Football | 11/21/2018 11:58:00 AM
PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 23, 2018) - The No. 9 Colorado State University-Pueblo football program continues its season Saturday in round two of the NCAA Division II Playoffs with a road test at No. 1 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Kickoff from Mankato, Minnesota is set for 12 p.m. MT.
THE GAME
• CSU-Pueblo is in its sixth appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015*, 2017 and 2018 - *2015 was removed from NCAA records due to self-reported violation).
• The Pack are 6-4 in Division II postseason play (doesn't include 2-1 record from 2015).
• The ThunderWolves secured a share of the RMAC Championship with a 41-3 victory at Western to close the regular season with a 10-1 overall and 9-1 record.
• The title was the Pack's eighth championship in program history and seventh in the last eight years.
• The ThunderWolves have 11 wins for the sixth time in program history, all of which have occurred in the last eight years.
• The Pack were the No. 9 team in the final regular season AFCA poll and No. 8 in the D2Football.com national rankings.
• The Pack have won nine straight games, which includes a 6-0 record on the road in that span.
• CSU-Pueblo has played five of its last six games away from the ThunderBowl.
• The ThunderWovles shared the RMAC title with their round one opponent Colorado School of Mines.
• The Pack avenged their only loss of the season Saturday in round one of the playoffs, as the ThunderWolves were victorious 37-17.
• Minnesota State is the No. 1 team both in Super Region Four and in the nation. The Mavericks earned a bye last week after posting a perfect 11-0 record during the regular season.
• The ThunderWolves and Mavericks are 1-1 in their series history, with both meetings in the postseason and in both instances, MSU was ranked No. 1 overall.
• The Pack won the first meeting 13-0 in 2014 for the program's first NCAA Division II National Championship. Players remaining from that historic season are senior RB Bernard McDondle, who played in the game and a handful of players were redshirting that season.
• Last season CSU-Pueblo traveled to Mankato, Minnesota for the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs and fell 16-13 in overtime.
• The ThunderWolves built a 10-0 lead on a K Mitchell Carter 45-yard field goal in the first quarter and a RB Austin Micci seven-yard run in he second quarter, which was set-up by S Tanner Draper's first of two interceptions. MSU would get a field goal right before half to make the score 10-3. The Mavericks ended up scoring 13 straight and the Pack had to kick a 27-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining in regulation to tie the game. In overtime, an MSU 37-yard made field goal and a CSU-Pueblo missed 40-yard field goal sent the Mavericks on to the next round.
• The Pack would only total 149 yards of offense in the game, while MSU compiled 254 (156 rushing).
• RB Marché Dennard totaled 57 yards rushing, while QB Brandon Edwards went 10-for-18 for 64 yards.
• ILBs Brandon Payer and Kyle Rosenbrock helped lead the way defensively. Rosenbrock recorded 11 tackles (seven solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss (-22 yards), which included 2.5 sacks (-19 yards) and a forced fumble. Payer added 11 tackles (five solo).
SCOUTING THE PACK
• The ThunderWolves totaled 20 All-RMAC selections with nine first team honorees, guided by the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year, ILB Brandon Payer. OL Elijah Reed was honored as RMAC Offensive Freshman of the Year.
• The ThunderWolves fell to Colorado School of Mines in week three 35-21, but flipped the script Saturday in the 37-17 victory.
• Mines scored first, a first quarter field goal, but the Pack posted 24-unanswered points, thanks to a pair of pick sixes by CB Darius Williams (42 yards) and S Jamaal Sears (32 yards).
• The Pack totaled 21 points off turnovers in the run, as a RB Marché Dennard ran for a 44-yard touchdown one play after a CB Marcus Lawrence interception.
• The score was 24-10 when Dennard broke off a 40 yard run to the paint for a 30-10 lead. Mines would score again before a RB Marcus Lindsay capped the scoring with a 26-yard run.
• The Pack entered the game with just two interceptions for touchdowns all season. 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).
• The ThunderWolves offense 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. Mines finished with 285 yards passing, but were averaging 336.2 yards per game passing and 578.2 yards of offense per contest (both NCAA Division II bests).
• Dennard finished with 125 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries to average 9.6 yards per rush. QB Brandon Edwards threw for 115 yards and went 15-for-25 (60%). WR John Todd returned to the lineup and led the team with 56 yards on four receptions.
• ILB Brandon Payer led the defense with 11 tackles (four solo) and added a tackle for loss. DE Jackson Wibbels totaled 10 tackles (three solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss (-26 yards), which included 2.5 sacks (-25 yards).
