PUEBLO, Colo. (Oct. 11, 2019) - The No. 17 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team heads to New Mexico Highlands University Saturday, Oct. 12 for a 1 p.m. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest. The Pack enter the game 3-0 on the road this season.
THE GAME
• The ThunderWolves moved up a spot to No. 17 in the AFCA poll and are up two spots to No. 12 in the D2Football.com poll after the 21-13 road win at South Dakota Mines.
• The Pack are 4-1 overall with a 3-1 RMAC record to sit among three teams trailing Mines (5-0) with one loss in league play.
• New Mexico Highlands is 0-4 this season with two of those losses coming at home. The first loss against Fort Lewis (7-0) was shortened to just one quarter due to lightning. The second was a 55-0 setback to Dixie State.
• The Pack are 19-5 all-time against the Cowboys, which includes a 14-game winning streak that dates back to 1982.
• Last season at home the ThunderWolves scored 48 unanswered points and won 48-3 for the program's 100th win since the restart in 2008. CSU-Pueblo rushed for 337 yards and five touchdowns and totaled 532 yards of offense. The Pack defense allowed just 193 total yards, totaled three interceptions and four total turnovers. ILB Kyle Rosenbrock had 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a half sack in the game. RB Marché Dennard totaled 213 yards rushing with three touchdowns.
• In the last four meetings, CSU-Pueblo has outscored New Mexico Highlands 198-29 (49.5-7.25), which includes a 56-13 road win in 2017 the last time the Pack were in Las Vegas.
LAST TIME OUT
• The defense of the No. 18 ThunderWolves held South Dakota Mines to just six points and gave the offense time to get going in a 21-13 RMAC road win.
• The ThunderWolves (4-1, 3-1 RMAC) totaled two interceptions, which included a pick six in the first half, nine sacks and 18 tackles for loss.
• Leading the way was OLB James Maxie, as he had a day with 17 tackles (eight solo), 6.5 tackles for loss (-27 yards) and 4.5 sacks (-24 yards). The 17 tackles tied the program record, set by Lee Meisner versus Chadron State College on Oct. 2, 2010. His 6.5 tackles for loss is a Division II-best this season.
• Maxie was named RMAC and D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Week and NFFCC Player of the Week.
• The defense held the Hardrockers to 171 total yards. Seventy yards came on the ground on 48 attempts for a 1.5 yards per carry average.
• Four more players had seven or more tackles with some bonus specialty statistics. OLB Trevor Philio totaled nine tackles with two tackles for loss (-7 yards), a sack (-5 yards) and two break-ups. DE Jackson Wibbels grabbed nine tackles (four solo) with two tackles for loss (-5 yards) and a half sack (-4 yards). ILB Max Gonzales totaled eight tackles with a half tackle for loss (-1 yard). ILB Kyle Rosenbrock (Brush, Colo.) grabbed seven tackles (four solo) with two sacks (-11 yards) and an interception to seal the game.
• The Pack offense started slow and couldn't get anything going in the first half. 266 of their 319 yards came in the second half. The run game sparked a solid final 27 minutes, as the ThunderWolves finished the game with 262 yards on the ground. South Dakota Mines ran nine more plays, but averaged 2.2 yards per play, while the Pack had 4.8 yards per play.
• RB D.J. Penick finished the contest leading the ground game with 112 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 21 attempts.
• RB Austin Micci added 82 yards on 16 carries for an 5.1 yards per carry average.
• Neither team scored in the first quarter, then the Hardrockers scored first with a 19-yard field goal.
• The first defensive score of the season came when CB Marcus Lawrence picked the Hardrocker quarterback and returned the ball 65-yards to the end zone. The score came with 6:53 left in the second to give CSU-Pueblo the 7-3 lead.
• South Dakota Mines added a 33-yarder to get within one at 7-6 with 3:04 left in the half and that is where the score stood at the break.
• With 12:05 left in the third, QB Gunnar Lamphere threw his first interception of the season and it was returned 20 yards to the end zone. The Hardrockers' 13-7 lead only lasted for four minutes, as the Pack produced a 10-play, 75-yard drive to regain the lead, 14-13. The drive was capped by a Penick two-yard score.
