GOLDEN, Colo.. (Nov. 17, 2018) – In a battle between one of the top offenses versus one of the top defenses in NCAA Division II, it was the No. 9 Colroado State University-Pueblo defense that prevailed, as the ThunderWolves posted a 37-17 road win at No. 14 Colorado School of Mines Saturday in round one of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
The victory advances the ThunderWolves to the second round of the Division II playoffs to play No. 1 overall and No. 1 seed Minnesota State University, Mankato. Game time is set for 12 p.m. MT. The game will be a rematch of last season's first round game where the Pack fell 16-13 in overtime.
After recording two interceptions for touchdowns all season, the Pack (11-1) posted two pick sixes and totaled 21 points off of turnovers against the Orediggers (10-2). The ThunderWolves totaled four turnovers, which included three interceptions for a total of 74 return yards. CSU-Pueblo gathered 11 tackles for loss (-66 yards) and seven sacks (-60 yards).
Senior corner
Darius Williams (Gilbert, Ariz.) recorded his first interception of the season and returned it 42 yards to the end zone to hand the ThunderWolves a 10-3 lead midway through the second quarter. Williams as now returned an interception for a score in each of his four years as a member of the Pack.
CSU-Pueblo never trailed after his huge effort. One play after a sophomore
Marcus Lawrence (DB, Aurora, Colo.) pick, senior
Marché Dennard (RB, Phoenix, Ariz.) busted a 44-yard touchdown run to open the second half scoring and give the road team a 17-3 lead. Just minutes later, junior
Jamaal Sears (S, Surprise, Ariz.) had the other interception for a score, a 32-yard return to give the ThunderWolves a 24-3 lead.
Payer led the defense with 11 tackles (four solo) and added a tackle for loss. Junior
Jackson Wibbels (DE, Colorado Springs, Colo.) totaled 10 tackles (three solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss (-26 yards), which included 2.5 sacks (-25 yards).
Williams finished with three tackles, the interceptions and added a fumble recovery (6 yard return). Senior
Jadon Garcia (San Jose, Calif.) totaled four tackles (two solo) with three break-ups, while junior
Emery Taylor (CB, Aurora, Colo.) recorded two break-ups with four tackles (three solo).
Inside linebacker
Kyle Rosenbrock (Jr., Brush, Colo.) added 10 tackles (three solo) with a half tackle for loss and forced a fumble. Sears added eight tackles (three solo) with a tackle for loss and the pick six.
The ThunderWolves offense ended up out-dueling the Mines offense and finished with 329 yards versus the 322 the Orediggers put up. CSU-Pueblo ran 16 less plays on offense and averaged 5.22 yards per play. The Pack got it done on the ground with 214 yards and three touchdowns. Colorado School of Mines finished with 285 yards passing, but were averaging 336.2 yards per game passing and 578.2 yards of offense per contest.
Dennard finished with 125 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries to average 9.6 yards per rush. He recorded 44-yard and 40-yard touchdown runs.
Senior quarterback
Brandon Edwards (Bothell, Wash.) threw for 115 yards and went 15-for-25 (60%). Senior
John Todd (WR, San Diego, Calif.) returned to the lineup and led the team with 56 yards on four receptions.
Mines would score first, a 37-yard field goal with 7:31 left in the first. That would be the only score in the first, but the ThunderWolves were the only to score in the second with a 23-yard field goal to tie the game. Williams' score gave the Pack a 10-3 heading to halftime.
Dennard and Sears each scored in the third to open a 24-3 lead before Mines would score to make it 24-10 heading to the fourth.
Dennard's second score gave the road team a 30-10 lead after the first missed extra point of the season (blocked). After the only turnover by the Pack in the game, Mines drove 32 yards to the end zone and trailed 30-17.
Running back
Marcus Lindsay (R-Fr., Aurora, Colo.) put the icing on the cake with a 26-yard touchdown run with 1:31 left in regulation.
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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
