GOLDEN, Colo. (September 1, 2016) – Following a 1:40 weather delay, mistakes and turnovers jump started the No. 18 Colorado School of Mines to a 36-point second quarter against the visiting the No. 5 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team, which led to a 57-21 ThuderWolves loss in the 2016 season opener.

Colorado Mines scored on seven straight possessions between the second quarter and first two drives of the second half to run away with the victory. The loss was the largest point margin since the restart of the program in 2008. 

The ThunderWolves started the season off much like they were accustomed to last year – with a big play. On the second play from scrimmage for the offense, junior Bernard McDondle (Littleton, Colo.) rushed 71 yards to the end zone. A successful two-point conversion put the Pack up 8-0 with 11:15 left in the first quarter.

Last season, CSU-Pueblo totaled 19 scoring plays of 45 yards or more. McDondle represented four of those.

CSU-Pueblo kept CSM off the scoreboard in the first quarter, but a fumble by the Pack early in the second allowed Colorado Mines good field position and a two-play, 54-yard drive led to a touchdown and an 8-7 game.

On the next Pack possession, a bad snap from the 25 yard line sailed the head of quarterback Rex Dausin (Jr., San Antonio, Texas) and ended up in the end zone for a safety. Capitalizing on good field position, Colorado Mines marched 53 yards to the end zone for a score and the game was 16-8 in the favor of the home team.

CSM went on to score on its next three possessions and the Orediggers bounced into the locker room with a 36-8 lead. 

The deficit was too large for the Pack to comeback in the 57-21 loss.

McDondle rushed for 150 yards and score with a 9.8 yards per carry mark. Redshirt-junior Austin Micci (RB, Colorado Springs, Colo.) and sophomore Cole Forsgren (WR, Gilbert, Ariz.) scored their first-career touchdowns for the Pack.

Inside linebakers Samuel Singleton (Sr., Denver, Colo.) and Brandon Payer (So., Pine, Colo.) each totaled seven tackles to lead the defense. Payer added one tackle for loss.

Next up for the Pack is the home opener, Sept. 10 against West Texas A&M University at 6 p.m. It is a Re/Max RED OUT at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.

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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.