• The score moved to 21-13 with 13:43 left in the fourth when Lamphere finished off a six-play, 77-yard drive with a nine-yard rush to the paint.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
• The Cowboys didn't compete last weekend. The team's last game was a 42-13 road loss at Mines. NMHU was ahead 10-0 after the first quarter and ahead 13-7 with 2:50 left in the second. A Oredigger touchdown with 1:25 left in the second gave the home team a 14-13 lead at the break. Mines scored with five seconds left of the third to make it a 21-13 game, then proceeded to rattle off 21 points in the fourth to run away with the win.
• The Cowboys are averaging 10 points per game and allowing 36.3 points per contest. NMHU is last in the RMAC with 194 yards per game and allows 363.3 yards per contest, which is sixth.
• New Mexico Highlands is fourth in the league with 10 takeaways (seven interceptions is third in the RMAC), while their +2 turnover margin is also fourth (the team has only lost one fumble).
• The Cowboys are fourth in the league with 23 yards per kickoff return and rank third in net punting at 37.1 ypp.
• QB Gunner Mefferd is 18-for-59 for 254 yards and one touchdown. The top receiver is J'juan Muldrow with 99 yards on seven receptions.
• DB Malik Brown leads the defense with 23 tackles and two interceptions. DL Trejen Lawrence adds 18 tackles and a team-best four tackles for loss (-8 yards). He also has a fumble forced and a fumble recovery.
• Punter Dillon Gassoway leads the RMAC in punting with 43.5 yards per kick and Diego Elebario is fourth in the RMAC with 5.8 punt return yards per return.
THE POLLS
• CSU-Pueblo finished 2018 ranked No. 7 in the AFCA and D2Football.com polls.
• The Pack. CSU-Pueblo entered the season No. 7 in the D2Football.com rankings and No. 9 by the AFCA. This week, the team moved up No. 12 in the D2Football.com poll and No. 17 in the AFCA.
• 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 then-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, 2018. Wristen owns a 110-26 all-time record. The .809 percentage ranks 2nd among active NCAA Division II coaches (min 5 years).
• Since 2008, CSU-Pueblo is undefeated when scoring 36 or more points (60-0) and when allowing 10 points or less (44-0). The Pack had done both in each of the final three games of the regular season last year and started 2019 meeting both stat lines.
• Since 2008, the ThunderWolves are 57-12 (.826) at the ThunderBowl.
• The Pack had won 15 straight at home from 2016-2018, which ranked as the second longest current home winning streak in NCAA Division II. CSU-Pueblo had that streak broken by Mines in the home opener.
• The Pack have 10 scoring drives of 75 yards or more, which includes a 12-play, 92-yard drive in the opener at Dixie State.
• In the last 25 regular season games the ThunderWolves have allowed just 40 points in the fourth quarter, dating back to Sept. 16, 2017.
• CSU-Pueblo clocked 40:17 of possession time in the opener and with 28:56 time of possession this season, the team ranks 5th in the RMAC.
• The ThunderWolves are fourth in the RMAC for fewest penalties (30) and fifth in fewest penalty yards (328).
• With only two interceptions, the Pack are T-1st in the conference and T-9th in Division II.
• The Pack will play their five regular season road games in five different states (Utah, Nebraska, South Dakota, New Mexico and Colorado).
CSU-PUEBLO POSITION NOTABLES
OFFENSE
• WR Dionte Sykes had a big debut for the Pack, as he brought in four receptions for 172 yards in the opener against Dixie State. He had receptions of 46, 50 and 70 yards and with the performance tied Paul Browning's 2013 performance of 172 receiving yards for the most receiving yards in a game since the restart in 2008.
• He had 53 yards against Chadron State before suffering an injury that has kept him out of the lineup. He owns 225 receiving yards this season, which is still top 11 in the RMAC.
• WR Nick Williams recorded 102 yards on six receptions against Mines for his first-career 100 yard game. He has 252 yards (9th in the RMAC) and a touchdown on 15 receptions.
• RB D.J. Penick racked up 105 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in his debut.
• He owns a team-best 357 rushing yards to rank 4th in the RMAC. He has four rushing scores and averages 5.6 yards per carry.
• QB Jordan Kitna made his Pack debut in the opener and went 9-for-18 (50%) with 261 yards and two rushing touchdowns. His three rushing scores this season ties for the team lead.
• He has 666 passing yards to rank 6th in the RMAC, while his 16.24 yards per completion is good for 1st in the conference and 8th nationally. He owns 9.79 yards per pass attempt to also lead the RMAC and sit 7th nationally. His 731 yards of total offense is good for 6th in the league.