SCOUTING MINNESOTA STATE
• Minnesota State posted a perfect 11-0 regular season record to share the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title. The title was the sixth NSIC Championship since joining the league in 2008. MSU has won its last 24 NSIC games.
• The Mavericks rank 6th nationally in scoring offense (44.8 ppg) and 10th in scoring defense (16.0 ppg). MSU sits 12th in both total offense (476.4 ypg) and total defense (280.5 ypg).
• MSU is keys in on the run game on both sides of the ball, as the rushing offense is 19th in DII with 242.7 yards per game, while the rush defense is holding their opponent to 84.3 yards per game to sit 8th.
• The Mavericks are 4th nationally with 16.7 yards per completion, while the O-Line sits 4th in DII in tackles for loss allowed (3.55 TFLpg).
• QB Ryan Schlichte ranks 4th in passing yards per completion (16.4) and 6th nationally in passing efficiency (169.2).
• WR Shane Zylstra is the top target and ranks 10th in DII in receiving TD's with 12. His 963 yards were fifth in the NSIC.
• RB Nate Gunn leads the run game with 1,181 yards (18th in DII) and 19 rushing scores (8th nationally). He averaged 107.4 yards per game to sit 20th in NCAA Division II.
• The Maverick defense ranks 2nd nationally in sacks with 4.2 per game, while their 8.2 TFL per game was second in the league and 22nd in DII.
• DL Chance Bowen guides MSU on the D-Line with 0.95 sacks per game (10.5 total sacks) to rank 11th nationally.
• On special teams, MSU is 2nd in kickoff return defense (12.7 ypr), 15th in net punting (37.6 ypp) and 16th in punt return defense (4.0 ypr). Casey Bednarski finished 2nd in the NSIC with a 66.7 field goal percentage and 5th in field goals per game with 1.09. Justin Taomina was 3rd in the league in the kickoff returns with 25.7 yards per return.
THE POLLS
• CSU-Pueblo entered 2018 ranked No. 14 in the AFCA and No. 13 D2Football.com polls. The Pack were as high as No. 9 in both polls and currently were back at No. 9 in the AFCA and No. 8 in D2Football.com in the final regular season rankings.
• The Pack ranked in the AFCA top 25 for 66 consecutive polls ranging from Sept. 5, 2011 (21st) to Sept. 5, 2016 (19th).
• The ThunderWolves ranked in the top 10 nationally for a NCAA Division II-best 37 straight weeks from Oct. 17, 2011 (eighth) to Oct. 6, 2014 (second).
TEAM NOTES
• The CSU-Pueblo football program and Head Coach John Wristen recorded their 100th victory since the restart of the program in 2008 when they defeated New Mexico Highlands 48-3, Oct. 6. Wristen owns a 106-24 all-time record. The .815 percentage ranks 2nd among active NCAA Division II coaches (min 5 years).
• Since 2008, CSU-Pueblo is undefeated when scoring 36 or more points (58-0) and when allowing 10 points or less (43-0). The Pack had done both in each of the final three games of the regular season.
• Since 2008, the ThunderWolves are 56-11 (.836) at the ThunderBowl.
• CSU-Pueblo posted a perfect regular season home record (5-0) for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
• The ThunderWolves have eight scoring plays of 65-yards or more and own 13 scoring drives of 75 yards or more. CSU-Pueblo capped a 99-yard drive with a 49-yard Austin Micci rushing touchdown at Black Hills State (7-plays, 99-yards, 2:30).
• The defense hadn't allowed a fourth quarter score in the previous seven regular season games until giving up a touchdown at Mines (Sept. 15). In the last 20 regular season games the team has allowed just 27 points in the final frame, dating back to Sept. 16, 2017. This season, the ThunderWolves have allowed just 24 points in the fourth quarter (17 during the regular season).
• The offense totaled nine turnovers in the first three games of the year, but since have coughed up the ball on seven occasions. The defense has created 42 turnovers this season and with a +2.17 turnover margin the Pack lead all NCAA Division II.
• For the second time in the four-year era (1963) the Pack posted back-to-back shutouts with the only other time coming in 1965 (W, 10-0 and T, 0-0), when they defeated Fort Lewis 39-0 (Oct. 27) and then Black Hills State 59-0 (Nov. 3).
• The Pack lead NCAA Division II in turnover margin (+2.2), turnovers gained (42), passes intercepted (25), fumbles recovered (17), team tackles for loss (10.7) and team passing efficiency defense (86.6).
