By: David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

DURANGO, Colorado — On Thursday, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released an official statement regarding last Saturday's football game between Fort Lewis College and New Mexico Highlands University.



The statement reads: The RMAC confirmed by ruling that the result of the suspended Fort Lewis at New Mexico Highlands football game on September 7 will stand with Fort Lewis awarded the 7-0 win. NCAA Football Rule 3-3-3-c defers to conference policy – RMAC Bylaw 7.7.4, which was approved by coaches and athletics administrators, and permits a game to be terminated with a determined final score if the game is not resumed the next day.



RMAC bylaw 7.7.4 states: If a conference contest must be postponed due to weather or other uncontrollable factors, the athletic directors of the competing teams may mutually agree to end the game at any point with the final score being declared at the point the game was interrupted. If there is not a mutual agreement to end the game at the point of interruption, the game will be resumed the following day at a time mutually agreed upon by both institutions with the time and game situation in existence at the time of interruption.



Fort Lewis led 7-0 over the Cowboys when play was suspended due to inclement weather with 6:19 remaining in the second quarter. The decision to suspend the game was announced at 7:39 p.m. (MDT) Saturday, Sept. 7 after New Mexico Highlands officials, on-field referees, and Fort Lewis College officials agreed it was not in the best interest of the student-athletes to continue the game due to unsafe weather conditions. Resuming the game on Sunday was not an available option for the two teams.



Play had been delayed twice due to lightning strikes and heavy rain in the area, spanning over five hours at that point with more severe weather expected in the forecast.



Fort Lewis (1-0 overall, 1-0 RMAC) will now turn its attention toward Saturday's home opener against Dixie State University (0-1 overall, 0-1 RMAC). Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.