PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 21, 2019) - The No. 9 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team is set to host Augustana University, Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. in round one of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs. The ThunderWolves are hosting a playoff game at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl for the first time since 2015.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale now and are $20 for chairback seats and $15 for reserved seating. ThunderHill tickets will be sold for $9. A senior discount (55+) is available for $12 for the chairback and reserved sections. Children 5 and under are free, while a student ticket will be available for K-12 at the price of $5. College students will be $5, but the first 300 CSU-Pueblo students to pick up their ticket at the CSU-Pueblo Athletics Office in Massari Arena will be free. The free tickets come courtesy of the Associated Students' Government.
Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the Massari Arena Ticket Office, calling (719) 549-2050 or by going online (CSU-P Fans) here - https://boxoffice.diamondticketing.com/csu/events. The Massari Arena Ticket Office will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Per NCAA rules, the visitor's section will be behind the visiting team's bench and in Section W and Section T. Visitor's tickets will be $20 in Section W (chairback seating) and $15 (general admission seating). Visitor tickets will be available by calling the ticket office at (719) 549-2050 or by going online (Augustana Fans) here - https://boxoffice.diamondticketing.com/csu/events.
When purchasing any tickets online, be sure to follow the correct ticket link (CSU-Pueblo fans, Augustana fans and CSU-Pueblo Player Family).
THE GAME
• The ThunderWolves are making their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II postseason. It marks the seventh time since 2011 the Pack are in the playoffs.
• CSU-Pueblo earned the No. 4 seed in Super Region Four and is hosting for the first time since 2015. Since 2011, the ThunderWolves are 4-3 in postseason home games (5-4 including 2015, which was removed as a postseason appearance after a self-reported violation).
• The ThunderWolves are 6-5 all-time in NCAA Division II Playoffs (8-6 with 2015).
• The Pack started the 2019 season ranked No. 9 in the AFCA poll and that is where they finished the regular season. CSU-Pueblo is also No. 9 in the D2Football.com rankings after wrapping the season with a 34-7 home win against Western Colorado.
• The ThunderWolves are riding an eight-game winning streak into the postseason. The Pack went 10-1 overall and 9-1 in RMAC play. CSU-Puelblo was second in the league standings behind Mines (11-0, 10-0 RMAC).
• Augustana went 9-2 overall and in Northern Sun Intercollegiate play this season and are making their fifth appearance in the postseason.
• The last time the Vikings made the Division II Playoffs was 2015.
• The meeting will mark the first between the two programs.
• CSU-Pueblo has met a member of the NSIC in the postseason on four previous occasions with one home game. The Pack hosted University of Minnesota Duluth in 2011 and fell 24-21. The ThunderWolves and Minnesota State University, Mankato have met three times, including the last two seasons. CSU-Pueblo won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2014 against the Mavericks by the score of 10-0. The last two seasons the Pack have traveled to Mankato with losses in the first round in 2017 (16-13 OT) and in the second round in 2018 (24-10).
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 10 CSU-Pueblo football team celebrated 16 seniors by defeating Western Colorado, 34-7.
• The win handed the Pack their eighth straight win and allowed them to reach 10 victories for the sixth time in the last nine years.
• CSU-Pueblo totaled 329 yards and allowed 250 yards. The home team totaled 183 yards passing and 146 yards on the ground. The ThunderWolves allowed the Mountaineers (5-6, 5-5 RMAC) just 38 yards on the ground on 37 attempts. The Pack totaled three interceptions and recovered two fumbles, while having just one turnover on their end.
• QB Jordan Kitna threw for three touchdowns after chucking four last week. He went 19-for-30 (63.3%) for 183 yards. All three scores went to tight ends, as Preston Guerra caught two passes for touchdowns and finished with three receptions for 16 yards. The other score went to Nicolas Albertini on a 13-yard play.
• The team's top three tackles were seniors. ILB Kyle Rosenbrock led the team with 14 tackles (2 solo). OLB James Maxie added 11 tackles with a tackle for loss and a half sack. DB Amu Aukusitino added eight tackles (six solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss, a half sack and two breakups.
• CB Emery Taylor broke the school's career interception record and finished with five tackles (three solo), two breakups and a forced fumble. He returned the interception 74 yards to the end zone to give CSU-Pueblo its second pick six of the game and eighth this season.
• The other pick six came at the hands of a senior, as DB Tevin Donnell returned an interception 17 yards to the paint in the second quarter. He finished with three tackles (two solo), three breakups and a half tackle for loss.
• P Justin Dwinell averaged 40.4 yards per punt on his seven kicks. He landed five inside the 20 and booted a long of 52 yards.
• After a scoreless first quarter, Kitna and Guerra connected for the first time and about three minutes later, Donnell reeled in a tipped pass and went 17 yards for the score. A missed extra point moved the score to 13-0.
