PUEBLO, Colo. (Oct. 17, 2019) - The No. 15 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team hosts Colroado Mesa University, Satruday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. in the annual Homecoming Game at Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl. In addition to homecoming festivities, CSU-Pueblo Athletics will honor its 2019 CSU-Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame inductees with a banquet in the morning and a halftime recognition.
THE GAME
• Saturday marks homecoming at CSU-Pueblo. The Pack are 27-6 all-time in the annual homecoming game, which includes a perfect 11-0 mark since the restart in 2008.
• The ThunderWolves are up two spots to No. 15 in the AFCA poll and remained at No. 12 in the D2Football.com poll after the 31-14 RMAC road win at New Mexico Highlands.
• The Pack are 5-1 overall with a 4-1 RMAC record to sit tied for second in the league and trailing Mines (6-0).
• Colorado Mesa is 3-3 overall and 3-2 in RMAC play after it defeated Fort Lewis at home last week by the score of 17-10.
• The Mavericks are 2-0 on the road in 2019.
• The ThunderWolves and Mavericks are knotted up at 18-18-5 in their all-time series.
• CSU-Pueblo has won eight of the last nine meetings, which includes a 36-14 road win last season. Since the restart in 2008, the Pack are 8-3. The ThunderWolves have won the last four at home, which includes the 30-24 victory in 2017.
• In the win last season, CMU out-gained the Pack 346 to 316, but four takeaways by the ThunderWolves helped guide the road team to victory. RB Austin Micci ran for 107 yards and a touchdown and WR Ammon Johnson was the top receiver with two catches for 48 yards and a score. Defensively, DE Jackson Wibbels led the team with 10 tackles (three solo), 2.5 tackles for loss (-9 yards) and a sack (-8 yards). ILB Kyle Rosenbrock added nine tackles (four solo) with 1.5 sacks (-9 yards).
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 17 CSU-Pueblo defense and special teams totaled six takeaways to help guide the ThunderWolves to a 31-14 RMAC road win at New Mexico Highlands University.
• The Pack had four interceptions and recovered two fumbles, one of which was for a special teams score, to total 21 points off turnovers.
• Thanks to 15 tackles for loss, which included six sacks, NMHU finished with -68 yards rushing, a new program record for the defense. The Cowboys passed for 243 yards to finish with 175 total yards. CSU-Pueblo rushed for 184 yards and three scores and had 261 total offensive yards.
• OLB James Maxie repeated as RMAC Defensive Player of the Week after leading the team with eight tackles (five solo), which included 2.5 tackles for loss (-20 yards), a sack (-14 yards) and a fumble recovery.
• Starting in his second straight game at NG, Brady Opp totaled five tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss (-9 yards) and a sack (-3 yards.). Getting the start at ILB was Max Gonzales. He had five tackles (four solo) with an interception and a half tackle for loss (-3 yards).
• The Pack recorded their first special teams touchdown of the season when a high snap on a punt attempt by the Cowboys rolled all the way to the end zone and LB Dylan Allbrandt jumped on the ball for six.
• On offense, RB D.J. Penick had 96 yards of total offense with 67 rushing and 29 through the air. He scored twice on the ground. RB Austin Micci added a team-best 74 yards on the ground with a long run of 20 yards.
• P Justin Dwinell nabbed his second RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week award of the season after he totaled 313 yards on six punts to average 52.2 yards per punt, which included a long of 77 yards (which ranks as the 3rd longest punt in NCAA Division II this season).
• K Mitchell Carter scored seven points on four extra points and a field goal from 32 yards out.
• The Pack got out to a 21-0 lead in a span of six minutes of game clock. The first score came on a Penick 20-yard rush to the paint with 1:59 left in the first. Just a minute into the second is when Allbrandt hopped on the ball on the miscue punt by NMHU to make it 14-0. With 11:11 left in the second, QB Gunnar Lamphere carried the ball five yards across the goal line to cap a 22-yard drive that was setup by the Maxie recovery.
• NMHU caught the defense twice for big scores. The first was with 3:30 left in the second, a 77-yard pass play. And the only score of the third was a 53-yard pass play midway through the quarter by the Cowboys to make it 21-14.
• Ten points in the fourth sealed the deal for the ThunderWolves. Carter's kick made it a two-score game at 24-14 with 11:04 left and then on the ensuing NMHU drive, DE Frank Umu jumped on a loose ball to hand the Pack offense the rock at the home team's 16 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Penick had his second score of the day and he spun off a tackle to find the end zone.
SCOUTING COLORADO MESA
• The Mavericks have won every other RMAC game this season to get to 3-2 in league play, which places them in a tie for fourth. The team was picked fourth in the preseason poll.
• CMU trailed 3-0 at the half against Fort Lewis and then scored a touchdown in the third to take the lead. Four minutes later FLC connected on a touchdown and led 10-7 heading to the fourth. A 10-point final frame for the Mavericks lifted them to their third win of the season.
• Colorado Mesa is averaging 30.2 points per game and 370.2 yards per contest to sit 4th and 5th, respectfully in the RMAC. The Mavericks are allowing 38.8 points per game to rank 8th, while their 431.2 yards per contest is 10th.
• CMU is winning at the line of scrimmage, as they rank 1st in the conference and 25th nationally in only allowing 4.8 tackles for loss per game. The team is 13th in DII (3rd in RMAC) in sacks with 3.33 per game, while their 8.2 tackles for loss is 5th in the league and 25th in DII.