• He is 41-for-68 (60.3%) for two touchdowns.
• QB Gunnar Lamphere adds 314 yards on 29-for-54 (53.7%) passing with a touchdown.
• With 14.07 yards per pass completion, the Pack rank 3rd in the RMAC.
• The team's 56.9 completion percentage is 2nd in the RMAC. The Pack's 128.9 team passing efficiency is also 3rd.
• With 181.4 rushing yards per game, the ThunderWolves are 2nd in the RMAC.
• CAREER WATCH: RB Austin Micci eclipsed the 2,000 career yards mark against Fort Lewis last season to become the 9th player in program history to reach the milestone. He owns 2,419 yards to rank 7th all-time. His 174 career points is good for a tie for eight all-time in total points.
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 and in 2018.
• Since 2008, the Pack have totaled 38 interception returns for a touchdown. The most in a season is five by the 2010, 2014 and 2017 squads.
• The ThunderWolves got their first pick six of the season at South Dakota Mines. CB Marcus Lawrence returned an interception for 65 yards.
• CB Emery Taylor recorded a team-best seven interceptions and a team-high 15 pass break-ups last season and started the year off with the first pick of 2019 against DSU. He has one interception and one break-up this year.
• RECORD WATCH: Taylor has 18 career interceptions to sit 2nd all-time at CSU-Pueblo. Stephan Dickens (2010-14) has the record with 19.
• 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 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).
• In the opener, Dixie State was only able to muster 59 rushing yards on 23 attempts (2.6 ypc). The Pack are 3rd in the RMAC in rushing defense at 110.8 yards per game.
• By allowing 311.4 yards per game the defense sits 3rd in the RMAC. The 18.4 points per game allowed is 4th.
• OLB James Maxie leads the team with 48 tackles (24 solo). He was named RMAC and D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Week and NFFCC Player of the Week after the win against South Dakota Mines. In that game he totaled 17 tackles to tie the program record. His 6.5 tackles for loss established a program record, while his 4.5 sacks was a half sack shy of tying the record.
• ILB Kyle Rosenbrock adds 42 tackles (19 solo). His 8.0 tackles for loss (-30 yards) is T-7th in the RMAC. Rosenbrock owns 4.5 sacks (-10 yards). OLB Trevor Philio has 4.0 sacks (-20 yards) and has 6.5 tackles for loss (-27 yards) with 30 total tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• K Mitchell Carter is 5-for-7 on field goal attempts. He is 14-for-17 on extra points for 29 points, which leads the team and 14th in the conference.
• Redshirt-freshman punter Justin Dwinell has taken over punting duties and has placed 13 of his 29 punts inside the 20. He averages 39.2 yards per kick. He has five 50+ yard punts and a long of 63 yards.
• Dwinell was the key in the victory against A&M-Commerce and earned RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week. He had two 50-plus yard punts, which included a long of 61 yards that went out of bounds at the one yard line. He also had four of his seven punts land inside the 20. He totaled 297 yards for an average of 42.4 yards per punt. His efforts helped limit Lion returner Dominique Ramsey to two returns for 24 yards. Ramsey entered the game fourth in Division II in punt returns with 24.7 yards per return and was just one week removed from returning a punt 55 yards for a score.
• The Pack are fourth in the RMAC with 9.9 yards per punt return.
• WR Isaiah Diggs has returned 14 punts and totaled 149 yards to average 10.6 yards per return, which ranks 2nd in the RMAC.
#PACKPROS: CSU-Pueblo has three former players in the NFL right now. Ryan Jensen (2009-12) is in his seventh season and second 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 when he signed with the Bucaneers. 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, the defensive lineman suffered a knee injury during OTAs and missed the 2018 season. He returns to the active 53-man roster for 2019. Defensive lineman Deyon Sizer (2014-18) earned a spot on the Denver Broncos practice squad for 2019 after a successful rookie mini-camp tryout and summer with the team. Mike Pennel (2013) has five seasons of NFL experience (Green Bay, New York Jets), but was cut during camp in August by New England. Darius Allen (2011-14) is currently in his fourth season in the Canadian Football League. As of Sept. 6 he was on the BC Lions' 6-game injured list.
VS. RANKED SQUADS: CSU-Pueblo owns a 20-9 (13-5 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.
