GUNNISON, Colo. (Nov. 10, 2018) - The No. 10 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team defeated Western State Colorado University 41-3, Saturday to finish the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season with a 9-1 record and share the 2018 RMAC Championship, the program's eighth in school history and seventh in the last eight years.

The ThunderWolves posted a 10-1 record overall for the programs sixth 10-win season, all of which have occurred in the last eight years. The conference ledger was good enough to share the title with Colorado School of Mines and will likely secure a spot in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The official announcement from the NCAA occurs Sunday at 3 p.m. MT on NCAA.com. 

The Pack allowed just 50 total yards, while gathering 385 yards. The Mountaineers could only muster one yard rushing to a defense who has given up a total of 45 rushing yards in the last three games. The defense produced four turnovers (three fumbles), while the ThunderWolves didn't turn the ball over. CSU-Pueblo gathered 12 tackles for loss (-52 yards), which included eight sacks (-46 yards).

The ThunderWolves entered the game ranked No. 1 nationally in turnovers gained, No. 2 in tackles for loss, No. 4 in total defense, No. 6 in scoring defense, No. 8 in rushing defense and No. 10 in sacks. 

Junior Jackson Wibbels (DE, Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the way with six tackles, which included a half tackle for loss (-3 yards). The RMAC sack leader, senior defensive end Michael Wristen (Broomfield, Colo.) added to his sack total with two (-10 yards) and would finish the game with three tackles for loss (-11 yards). Senior Brandon Payer (ILB, Pine, Colo.) totaled four tackles, two of which were for loss (-9 yards). He had a sack (-7 yards) and forced a fumble. Senior safety Jadon Garcia (San Jose, Calif.) contributed five tackles (three solo) with a tackles for loss an a break-up. Junior Emery Taylor (CB, Aurora, Colo.) brought in his team-best seventh interception of the season and added two break-ups. 

Payer entered the game sitting No. 12 nationally in tackles for loss, while Taylor was No. 7. 

The Pack running game entered the contest sitting No. 10 in Division II in rushing yards with 274.4 per game and would finish with 215 yards. Senior Marché Dennard (RB, Phoenix, Ariz.) finished with 100 yards, which included a 51-yard touchdown. He averaged 11.1 yards per carry after coming into the game sitting No. 2 in Division II in the category. 

Senior quarterback Brandon Edwards (Bothell, Wash.) was strong in the regular season finale, as he went 14-for-20 (70%) for 170 yards and three touchdowns. His top target was senior wide receiver Kevin Ribarich (Pueblo, Colo.). The two connected three times for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Austin Micci (RB, Colorado Springs, Colo.) caught a screen pass and produced Edwards' longest connection of the day, as he went 56 yards to the end zone. Micci also added four receptions for 24 yards. 

The Pack got their first kick return touchdown of the season, as junior Isaiah Diggs (WR, Federal Way, Wash.) brought a punt back 47 yards to the paint. Sophomore Mitchell Carter (Colorado Springs, Colo.) totaled 11 points, as he was 2-for-2 on field goals (32 and 22 yards) and 5-for-5 on extra points. Senior Tanner Cuda (Castle Pines, Colo.) punted six times for 268 yards to average 44.7 yards per game with his long kick going 59 yards and one landing inside the 20-yard-line. 

Carter entered the game No. 3 in Division II in field goals per game, while Cuda was No. 5 in punting average. 

The Pack jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a Ribarich score and the Micci catch and run to the paint. Western scored their lone points early in the second quarter, but just four plays later Dennard broke his 51-yard touchdown. 

By halftime, the Pack had scored 10 more points on a Carter field goal and, one more time, a Edwards-Ribarich connection in the end zone, to give the road team a 31-3 lead. 

Diggs' punt return and another Carter field goal would cap the scoring at 41-3, as the ThunderWolves rode out the clock to their RMAC Championship.

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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.