ALAMOSA, Colo. - Chase Vaughn (Sr., Aurora,
Colo.) is happy he chose to transfer to CSU-Pueblo.
The former Adams State defensive end, now an all-American
linebacker with the ThunderWolves, got to end his collegiate career
with a bang Saturday, earning a measure of vengeance against his
former mates as CSU-Pueblo downed the Grizzlies 41-7 in the finale
of the 2009 season.
Vaughn logged seven tackles, and as a final jab, scored two
touchdowns, both on one-yard touchdowns runs as the halfback, as
the Pack earned its fourth straight win and ended its campaign an
encouraging 7-4 in just its second season as a program.
The ThunderWolves' rout of the Grizzlies in this RMAC grudge
match turned into a laugher in the second quarter. After the
Pack used its "Wildcat" formation to perfection to set up Vaughn's
first score following a 67-yard halfback pass from Jamaal
Johnson (So., Fountain, Colo.) to Ayrius Justin
(Sr., Inglewood, Calif.), Adams State evened the score on
a 52-yard scoring drive as back Stephen Baca ran the ball in for a
4-yard score.
The Grizzlies' score simply set up the Pack to score 34
unanswered en route to the win.
The Pack's running game remained hot, converting a 55-yard drive
in the second quarter on a 10-yard touchdown burst by Jesse
Lewis (So., Loveland, Colo.). After forcing an Adams
State punt, the Pack ran eight consecutive times to convert a
65-yard scoring drive, leading to a one-yard quarterback sneak by
Colin Clancy (Sr., Longmont, Colo.), giving the
Pack a 21-7 lead.
The Pack piled it on in the third quarter, forcing two
interceptions, one going for score as Lee Meisner (So.,
Sterling, Colo.) took it to the house with a 41-yard
interception return, as the Pack built a 34-7 lead by the end of
the third quarter.
All that was left for the Pack was to bust some records in the
final game. Lewis became just the third ThunderWolf in school
history to go over 1,000 rushing yards in a season with his
158-yard performance. He finished the season with 1,064
yards, second most in school history and just 49 away from the
single-season school record held by all-time rushing leader, Bill
Gower.
In a game dominated by the rushing attack, Clancy missed out on
claiming school records in touchdown passes (he needed one to break
the school record; he finished the season tied for the school
mark). Clancy also did not eclipse head coach John Wristen's
passing yardage record, coming in needing 161 yards through the air
to break the mark. Clancy didn't need to pass, going just
2-for-10 for 30 yards as the rushing game ruled.
The ThunderWolves also set standards in lowest rushing yards
allowed per game with 103.7 (breaking the mark of 113.5 set last
season), and most yards per rush (ending the season at 5.27 yards
per attempt, smashing the previous mark set in 1977 of 4.51).
The Pack finished just 26 yards short of breaking the school record
in most total yardage in a single season.
The Pack will finish their 2009 campaign in third place in the
RMAC standings after finishing sixth a season ago with a 6-3 RMAC
record, trailing just Colorado School of Mines and
Nebraska-Kearney.