The opening of Adams State's new stadium ruined by Pack's gritty win.

ALAMOSA, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Sept. 17, 2011) - It had all the makings of an upset.

CSU-Pueblo, the 18th-ranked team in the nation, began its RMAC schedule Saturday at Adams State, opening up the newly-refurbished Rex Field and walking in to a jacked up stadium in the first-ever home night game for the Grizzlies.  Though Adams State's new black uniforms and the fans' "Neuter the Dog" T-shirts were setting the stage for an Adams State win, the Pack would have none of it, opening up an early lead and claiming a 20-11 win over the Grizzlies.

CSU-Pueblo improved to 3-0 with the win and started its RMAC slate with a "W".

The Pack drew first blood when Paul Browning (RFr., Widefield, Colo.) caught a corner fade pass for a touchdown from Ross Dausin (Jr., San Antonio, Tex.) to put the Pack up 7-0 in the first quarter.

After an Adams State field goal, CSU-Pueblo responded with another touchdown drive, culminating on a pretty jump pass from Dausin to Roger Pfannenschmid (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) from four yards out, putting the Pack up 14-3, a lead it would carry into halftime.

In the second half, after CSU-Pueblo went up 17-3, Adams State drove down to cut the lead to 17-11 after a Terjean Saffold touchdown and a two-point conversion.  But on the ensuing drive, a would-be punt by the Pack was broken open when Jesse Lewis (Sr., Loveland, Colo.) broke a key 45-yard run into Adams State territory that helped set up the dagger, a 44-yard field goal by Kyle Major (Sr., Littleton, Colo.), that put the Pack up 20-11.

CSU-Pueblo's defense halted any further advances by the Grizzlies, as two late interceptions, the first by Jon Bailey (Sr., Fort Morgan, Colo.) and the second by Mark Sterling (Jr., Widefield, Colo.), sealed the win.

Lewis turned in his first 200-yard game of the season, rushing 18 times for 208 yards, much of it in the second half. 

CSU-Pueblo will return home next Saturday for its homecoming showdown with Fort Lewis at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.