PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2019) - The 10th-ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo football team is set to host Western Colorado University on Senior Day, Saturday, Nov. 16 at 12 p.m. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl closes the regular season, as the Pack are focused on securing a third straight NCAA Division II Playoff appearance.
THE GAME
• The ThunderWolves are back in the top 10, as they moved up a spot to No. 10 in the AFCA poll this week and moved up one notch to No. 9 in the D2Football.com poll after the 58-0 home win against Black Hills State.
• The Pack have won seven straight and are 9-1 overall with a 8-1 RMAC record to sit alone in second in the league and trailing Mines (10-0, 9-0 RMAC).
• CSU-Pueblo is ranked No. 4 in Super Region Four in the final rankings before Sunday's selection show. A win on Saturday will likely lock the Pack into the postseason for the third straight season and the seventh time in the last nine years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019).
• Western Colorado is 5-5 overall and 5-4 in RMAC play. WCU is coming off a 24-22 loss at home to New Mexico Highlands, which snapped a two-game win streak.
• All-time the ThunderWolves lead the series with the Mountaineers 17-9.
• The Pack have won all 11 meetings since restarting the program, which includes a 5-0 record at home.
• CSU-Pueblo won 41-3 in Gunnison last year and have held the Mountaineers to 10 points or less (27 total points) in the last four meetings.
• In the win last season the Pack won the ground game 211-1 and finished with 381 yards, while allowing 50 total yards. The ThunderWolves defense recorded nine sacks, which resulted in a loss of 49 yards.
• RB Austin Micci had 80 total yards with a 56 yards reception for a touchdown and 24 yards on the ground.
• DE Jackson Wibbels had seven tackles (five solo) with two sacks.
• Six players had three tackles, including CB Emery Taylor. He also had an interception and two pass breakups.
LAST TIME OUT
• The ThunderWolves recorded a 58-0 RMAC victory against Black Hills State Saturday.
• CSU-Pueblo dominated in all areas with 493 yards of offense to 225 by the Yellow Jackets. The defense continued the pick party and totaled five interceptions (occurring on the final five BHSU possessions) with one pick six that was returned 100 yards to the house. The defense has 23 interceptions on the season and 19 in the last six games. Special teams was impressive with 111 yards of punt return yards and an average of 43.2 yards per punt.
• QB Jordan Kitna shined with 296 yards and four touchdowns on 13-for-21 (61.9%) passing. He found WR Max Fine five times for 87 yards and two touchdowns. WR Dionte Sykes returned from injury (first game since week two) and had two catches for 97 yards. Both deep balls were exceptional throws and receptions by Sykes and set up a pair of first quarter touchdowns. RB D.J. Penick led the ground game with 52 yards and a score.
• DE Jackson Wibbels totaled six tackles (2 solo) with 1.5 sacks (-10 yards) and 2.5 tackles for loss (-11 yards). DE Dominick Fini recorded a season-high six tackles (2 solo). Also with six tackles (1 solo) was OLB Trevor Philio. DB Demetrius Williams added five tackles (four solo) and finished off the final 34 yards of a 100-yard pick six. LB Luke Conilogue had the initial interception and returned it 66 yards before flipping to Williams.
• WR Isaiah Diggs motored to 111 yards on five returns to average 22.2 yards per return. The 111 punt return yards in the game was the fifth most in NCAA Division II this season. His long return went for 64 yards. He also added 34 receiving yards to total 145 all-purpose yards. P Justin Dwinell punted four times and totaled 173 yards to average 43.2 yards per return with a long of 61 yards. He had two settle inside the 20.
• The Pack scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, all on the ground, by RB Marcus Lindsay (7 yards), TE Preston Guerra (19 yards) and Penick (5 yards).
• The halftime score was 34-0, thanks to two passing scores from Kitna in the second quarter to WR Djimon O'Neil (5 yards) and WR Nick Williams (18 yards).
• Fine and Kitna connected twice in the third quarter on 10-yard and 23-yard plays to give the ThunderWolves a 48-0 lead.
• K Mitchell Carter hit a season-long 49-yard field goal early in the fourth to push the Pack past 50 points for the second time this season and second time in the last three games. Carter finished with 10 points.
• The 100-yard return was the cherry on top of the game to move to the final score of 58-0.
SCOUTING WESTERN COLORADO
• The Mountaineers are 5-5 overall with a 5-4 RMAC record. Western Colorado is 2-3 on the road this season.
• WCU is coming off a loss at home against New Mexico Highlands by the score of 24-22. The Mountaineers scored twice in the fourth to mount a comeback, but a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown, the second of the game for the Cowboys, with 2:38 remaining in regulation put NMHU ahead for good.
• The Mountaineers are 6th in the RMAC in scoring (24.9 ppg) and 5th in scoring defense (24.4 ppg). Western Colorado is 8th in total offense (314.2 ypg) and 5th in total defense (348.8 ypg).