• Additionally, the CSU-Pueblo defense is top 10 nationally in defensive TDs (2nd, 5), sacks (3rd, 4.17), scoring defense (3rd, 12.3), total defense (4th, 234.5), 3rd down conversion defense (5th, 25.6), rushing defense (7th, 78.3) and passing yards allowed (9th, 156.3).
• CSU-Pueblo is also 2nd nationally in net punting with a 39.6 average, 3rd in kickoff returns with 26.9 yards per return and 7th in passes had intercepted with four.
CSU-PUEBLO POSITION NOTABLES
OFFENSE
• Against Dixie State, the ThunderWolves established a program record with 496 yards on the ground. Then at Black Hills State the Pack put up 485 yards rushing. To round out the top five all-time performances: 481 against Westminster in 1977, 435 yards against Western New Mexico, Oct. 31, 2009 and last season's 405 rushing yards against New Mexico Highlands.
• With 264.1 yards rushing per game, the ThunderWolves rank No. 15 in NCAA Division II.
• The Pack are racking up the yards by committee. Marché Dennard leads the way with 918 yards (91.8 ypg) on 108 carries with a team-best 11 touchdowns. Austin Micci adds 860 yards (71.7 ypg) and eight touchdowns on a team-high 122 carries. R-Fr. Marcus Lindsay adds 480 yards and five scores on 84 attempts. In eight games, Bernard McDondle has 343 yards rushing with four touchdowns.
• Dennard's 8.50 yards per carry led NCAA Division II during the regular season, while Micci is 9th nationally with 7.05 yards per carry.
• Micci also adds 229 yards receiving at two touchdowns. He averages a team-best 92.5 all-purpose yards per game.
• RECORD WATCH: The ThunderWolves currently have three players with more than 2,000 career yards rushing. Bernard McDondle has 2,750 career rushing yards to rank 4th all-time at CSU-Pueblo. Dennard's 2,533 career rushing yards ranks 6th in program history. Micci eclipsed the 2,000 career yards mark against Fort Lewis to become the 9th player in program history to reach the milestone. He owns 2,216 yards to rank 8th all-time.
• With 38.7 points per game, the Pack were 3rd in the conference and sit 16th nationally in scoring.
• Starting QB Brandon Edwards established a career high with 315 yards passing against Mines (Sept. 15). He recorded one touchdown in the loss.
• He has produced an efficiency rating of 135.3 (5th in the RMAC), has thrown 123-for-214 (57.5%) for 1,574 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdown. Two of his touchdown strikes went for 68 yards, while he also has 56-yard, 51-yard and 48-yard scores. His one interception in 214 attempts was a desperation throw at the end of the Mines loss.
• The Pack have thrown just four interceptions this season and rank 1st in the league and 7th nationally in least passes intercepted.
• WR Kevin Ribarich emerged as the top receiver during the end of the regular season, as he leads the team in all three major receiving categories with 327 yards on 26 receptions for three touchdowns.
• WR Cole Forsgren had a career game at Mines with eight receptions for 130 yards. He second on the team with 289 yards and a score. His 21 receptions is also second to Ribarich. WR John Todd leads the team with 33.2 yards per game (266 yards on 19 receptions in eight games). WR Nick Williams scored a touchdown in back-to-back games (Oct. 13 and Oct. 20) and owns 16 receptions for 145 yards.
• All five starting offensive linemen last season were seniors, but the new front didn't hesitate to step up and guided the rushing attack to a record 496 yards in game one. CSU-Pueblo has used four different starting linemen combinations this season and are guiding the 15th best rushing attack in the nation. CSU-Pueblo was 3rd in the league in sacks allowed (1.82) during the regular season.
DEFENSE
• The Pack have been one of the most stingiest and unforgiving defenses in the nation the past eight seasons. Since 2011, the ThunderWolves have finished the season in the top 22 nationally in scoring defense, which includes leading the country in 2011 and 2014. CSU-Pueblo has also ranked in the top 21 in turnover ratio (or turnovers gained) in all but one season in that span with the nation's best mark in 2014.
• By allowing 234.5 yards per game the Pack led the RMAC and rank 4th nationally in total defense.
• The ThunderWolves allowed just 72 total yards to Fort Lewis, which ranks as the 9th best defensive effort this season in Division II. FLC only totaled 17 yards passing, which is the 8th best defensive performance in 2018.
• The next week at Black Hills State CSU-Pueblo allowed 108 yards and -11 rushing to establish a program record and rank T-14th in NCAA Division II this season for least rushing yards allowed.