• With just one second left on the second quarter clock, Western Colorado found its way into the end zone from one yard out to cut the Pack lead to 13-7 heading into halftime.
• The ThunderWolves didn't score again until 1:49 remaining in the third quarter when Kitna found Albertini for 13 yards.
• The Pack won the fourth quarter 14-0 with Kitna finding Guerra on a one-yard pass. Taylor's monster 74-yard return capped the game with the ThunderWolves winning, 34-7.
SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
• The Vikings played all 11 games within the NSIC and posted a 9-2 record.
• Augustana's only losses came on the road. The team lost in week two at the top region team, Minnesota State, by the score of 27-7. In week 5 at Bemidji State University (8-3), the Vikings lost 21-20, on a touchdown and two-point conversion with five seconds left in regulation.
• Augustana also has road wins against University of Sioux Falls (20-13) and Winona State University (26-25). Sioux Falls advanced to the postseason and will play at Mines, while Winona State went 8-3 and was ranked in the top 10 prior to the selection show on Sunday.
• The Vikings have won six straight entering the postseason.
• Augustana is scoring 30.2 points per game, which was 5th in the NSIC, while their 14.7 points per game allowed was 2nd best in the NSIC and ranks 6th nationally.
• The Vikings average 385.2 yards per game (5th in NSIC) and limit their opponents to 286.7 yards per game (4h in NSIC and 17th in DII).
• With 29 turnovers gained, Augustana led their league and rank 3rd in Division II. Of those 29 takeaways, 18 came by interception (9th nationally), while 11 were fumble recoveries (24th nationally).
• Both sides of the ball have been successful in the red zone with the offense scoring 89.5 percent of the time to sit 16th in DII, while the defense has limited their opponent to a 68.4 percentage that ranks 19th nationally.
• Augustana also ranks top 15 in Division II in turnover margin (12th, 1.09) and rushing defense (12th, 90.9).
• The Vikings have the 6th best kick return defense in the nation, allowing just 15.1 yards per return.
• QB Kyle Saddler finished top three in the NSIC in passing yards per game (2nd, 224.8), passing yards per completion (2nd, 13.8) and passing yards (3rd, 2,248). He added 13 touchdowns through the air and four more on the ground.
• The Vikings have four players with 20 or more receptions. WR Sean Engel led the team with 38 receptions and 543 yards with two scores. WR Nickel Meyers added 33 catches for 414 yards and a touchdown. WR Devon Jones led the team with six touchdowns (12 rec, 171 yards).
• RB Jarod Epperson ranks 18th nationally with 6.7 yards per carry. He finished the regular season with 717 yards and six scores. RB Rudolh Sinflorant carried the ball the team-high 134 times and added 541 yards with three scores.
• Three players have 60 or more tackles, guided by LB T.J. Liggett's 79 (57 solo). He adds three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 8.5 tackles for loss (-29 yards) and two sacks (-14 yards).
• DB Eli Weber has 60 tackles (44 solo) and leads the team with four interceptions and eight pass breakups.
• DL Logan Swanson leads the team with 14.5 tackles for loss (-64 yards) and eight sacks (-54 yards). He adds 45 tackles (31 solo).
• K Luis Guarita is 4th nationally with an 88.9 field goal percentage and his 1.45 field goals per game is good for 8th.
THE POLLS
• The Pack entered the season No. 7 in the D2Football.com rankings and No. 9 by the AFCA. The ThunderWolves are back at No. 9 in the AFCA and sit at No. 9 in the D2Football.com poll.
• 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 116-26 all-time record. The .817 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 (46-0). The Pack started 2019 meeting both stat lines and did so again last week against Black Hills State.
• Since 2008, the ThunderWolves are 61-12 (.836) 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 5-0 at home since the loss.
• The Pack have 17 scoring drives of 75 yards or more, which includes a 12-play, 92-yard drive in the opener at Dixie State.
• In the last 30 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. The fourth quarter has been Augustana's second most productive quarter this season with 81 total points.
• CSU-Pueblo clocked 40:17 of possession time in the opener and with 29:50 time of possession this season, the team ranks 5th in the RMAC.
• The ThunderWolves are 5th in the RMAC for fewest penalties (78) and 5th in fewest penalty yards (755).
• With only three 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 26 interceptions this season (22 in the last seven games) to rank 1st in Division II at the end of the regular season.
• CSU-Pueblo has a league-best +21 turnover margin. The next best team was at +7. Their 1.91 turnover margin per game is good for 1st nationally, while the 32 takeaways is good for 2nd in Division II.
• The Pack have accumulated 124 points off turnovers in 2019. The team's eight interceptions for a touchdown and nine defensive scores 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).
