PUEBLO, Colo. (Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl) – The No. 9 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team downed Black Hills State University 49-7 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl, Saturday.

The Pack (8-1, 6-1 RMAC) dominated all facets of the game, as the ThunderWolves offense totaled 514 yards, 209 of which came on the ground. Junior running back Cameron McDondle (Littleton, Colo.) rushed for 176 yards in his seventh 100-yard game this season – sixth consecutive.

C. McDondle entered the game 12th in the nation in rushing yards, 14th in rushing yards per game (127.0 ypg), and 24th in the NCAA Division II in rushing touchdowns.

Kieren Duncan (Jr., Goodyear, Ariz.) led with a team-high 96 receiving yards, missing his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game. He did rush for an eight yard touchdown to go over the 100-yard all-purpose mark. Senior quarterback Chris Bonner (San Diego, Calif.) was a cool 18-for-21 (85.7%) for 285 yards and four touchdowns. 

The Pack defense held the Yellow Jackets to 255 yards, totaled two interceptions, forced and recovered two fumbles and added two sacks to push the Black Hills State (2-7, 1-6 RMAC) offense back 10 yards. The ThunderWolves have now forced three or more turnovers in six of the nine games in 2014 and are 30-3 since 2008. The defense held a BHSU team that was averaging 26.5 points per game to only seven to improve to a perfect 23-0 when holding their opponent to less than 10 points (since 2008). The Pack entered the contest ninth in NCAA Division II in scoring defense (14.0 ppg).

Senior cornerback Stephan Dickens (Aurora, Colo.) and sophomore linebacker Sam Singleton (Denver, Colo.) led the defense with seven tackles each. Dickens also totaled 79 punt return yards, which included a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. Senior cornerback C.J. Roberts (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and sophomore defensive back LaRon Tarkington each had one interception each. The ThunderWolves own 16 interceptions this season (entered game eighth in nation in the category). Linebacker, Joe Rosenbrock (Jr., Brush, Colo.) also added five tackles to increase his team-leading tackle total to 63.

By the end of the first half, the Pack led the Yellow Jackets 21-7. In the Thunderwolves' first play of the game, Bonner completed a 57- yard pass connecting with wide receiver, Daniel Wise (Jr., Arlington, Texas) for a touchdown.

After a forced fumble, the ThunderWolves recovered the ball at the 50-yard line and marched down the field in six plays ending in a pass completion from Bonner to tight end Zach Boyd (R-Fr., Fort Lupton, Colo.) for the touchdown bumping the Thunderwolves to a 14-0 lead over the Yellow Jackets. 

The ThunderWolves were 13th in the nation in turnover margin with a +10, which is now a +13 after not giving up a turnover. The Pack have gained 25 turnovers (9th nationally) and lost just 12 (37th in the NCAA II).

Following the two ThunderWolves' touchdown drives, the Yellow Jackets' running back, Trent Butler, rushed for a touchdown to close the gap 14-7.

A Bonner and junior running back Jarred Radebaugh (Jr., Thornton, Colo.) connected in the second quarter was the only scoring in the frame, but game the Pack a 21-7 lead into halftime. 

In the first half alone, the pack totaled 147 total rushing yards for the Pack, surpassing that of the Eagles' 87 rushing yards.

The ThunderWolves came out ready for the second half with another Bonner pass to Radebaugh for a 17-yard touchdown with 12:25 left in the third quarter. The drive totaled 71 yards in five plays to give CSU-Pueblo a 28-7 lead.

The ThunderWolves scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, which included a eight-yard reverse by Duncan to the end zone for a one-play drive, set-up by a Tarkington interception. The final score in the quarter was a Marché Dennard (So., RB, Phoenix, Ariz.) one-yard run to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive.

The last scoring play for the ThunderWolves was at 7:05 left in the game when Dickens returned the punt for a touchdown to mark the first punt return score in his career and the first since Josh Sandoval returned a 55-yarder versus Angelo State University (Sept. 18, 2014).

Junior kicker Greg O'Donnell (Monument, Colo.) successfully kicked the extra point boosting the Pack to a 49-7 lead over the Yellow Jackets, a lead they would maintain as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

The Pack will battle Colorado Mesa University (5-4, 4-3 RMAC) on the road in Grand Junction, Colorado Nov. 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.