• CMU has nine interceptions to lead the RMAC and rank 18th nationally. The team's 12 turnovers gained is 3rd in the league. The Mavericks have 18 turnovers lost (10 fumbles).
• The offense has a red zone percentage of 94.4 to lead the league and rank 5th nationally.
• Colorado Mesa is third in both kick returns (26.0 ypr) and kick return defense (19.1 ypr).
• The Mavericks have blocked five kicks (2 punts) to lead the league and rank 4th in DII.
• WR Peter Anderson has 93.2 receiving yards per game to sit 2nd in the RMAC, 16th in DII.
• Greyson Matalus leads the team with 56 tackles and adds 3.5 TFL, two INTs and two BUs.
• Mason Newton is tied for 1st the in nation with 15.0 tackles for loss (-59 yards). He has 7.5 sacks (-40 yards) to rank tied for fourth in Division II.
• Nick Ciccio has seven break-ups, four interceptions (T-3rd nationally) and a fumble forced and recovered. His 11 passes defended is good for a tie for the third most in Division II.
• K Lucas Ruiz-Diaz is 2nd in the RMAC and 11th nationally with an 87.5 field goal percentage. He has seven field goals this year to rank tied for 3rd in the conference.
THE POLLS
• CSU-Pueblo finished 2018 ranked No. 7 in the AFCA and D2Football.com polls.
• The Pack entered the season No. 7 in the D2Football.com rankings and No. 9 by the AFCA. This week, the team remained at No. 12 in the D2Football.com poll and moved up two spots to No. 15 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 111-26 all-time record. The .810 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 26 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 29:01 time of possession this season, the team ranks 5th in the RMAC.
• The ThunderWolves are 4th in the RMAC for fewest penalties (36) and 4th in fewest penalty yards (343).
• With only two interceptions thrown, the Pack are 1st in the conference and T-6th 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
• RB D.J. Penick racked up 105 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in his debut.
• He owns a team-best 424 rushing yards to rank 4th in the RMAC. He has six rushing scores to rank 2nd in the conference and averages 5.6 yards per carry.
• RB Austin Micci has 307 yards rushing to sit 10th in the RMAC and adds three touchdowns.
• QB Jordan Kitna made his Pack debut in the opener and went 9-for-18 (50%) with 261 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
• He has 666 passing yards to rank 6th in the RMAC. He has 16.24 yards per completion and owns 9.79 yards per pass attempt. 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 391 yards on 39-for-77 (50.7%) passing with a touchdown.
• The team's 54.8 completion percentage is 3rd in the RMAC.
• With 180.2 rushing yards per game, the ThunderWolves are 2nd in the RMAC.
• 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.
• WR Nick Williams recorded 102 yards on six receptions against Mines for his first-career 100 yard game. He has a team-best 265 yards (12th in the RMAC) and a touchdown on 17 receptions.
• 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 2,462 yards to rank 7th all-time. His 174 career points is good for a tie for eighth 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 three break-ups 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 23 more occasions.
• Eight times since 2008 the ThunderWolves allowed 10 or less rushing yards, with the record standing at -38 yards this season at New Mexico Highlands. The previous record was -11 yards last season at Black Hills State.
• In the opener, Dixie State was only able to muster 59 rushing yards on 23 attempts (2.6 ypc). The Pack are 2nd in the RMAC and 11th nationally in rushing defense at 77.3 yards per game.
• By allowing 284.2 yards per game the defense sits 2nd in the RMAC at 24th in Division II. The 17.7 points per game allowed is 3rd in the league.
• OLB James Maxie leads the team with 56 tackles (29 solo). He also has a team-best 10.0 tackles for loss (-50 yards) and is tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks (-38 yards). Maxie ranks 20th nationally with 1.7 tackles for loss per game. His 0.92 sacks per game is T-19th.
• 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.
• Maxie gathered back-to-back RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, as he was recognized Oct. 14 for his eight tackles (five solo), 2.5 tackles for loss (-20 yards), a sack (-14 yards) and a fumble recovery.
• ILB Kyle Rosenbrock adds 45 tackles (20 solo). His 9.0 tackles for loss (-38 yards) is T-4th in the RMAC. Rosenbrock owns 4.5 sacks (-10 yards). OLB Trevor Philio has 5.5 sacks (-34 yards) and has 8.0 tackles for loss (-41 yards) with 34 total tackles (17 solo). His sack total is tied for first with Maxie, while his 0.92 sacks per game is also T-19th in Division II.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• K Mitchell Carter is 6-for-9 on field goal attempts. He is 18-for-21 on extra points for 36 points, which is tied for the team lead and T-9th in the conference.
• Redshirt-freshman punter Justin Dwinell has taken over punting duties and has placed 14 of his 35 punts inside the 20. He averages 41.3 yards per kick to rank 4th in the RMAC and 27th nationally. He has eight 50+ yard punts and a long of 77 yards, which is the third longest in NCAA Division II this season.
• 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.
• He was named RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week and D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week after the win at New Mexico Highlands. He totaled 313 yards on six punts to average 52.2 yards per punt (ranks as 9th best in DII this season), which included a long of 77 yards (ranks 3rd in DII this season). He had three travel more than 50 yards.
• The Pack are fourth in the RMAC with 8.8 yards per punt return.
• WR Isaiah Diggs has returned 17 punts and totaled 168 yards to average 9.9 yards per return, which ranks 3rd in the RMAC and 27th nationally.
#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.