• With 12.3 points per game allowed the ThunderWolves were 1st in the league and 3rd in DII.
• CSU-Pueblo owns 25 interceptions (6 at Black Hills State to tie a program record) and 17 fumbles recovered (4 at Texas A&M-Commerce) to lead the nation in turnovers gained (42). Both the interception total and fumbles recovered number sits 1st nationally. CSU-Pueblo's record for interceptions in a season is 29, set by the 2014 team.
• Since 2008, the Pack have totaled 37 interception returns for a touchdown. The most in a season is five by the 2010, 2014 and 2017 squads. ILB Kyle Rosenbrock recorded a pick six on the second play at Mines. He went 26 yards to the house. S Jadon Garcia went 29 yards for a score at BHSU. Then, the Pack recorded two in the playoff win at mines, as CB Darius Williams (42 yards) and S Jamaal Sears (32 yards) brought picks to the house.
• Rosenbrock totaled two fumbles recoveries against Adams State and has four on the season to sit T-3rd in Division II. He also has five forced fumbles to lead the RMAC and rank T-4th nationally. Fellow ILB Brandon Payer also owns four fumble recoveries and adds three forced fumbles.
• After a program record eight picks last season, CB Darius Williams brought in his first interception of the season in the playoff game against Mines and returned in 42 yards to the end zone. He has now recorded at least one pick six in each of his four seasons with the Pack and owns five in his career.
• Fellow starting CB Emery Taylor recorded six interceptions last season. In 2018, he leads the team with seven interceptions and a team-high 15 pass break-ups. With 22 passes defended (1.8 per game), Tayor was 2nd in the RMAC during the regular season and ranks 4th nationally.
• RECORD WATCH: Taylor has 17 career interceptions to sit 2nd all-time at CSU-Pueblo. Williams owns 15 picks to rank 4th all-time at CSU-Pueblo. Stephan Dickens (2010-14) has the record with 19.
• S Jadon Garcia has five interceptions this season (all in the span of four games) to rank 2nd on the team and T-3rd in the league.
• CSU-Pueblo's rushing defense was established on game one of the program re-boot in 2008. The Pack allowed 13 yards rushing against Oklahoma Panhandle State (Sept. 8, 2008) and since have held their opponent to less than 50 yards rushing on 22 more occasions.
• Eight times since 2008 the ThunderWolves have allowed 10 or less rushing yards, with the record standing at -11 yards this season at Black Hills State (previous record was -4 rushing yards at New Mexico Highlands Nov. 9, 2013).
• CSU-Pueblo led the RMAC and sits 7th in DII with 78.3 rushing yards per game allowed.
• The Pack recorded seven sacks against DSU and compiled 15 tackles for loss. Against Adams State, the ThunderWolves totaled eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss. And in a road win at Western, the team totaled nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
• CSU-Pueblo has totaled at least eight TFL in each game this season and with 128 total (-482 yards) leads NCAA Division II in tackles for loss (10.7 TFLpg). The Pack lead the RMAC and rank 3rd nationally in sacks with 4.17 per game.
• The nine sacks in a game ranks T-6th most in NCAA Division II this season. The eight against ASU is T-13th and in that game, DE Jackson Wibbels recorded 3.5 tackles to loss.
• ILB Brandon Payer finished last season with 110 tackles with 71 solo. His 71 solo efforts established a new program record and ranked 22nd nationally.
• This season, Payer was T-10th in the RMAC at the end of the regular season. He owns 98 tackles (46 solo) and posted a league-best 20.0 tackles for loss (-41 yards). The 1.7 tackles for loss per game is good for 16th in Division II.
• RECORD BREAKER: Payer became the modern era (since 2008) career tackles leader against Fort Lewis when he surpassed Lee Meisner's (2008-11) 349 career tackles. With 373 career tackles, he ranks 3rd in all the program's history. Dan DeRose is the program's all-time leader with 415 from 1981-83. With 53.0 career tackles for loss, the senior ranks 2nd all-time behind Darius Allen's (2011-14) 59.0. He surpassed Morgan Fox's (2012-15) 49.5 tackles for loss in the win at Black Hills State.
• DE Michael Wristen finished with 2.5 sacks (-16 yards) against Dixie State and shared the RMAC lead in the category with Wibbels at the end of the regular season. Wristen (10 sacks, -55 yards) is now second to Wibbels (11.5 sacks, -77 yards) after Wibbels totaled 2.5 sacks at Mines. Wibbels is 10th nationally, while Wristen sits 23rd.
