ASU's Nick Rooney (4) lauches off his back foot to gain the distance for a throw during Saturday's win over Fort Lewis. Rooney finished his day with 384 yards passing and 5 touchdowns.(Courier photo by Stephen Jiron)

ALAMOSA — For the price of admission those in attendance on Saturday were treated to an absolute thriller. In overtime the Grizzlies finished off the Skyhawks (1-4-0) by a score of 48-42.

Entering the RMAC meeting, ASU (3-2-0) was in the midst of a turnaround. Since having lost on the road to New Mexico Highlands the Grizzlies had picked up two straight wins each by three points over Black Hills State and Western State to get back to .500.

Things started off on Saturday as a by the numbers win for the home team. Adams State’s Marquese Surrell grabbed a couple of acrobatic catches for touchdowns to put the Grizzlies up 14-0. A fieldgoal from Fort Lewis’ Beau McCannon added three before Adams State’ Chad Hovasse got in on the act with a touchdown reception of his own to make it 21-3.  The Grizzlies were in complete control, to that point the Skyhawks had mustered four punts and only got in range for their field goal because of a fumble recovery.

With the Skyhawks’ final offensive possession of the first half the momentum shifted. Quaterback Nick McNamee completed a long connection to Canaan Ross. Six plays later it was another McNamee pass, this one to Ta’jon Mondy-Smith for a touchdown. The PAT closed the gap to 21-10. Fort Lewis rode the momentum and with less than two minutes remaining Cam Thierry of FLC took an interception for a touchdown to make it 21-17 ASU’s favor before the half.

In the second half both teams went toe to toe neither blinking. With three lead changes already having taken place the Grizzlies went to work with three minutes and change remaining in the game. Adams State stayed patient mixing up the play call with run and pass to work their way down the field.  

The dam broke on 35-yard pass from Nick Rooney.  Hovasse was on the other end making a sideline grab putting ASU 12-yards out. Three plays later it was Adams State’s Tyree Harris getting in from three yards away for the fourth lead change of the second half. Harris was the model of consistency on Saturday with 115 yards and two touchdowns.  

With thirty seconds and one time out for the Skyhawks, the Grizzlies’ chances looked pretty good. Even after two completions put the Skyhawks at the 37 yard line little seemed to change. With only six seconds remaining Fort Lewis could either kick a 54-yard field goal or throw a Hail Mary pass.

While a 54-yard field goal seems commonplace when football enthusiasts tune in on Sunday. On Saturday afternoons they’re less common. To put that in perspective, one of DII football’s most accurate place kickers, Josh Schniederer averages 28 yards per made field goal.

Adams State made things easier on the Skyhawks by spotting them five yards with a 12 players on the field penalty. McCannon made them pay by putting the 49-yard attempt through the uprights to send the game to overtime at 42 all. McCannon was named the RMAC Special Teams player of the game for his late game heroics.  

Adams State wasted no time with the first possession of overtime. On the second play Rooney found Miles Fishback on the near sideline for a toe-tapping go-ahead touchdown, Erick Ruiz’s PAT gave the Grizzlies a 7 point lead. After three incompletions ASU’s Donovan Robinson, forced a fourth incompletion to complete the turnover on downs and seal the game. Robinson got a pass defended and an interception on the afternoon.

From under center Nick Rooney went 32-41 for 384 and 5 touchdowns. ASU’s Surrell led the Grizzlies in receiving with 148 yards and two touchdowns followed by Hovasse with 139 and 1 touchdown.  

Adams State will be looking for their fourth straight next weekend when they welcome Chadron State (4-1-0) to Rex Field for homecoming on Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.