• The ThunderWolves totaled eight RMAC Players of the Week. P Justin Dwinell had four RMAC Player of the Week awards this year. OLB James Maxie had three and CB Emery Taylor had one.
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 731 rushing yards to rank 4th in the RMAC. He has nine rushing scores to rank 5th in the league. He averages 5.9 yards per carry to rank 3rd in the RMAC (min 100 att).
• RB Austin Micci adds 477 yards rushing and 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 1,683 passing yards to rank 4th in the RMAC. He has 15.3 yards per completion to rank 2nd in the RMAC and 13th in Division II. Kitna's 9.2 yards per pass attempt is 11th in DII. His 158.6 passing efficiency ranks 2nd in the RMAC.
• Kitna is 110-for-183 (60.1%) for 13 touchdowns. His 1,769 yards of total offense is 5th in the league.
• QB Gunnar Lamphere adds 408 yards on 41-for-79 (51.9%) passing with a touchdown.
• The team's 57.7 completion percentage is 2nd in the RMAC. The Pack's 139.87 team passing efficiency is good for 3rd in the league.
• With 179.5 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 four games he owns 367 receiving yards on 13 receptions (28.2 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 522 yards (10th in the RMAC) and four touchdowns on 31 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 2,706 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 26 interceptions (22 in the last seven games) the Pack lead Division II. The ThunderWolves lead the RMAC and rank 8th in DII with a team passing efficiency defense rating of 96.9.
• Since 2008, the Pack have totaled 45 interception returns for a touchdown. The most in a season is eight this season. The ThunderWolves produced five in 2010, 2014 and 2017.
• The ThunderWolves have eight interceptions for touchdowns this season to set the program record. CSU-Pueblo totaled three in one game against Adams State. With nine defensive touchdowns this season (recovered fumble in the end zone on special teams), the Pack are 1st nationally.
• CB Marcus Lawrence is tied for the team lead with four interceptions with LB Luke Conilogue. 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-4th in the RMAC with a team-best 13 break-ups. His 15 passes defended is 6th.
• RECORD BREAKER: CB Emery Taylor recorded his 20th career interception against Western Colorado and returned it 74 yards to the end zone to establish 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 25 more occasions.
• Nine times since 2008 the ThunderWolves allowed 10 or less rushing yards, with the all-time 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 60.9 yards per game.
• By allowing 287.0 yards per game the defense sits 2nd in the RMAC at 18th in Division II. The 14.5 points per game allowed is 2nd in the league and 5th nationally.
• The Pack lead the nation in sacks with 3.82 per game. CSU-Pueblo ranks 3rd in the conference and 19th nationally in team tackles for loss (8.4 TFL per game).
• OLB James Maxie leads the team, ranks 3rd in the RMAC and 33rd nationally with 103 tackles (44 solo). He is 2nd on the team with 16.5 tackles for loss (-73 yards) and with 8.5 sacks (-53 yards). Maxie ranks 4th in the RMAC and 25th nationally with 1.6 tackles for loss per game. His sack total is 6th 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 was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. He has 67 tackles (25 solo) with 18 tackles for loss (-85 yards) to rank 3rd in the conference, while his 9.0 sacks (-67 yards) sits 4th in the league and 18th nationally. With 1.7 tackles for loss per game, Wibbels is 3rd in the RMAC and 14th in Division II.
• ILB Kyle Rosenbrock adds 80 tackles (29 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 7.0 sacks (-56 yards) and 11.0 tackles for loss (-65 yards) with 58 total tackles (22 solo). His sack total is T-8th in the RMAC.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• K Mitchell Carter is 10-for-17 on field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards (Nov. 9). Five of his misses have come from beyond 40 yards. He is 45-for-48 on extra points for 75 points, which leads the team and ranks 5th in the conference. His 10 field goals is T-5th most in the RMAC.
• Redshirt-freshman punter Justin Dwinell has taken over punting duties and has placed 28 punts inside the 20. He averages 41.1 yards per kick to rank 3rd in the RMAC and 22nd nationally. He has 14 50+ yard punts and a long of 77 yards, which is the 5th 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 four RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week awards and two D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week honors 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.
• Dwinell finished the regular season as the RMAC and D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week, as he totaled 283 yards on seven punts to average 40.4 yards per punt in the win against Western Colorado. He placed five of his seven punts inside the 20 with two of those resting inside the 10 yard line. He booted two more than 50 yards with his long punt of the day traveling 52 yards.
• WR Isaiah Diggs has returned 36 punts and totaled 405 yards to average 11.3 yards per return, which leads the RMAC for average and first for total yards. He sits 19th nationally in yards per return. Diggs had five returns for 111 yards (22.2 ypr) against Black Hills State to record the 6th most return yards in a game in Division II this season. His 405 total punt return yards is good for 3rd nationally.
#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.
