ranks fourth in the conference and 68th nationally in tackles per game at 8.9. Junior Ian Davis (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) has snagged three interceptions this season and ranks second in the LSC and 50th nationally in INT per game at .40. Senior Leo Marin (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) has forced two fumbles this year, averaging .29 per year which is second in the LSC and 33rd nationally. Senior Steven Stewart (Fremont, CA/Irvington) and junior Aaron Leauma (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) are tied for the team lead in sacks with two apiece, senior Alfonso Wilson (San Diego, CA/Morse) leads in passes defended with seven and both Davis and sophomore Connor Mowat (Lahaina, HI/Lahainaluna) have two fumbles recovered.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Vargas (Ramona, CA/Ramona) has punted 36 times this year, averaging 42.5 per kick with a long of 67, 12 inside the 12 and seven, 50-plus kicks. On kickoffs, he has 37 for an average of 58.1, with 10 going for touchbacks. He has connected on 22 extra points and three field goals. He is second in the conference and 12th nationally in punting average, ninth in field goals per game and seventh in field goal percentage.

It has been a tough season so far for the Skyhawks as they are 1-6 overall, with all of their games being conference opponents. They defeated Adams State in the annual Musket Game 21-16 back on Sep. 17 and have come close in several other games. They lost by seven at Chadron State, by three at home to Black Hills State, by six at home to Colorado Mesa, by 10 at home to Colorado Mines and by seven at home to Western State. They are 0-4 at home this season losing by a combined 26 points in those contests.

Last time out they lost at CSU-Pueblo, 33-12. FLC averages 21.1 points per game and allows 27.9. They tally 393.7 yards per game to 349.1 on defense. Bo Coleman has taken over as the QB this season with the sophomore throwing for 928 yards and 11 TD, completing 56-97. He has also run for 309 yards on 69 attempts with four scores. Drake Griffin leads the ground attack with 762 yards on 127 attempts and two TD. PJ Hall adds 520 yards on 107 carries and a score. Jordan Gillen leads the receiving crew with 320 yards on 23 catches and five TD. Arealous Hughes has added four receiving TD.

The defense is paced by Andrew Ike's 58 tackles, with three being tackles for loss and two sacks. Cory Witt has a team-best 24 solo stops and OJ Thompson has 2.5 sacks.

Last year, FLC claimed the 34-13 win at home over the Mustangs. WNMU last won in Durango during the 2011 season when the team overcame the bus burning down to take the 26-17 victory.

Live video, stats and audio will be available for the game with Mike Rowse on the call for KSCQ 92.9 and streamed live beginning with the pregame show 30 minutes prior to kickoff.