PUEBLO, Colo. (October 23, 2015) – In a battle between two top 10 opponents, the No. 6 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team trounced No. 7 Colorado School of Mines 49-21 in a showdown between the 2014 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference co-champions.

With the win, the Pack improved to 7-1 (6-0 RMAC), while the Orediggers dropped their first game of the season and fell to 7-1 (5-1 RMAC).

Deciding Factor

After both defenses held the opposing sides scoreless in the first quarter, the ThunderWolves used a 28 point second quarter to gain a cushion over Mines. The Pack held CSM's second ranked nationally offense scoreless in the first-half for the first time this season.

Game Flow

In the first quarter both defenses held their ground with both sides trading punts to end the period 0-0. Mines was the closest to scoring though, as the Orediggers missed a 36-yard field-goal midway through the frame.

Sliding into the second stanza, the Pack were the first to reach the scoreboard, as Cameron McDondle (Sr., RB, Littleton, Colo.) capped off an 11 play drive for 89 yards on an 11-yard run touchdown to make it 7-0. For the ThunderWolves, the score gave the Pack a boost of momentum, as the next three offensive possessions ended in touchdowns.

First, AJ Thompson (R-Fr., QB, Denver, Colo.) nailed Zach Boyd (So., TE, Fort Lupton, Colo.) from 13-yards out to push the Pack's advantage to 14-0. The next drive, Thompson launched itin the air again, this time deep to senior Kieren Duncan (WR., Goodyear, Ariz.) for 49-yards catch and run touchdown. Then finally, just before intermission C. McDondle tallied another touchdown, this time running it in from 70 yards out. With the score, CSU-Pueblo closed the half with a 28-0.

To open the third frame after the Pack punted and the Orediggers used an 85 yard, 10 play drive to reach the scoreboard for the first time in the contest to cut the deficit 28-7 with 10:04 remaining in the period.

The ThunderWolves answered with a touchdown of their own set-up off a 58-yard run from C. McDondle with Bernard McDondle (So., RB, Littleton, Colo.) capping it off from five yards out. The tally extended the Pack's lead to 35-7 with 7:36 remaining.

B. McDondle added a second score later in the stanza for his second of the match. Then Fradlet Dort (Jr., RB, Lake Worth, Fla.) joined the action early in the fourth for the Pack's final points of the tilt with a three-yard scamper. Mines went on to add two late scores for a 49-21 final.

Pack Notes

• C. McDondle rushed for a program single-game record galloping for 308 yards on 26 carries, surpassing Frank Hester's 304 record performance set in 1965. He also added two touchdowns. The fewest yards he's ran for this season is 152.
• B. McDondle rushed for 33 yards and two touchdowns. This performance from both brothers, marked the fourth straight contest both have notched multiple touchdowns on the ground.
• Thompson threw for 118 yards and two scores on 8-11 passing and rushed for 35 yards on seven carries.
• The defense held Mines to their lowest point total of the season, the previous low was 28 in a win against Chadron State College.
• CSU-Pueblo had a season low in sacks tallying one thanks to Josh Croy (Jr., DE, Littleton, Colo.), but notched seven tackles for a loss, Croy earned a team-high with two.
• Bryan Jones (R-Jr., DB, Temecula, Calif.) led all ThunderWolves with eight total tackles (5 solo).
• The Pack has five straight wins versus CSM.
• Sixth straight victory while averaging 48 points per contest on offense and only allowing opponents to 15.4.
• 13 straight home wins at the ThunderBowl.
• Second-straight week rushing for more than 400 yards as a unit, 434 vs Mines, 452 last week vs Chadron State.

Next Week

The ThunderWolves return to the road, as they will travel to Spearfish, S.D. for another RMAC tilt against Black Hills State University before returning home Nov. 7 for their last regular season home contest against Colorado Mesa University.

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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.