• With 32:19 time of possession the Mountaineers are 2nd in the conference and 22nd in DII.
• WCU has the 4th best rushing defense in the league with 117.8 yards per game allowed.
• The Mountaineers have 12 interceptions this year to sit 3rd in the RMAC.
• Western Colorado leads the RMAC and ranks 5th nationally in net punting at 39.46. The team is 4th in punt returns with 8.97 yards per return.
• RB Ty Leyba is 11th in the RMAC with 51.8 rushing yards per game.
• QB Connor Desch has 1,217 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
• DB Dominick Fletcher is tied for the team lead in tackles with 58 (36 solo) and has four passes defended.
• LB Desmond Marfizo also has 58 tackles (23 solo) andis T-9th in the league with 11.5 tackles for loss. He adds 4.5 sacks.
• P Garrett Boyd is 12th in DII with 41.8 yards per punt.
• K Chandler Davis has 1.2 field goals per game to rank 2nd in the league and 17th in DII.
• RB Malcom Wesley is 3rd in the RMAC with 413 yards of combined returns.
THE POLLS
• The Pack entered the season No. 7 in the D2Football.com rankings and No. 9 by the AFCA. The ThunderWolves are at No. 9 in D2Football.com and are back in the top 10 of the AFCA poll at No. 10 this week.
• CSU-Pueblo finished 2018 ranked No. 7 in the AFCA and D2Football.com polls.
• 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 115-26 all-time record. The .816 percentage ranks 2nd among active NCAA Division II coaches (min 5 years).
• Since 2008, CSU-Pueblo is undefeated when scoring 36 or more points (63-0) and when allowing 10 points or less (45-0). The Pack started 2019 meeting both stat lines and did so again last week against Black Hills State.
• Since 2008, the ThunderWolves are 60-12 (.833) 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 ThunderWolves have started a new streak by going 4-0 at home since the loss.
• The Pack have 16 scoring drives of 75 yards or more, which includes a 12-play, 92-yard drive in the opener at Dixie State.
• In the last 29 regular season games the ThunderWolves have allowed just 46 points in the fourth quarter, dating back to Sept. 16, 2017. The Pack allowed six points in the fourth to Fort Lewis, which were the first fourth quarter points allowed since week three against Mines. The team has given up just 19 fourth quarter points this season.
• CSU-Pueblo clocked 40:17 of possession time in the opener and with 29:56 time of possession this season, the team ranks 4th in the RMAC.
• The ThunderWolves are 5th in the RMAC for fewest penalties (66) and 5th in fewest penalty yards (600).
• With only two interceptions thrown, the Pack are 1st in the conference and T-4th in Division II. On the other side of the ball, the ThunderWolves have 23 interceptions this season (19 in the last six games) to rank 2nd in Division II.
• CSU-Pueblo has a league-best +17 turnover margin. The next best team is at +6. Their 1.7 turnover margin per game is good for 2nd nationally, while the 27 takeaways is good for 5th in Division II.
• The Pack have accumulated 104 points off turnovers in 2019. The team's six interceptions for a touchdown is a program record and leads the nation.
• The Pack played their five regular season road games in five different states (Utah, Nebraska, South Dakota, New Mexico and Colorado).
• Both OLB James Maxie and P Justin Dwinell have three RMAC Player of the Week awards this year. The two make up all six of the team's honors in 2019.
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 665 rushing yards to rank 5th in the RMAC. He has nine rushing scores to rank T-2nd in the league. He averages 5.5 yards per carry to rank 3rd in the RMAC (min 100 att).
• RB Austin Micci has 444 yards rushing to sit 14th 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 1,500 passing yards to rank 4th in the RMAC. He has 16.48 yards per completion to rank 1st in the RMAC and 7th in Division II. Kitna's 9.8 yards per pass attempt is 6th in DII. His 162.1 passing efficiency ranks 2nd in the RMAC.
• Kitna is 91-for-153 (59.5%) for 10 touchdowns. His 1,594 yards of total offense is 4th in the league.
• QB Gunnar Lamphere adds 408 yards on 41-for-79 (51.9%) passing with a touchdown.
• The team's 57.0 completion percentage is 2nd in the RMAC. The Pack's 139.74 team passing efficiency is good for 3rd in the league.
• With 182.9 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 until week 10. He came back and had two receptions for 97 yards. In three games he owns 332 receiving yards on nine receptions (35.8 ypc).
• WR Nick Williams recorded 102 yards on six receptions against Mines for his first-career 100 yard game. At Fort Lewis he brought down five receptions for 106 yards and a score. He has a team-best 481 yards (10th in the RMAC) and four touchdowns on 28 receptions.
• CSU-Pueblo ranks 4th in the league in sacks allowed at 2.0 per game.