• CSU-Pueblo was 1st in the league and 10th in DII in red zone defense at the end of the regular season. The ThunderWolves are now 28th in Division II and have allowed 14 scores (9 TDs, 5 FGs) in the red zone in 20 opponent attempts (70%).
• The Pack are 5th in the nation in 3rd down conversion defense, as they allow their opponents to convert 25.6 percent of the time.
• The ThunderWolves also lead the nation in passing efficiency defense (86.58). With 156.3 passing yards allowed, the squad led the RMAC and ranks 9th in DII.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• The Pack had four blocked kicks last year and this season have got their hands on two punts, an extra point attempt and a FG attempt, as Tanner Draper blocked a 27-yard FG attempt by Dixie State, which was recovered by James Maxie and returned by Darius Williams 68 yards for a touchdown. The four blocked kicks ties the Pack for 4th in the RMAC. On the flip side, CSU-Pueblo has allowed three blocked kick (two field goal attempts and one extra point).
• K Mitchell Carter was 55-for-56 on extra points in his first season with the Pack and is 56-for-57 this season. He is 18-for-27 on field goal attempts. Carter led the RMAC in field goals made, while his 1.5 FG per game is 2nd nationally. He is 7-for-7 from 29 yards and in and 16-for-19 from 39 yards and closer. Carter connected on a career-long 50-yard field goal at Colorado Mesa. It ranked as 2nd the longest in the RMAC this season and T-15th in NCAA Division II in 2018. It was the first made 50-plus yard field goal for the Pack since 2013.
• With 110 points, Carter was 1st among RMAC kickers and is 6th overall in the conference (26th nationally) in scoring.
• The ThunderWolves are 2nd in Division II in net punting (39.60 yards), while P Tanner Cuda's 43.0 yards per punt ranks 10th nationally and 3rd in the league.
• In 75 attempts, Cuda has booted 17 punts more than 50 yards with his long settling at 70 yards (twice). He has landed 31 punts inside the 20 and recorded six touchbacks.
• The ThunderWolves led the RMAC and sit 3rd nationally in kickoff returns with 26.9 yards per return.
• CSU-Pueblo ranked 3rd in the league in kickoff return defense, as it allows 19.30 yards per return.
• The Pack were 2nd in the RMAC in punt returns at the end of the regular season. They own 10.5 yards per return.
• WR Kevin Ribarich led the RMAC in punt returns and currently has 9.1 yards per punt return.
#PACKPROS: CSU-Pueblo has three former players in the NFL right now. Ryan Jensen (2009-12) is in his sixth season and first with Tampa Bay after five with the Baltimore Ravens. After a breakout season where he started all 16 games at center for the Ravens, Jensen inked the largest contract for a center in NFL history. Mike Pennel (2013) is in his fifth overall season and second with the New York Jets. Morgan Fox (2012-15) moved from the practice squad to active roster in 2016 and was on the active roster all of the 2017 season with the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, Fox suffered a knee injury during OTAs and will miss the 2018 season. Darius Allen (2011-14) is currently with the Canadian Football league's Edmonton Eskimos. Pennel, Fox and Allen all play on the defensive line.
VS. RANKED SQUADS: CSU-Pueblo owns a 18-7 (11-4 at home) record versus ranked opponents (Division II) since 2011. The ThunderWolves went 6-0 versus the nation's top 25 in 2014 and also added a 47-21 win against Sam Houston State (No. 15) to record the team's first-ever victory against a ranked FCS team. The Pack went 4-1 against ranked opponents in 2015 and had won 10 straight against the nation's best before the loss to Grand Valley State. The Pack recorded the program's second win against a team ranked No. 1 in the AFCA poll when it posted a 23-13 road win at Texas A&M-Commerce Sept. 22, 2018. The first time came when CSU-Pueblo won the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship by the score of 13-0 against Minnesota State.
STREAKS: CSU-Pueblo posted three straight 11-0 seasons entering 2014 and was just one of two teams in NCAA Division II history to accomplish the feat. After starting 5-0 in 2014, the Pack owned 42 straight regular season victories, which was the second-longest in NCAA Division II history, behind only Grand Valley State, which posted 48 straight wins from 2004-09. The streak ended Oct. 11 in a 23-22 road loss at Fort Lewis.
The Pack recorded 28 consecutive regular season home victories from a 66-0 win against New Mexico Highlands Oct. 30, 2010 to a 51-20 win against Colorado Mesa Nov. 7, 2015.
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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.