• 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 2,606 yards to rank 5th all-time. His 186 career points is good 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.
• With 23 interceptions (19 in the last five games) the Pack lead the RMAC and sit 2nd in Division II. The ThunderWolves lead the RMAC and rank 10th in DII with a team passing efficiency defense rating of 98.9.
• Since 2008, the Pack have totaled 43 interception returns for a touchdown. The most in a season is six this season. The ThunderWolves produced five in 2010, 2014 and 2017.
• The ThunderWolves have six interceptions for touchdowns this season to set the program record. CSU-Pueblo totaled three in one game against Adams State. With seven defensive touchdowns this season (recovered fumble in the end zone on special teams), the Pack are T-1st nationally.
• CB Marcus Lawrence is tied for the team lead with four interceptions. He adds eight pass breakups for the second most on the team. His 12 passes defended is good for T-6th in the RMAC.
• DB Tevin Donnell is T-7th in the RMAC with a team-best 10 break-ups. His 11 passes defended is T-9th.
• RECORD WATCH: CB Emery Taylor recorded his 19th career interception against Adams State to tie the all-time interceptions record at CSU-Pueblo. Stephan Dickens (2010-14) had 19 in his All-American career.
• 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 24 more occasions.
• Nine times since 2008 the ThunderWolves allowed 10 or less rushing yards, with the record standing at -68 yards this season at New Mexico Highlands. The previous record was -11 yards last season at Black Hills State. This season against Fort Lewis, the Skyhawks finished with -3 yards.
• The Pack are 2nd in the RMAC and 4th nationally in rushing defense at 63.3 yards per game.
• By allowing 290.7 yards per game the defense sits 2nd in the RMAC at 24th in Division II. The 15.3 points per game allowed is 2nd in the league and 11th nationally.
• CSU-Pueblo ranks 5th in the conference and 25th nationally in team tackles for loss (8.3 TFL per game). With 3.8 sacks per game the Pack are 2nd in the conference and 4th nationally.
• OLB James Maxie leads the team, ranks 4th in the RMAC and 34th nationally with 92 tackles (42 solo). He is second on the team with 15.5 tackles for loss (-69 yards) and with 8.0 sacks (-50 yards). Maxie ranks 4th in the RMAC and 25th nationally with 1.6 tackles for loss per game. His sack total is 7th in the conference.
• Maxie is a three-time RMAC Defensive Player of the Week award winner. 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.
• He grabbed the award again after the win at Fort Lewis where he totaled 11 tackles (2 solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss (-2 yards).
• DE Jackson Wibbels has 62 tackles (25 solo) with 16.5 tackles for loss (-79 yards) to rank 3rd in the conference, while his 8.5 sacks (-62 yards) sits T-5th in the league and 25th nationally.
• ILB Kyle Rosenbrock adds 66 tackles (27 solo). His 11.5 tackles for loss (-42 yards) is 3rd on the team and T-10th in the RMAC. Rosenbrock owns 5.5 sacks (-30 yards). He had an interception returned for a touchdown (42 yards) against Adams State.
• OLB Trevor Philio has 6.5 sacks (-54 yards) and 10.5 tackles for loss (-63 yards) with 52 total tackles (22 solo). His sack total is T-9th in the RMAC.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• K Mitchell Carter is 10-for-16 on field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards (Nov. 9). Four of his misses have come from beyond 40 yards. He is 41-for-43 on extra points for 71 points, which leads the team and ranks 4th in the conference. His 10 field goals is T-4th most in the RMAC.
• Redshirt-freshman punter Justin Dwinell has taken over punting duties and has placed 23 punts inside the 20. He averages 41.1 yards per kick to rank 2nd in the RMAC and 23rd nationally. He has 12 50+ yard punts and a long of 77 yards, which is the fourth longest in NCAA Division II this season.
• He has a touchdown this season after picking up a fumbled snap on a punt attempt, Dwinell returned it 80 yards for a touchdown against CMU.
• Dwinell has three RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week awards this season.
• He 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.
• Following his performance against Fort Lewis, Dwinell earned RMAC Special Teams Player of the week for the third time. He totaled 212 yards on six punts to average 35.3 yards per punt. He placed three inside the 20 yard line and recorded a long punt of 56 yards.
• WR Isaiah Diggs has returned 31 punts and totaled 332 yards to average 10.7 yards per return, which ranks 3rd in the RMAC for average and first for total yards. He sits 22nd nationally in yards per return. Diggs had five returns for 111 yards (22.2 ypr) against Black Hills State to record the fifth most return yards in a game in Division II this season.
#PACKPROS: CSU-Pueblo has four 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). He was cut during camp in August by New England, but signed Oct. 21 by the Kansas City Chiefs. Darius Allen (2011-14) is currently in his fourth season in the Canadian Football League. As of Nov. 5 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.
