PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 27, 2019) - For the third straight year the Colorado State University-Pueblo football team has a NCAA Division II Playoff matchup at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The No. 9 ThunderWolves head to Mankato, Minnesota, Saturday, Nov. 30 for a 12 p.m. mountain and 1 p.m. central battle with the No. 4 Mavericks in round two of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs.

THE GAME 

• The ThunderWolves are making their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II postseason and second straight to the second round. 

• The Pack have made the playoffs seven times since 2011 and reached at least the second round in six of those appearances. 

• CSU-Pueblo earned the No. 4 seed in Super Region Four and hosted for the first time since 2015. The Pack advanced to the second round after blanking Augustana University, 17-0.

• The ThunderWolves are 7-5 all-time in NCAA Division II Playoffs. 

• 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.

• The ThunderWolves are riding a nine-game winning streak into Saturday's game. The Pack are 11-1 overall and have reached 11 wins for the seventh time in program history. 

• Minnesota State went 11-0 during the regular season and were outright champions of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. MSU ranks No. 4 in the AFCA poll and No. 3 in d2football.com.

SERIES NOTES

• The ThunderWolves and Mavericks are meeting in the postseason for the fourth time since 2014 and third season in a row. MSU currently has a 2-1 advantage in the series.  

• CSU-Pueblo won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2014 against the Mavericks by the score of 13-0. 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). 

• CSU-Pueblo is 2-3 in the postseason against teams from the NSIC. 

• In last season's loss, the ThunderWolves got down 17-0 at the half and were behind 24-0 early in the third. The Pack scored 10 points before the end of the third, but couldn't complete the comeback in the final quarter. 

• RB Austin Micci is one of the few returners on offense from that game. He had five carries for 13 yards an a reception for six yards. 

• DE Jackson Wibbels led the team in tackles with nine (five solo) and two tackles for loss (-5 yards). 

• Five of the six top tacklers from last year return and are all seniors this season. 

LAST TIME OUT 

• The defensive battle in round one of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs was won by the ThunderWolves, 17-0, against Augustana.

• The Pack improved to 5-3 in postseason home games at Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.   

• The defense did what they have all season and that was create turnovers and make stops in the backfield. The Pack totaled three takeaways with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, while knocking down the quarterback five times for a loss of 38 yards and posting nine tackles for loss (-46 yards). Augustana totaled just 145 yards of offense with only 14 coming on the ground. The Vikings entered the game scoring 30.2 points per game and totaling 385.2 yards per contest. The road team was just 1-for-12 on third downs. 

• The CSU-Pueblo offense was highly efficient in the win, as the Pack gained 382 yards with 245 coming through the air. Third downs proved to be an important stat line, as the ThunderWolves went 7-for-15 to keep drives moving and hold the ball for 31:51 of game clock. The Pack only had one giveaway, as the ThunderWolves went +2 in the turnover margin category after leading the nation with a +21 margin. 

• RMAC Defensive Player of the Year DE Jackson Wibbels led the team with seven tackles (1 solo) and a half tackle for loss. 

• DB Amu Aukusitino filled the stat sheet, as he grabbed six tackles (five solo), brought in his fourth interception of the season, forced and recovered a fumble and added a tackle for loss. His interception came just two plays after Augustana had a touchdown wiped out by a penalty. 

• OLB Trevor Philio and LB Luke Conilogue each had two sacks. 

• WR Nick Williams recorded his third 100-plus yard game of the season with 10 receptions for 148 yards, both career-highs. He averaged 14.8 yards per catch and recorded a long of 44 yards. Williams also got it done on the ground with 37 yards, which included a 35-yard run to the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter. He finished with 185 yards of offense. 

• QB Jordan Kitna went 22-for-30 (73.3%) for 210 yards and a touchdown. QB Gunnar Lamphere went 2-for-2 and 35 yards. Together they went 24-for-32 (75%) and hit eight different receivers. Kitna also added a team-high 51 yards on the ground with six carries. Lamphere ran for a third quarter, three-yard touchdown. 

• The Pack led 3-0 at the half. The ThunderWolves took the first possession of the second half to the end zone and led 10-0. Williams scored on the first play of the fourth and the defense shut the door down the stretch for the shutout.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA STATE

• Minnesota State is making its 12th trip to the NCAA Tournament, seventh in the last eight season, and owns an 11-11 postseason record. This season marks the third time the Mavericks have received a No. 1 seed to the NCAA Tournament (2012 and 2018).

• Last season in the NCAA Tournament, the Mavericks defeated CSU-Pueblo 24-10 in the second round before topping Tarleton State 13-10 in the third round. MSU, which made its third trip to the NCAA semifinals in 2018, fell to Ferris State 42-25. All three games were at home.

• The Mavericks went 11-0 during the regular season and own the top scoring offensive in Division II with 48.8 points per game and sit 2nd nationally in scoring defense with only 12.5 points per game allowed. 

• With 533.8 yards per game MSU is 2nd in DII in total offense, while their defense ranks 1st nationally with 233.2 yards allowed per game. 

• In NCAA Division II, the Minnesota State offense sits 4th in first downs (292), 5th in rushing (302.1), 11th in sacks allowed (1.0), 11th in tackles for loss allowed (4.5) and 15th in passing yards per completion (15.8).

• The defense ranks highly in the national stats as well. MSU is 2nd in first downs (148), 4th in rushing (65.3), 9th in sacks (3.4), 11th in interceptions (17), 11th in turnovers gained (27) and 13th in team passing efficiency (100.8).

• The team also ranks 3rd in turnover margin (1.45), 5th in kick return defense (14.9),  7th in time of possession (33:08) and 16th in punt return defense (3.6). 

• The Mavericks have two dynamic players on offense in senior RB Nate Gunn and senior WR Shane Zylstra. 

• Gunn is a Harlon Hill nominee and nationally ranks 3rd in rushing TDs (21), 4th in scoring (11.5), 11th in rushing yards per carry (7.0), 12th in rushing yards per game (119), 13th in rushing yards (1,309).

• Zylstra sits 7th in receiving yards (1,226), 8th in receiving yards per game (111.5), 8th in receiving TDs (14) and 21st in yards per reception (20.1).

• Minnesota State runs a two quarterback system with Ryan Schlichte and JD Ekowa. Schlichte is 77-for-138 (55.8) for 1,247 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. Ekowa is 61-for-110 (55.5) for 975 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception. 

• LB Zach Robertson leads the team with 52 tackles (27 solo) and adds 9.5 tackles for loss (-24 yards) with four sacks (-14 yards). 

• S Jack Leius is second in tackles with 47 (26 solo) and adds 7.0 tackles for loss (-26 yards) with three pass breakups, two interceptions and a sack. 

• S Cole Schroedermeier adds 45 tackles (team-best 36 solo) and a team-high four interceptions (50 return yards). 

• DE Brayden Thomas has 36 tackles (20 solo) and leads the team in tackles for loss (10, -63 yards) and sacks (6.5, -58 yards). 

• Parrish Marrow is 25th in Division II in punt returns with 9.3 yards per return. 

• K Luke Williams is 56-for-57 on extra points and 5-for-7 in field goals for 71 points. K Ashton Garner is 12th nationally with an 83.3 field goal percentage. He is 10-for-12 on field goal attempts and 6-for-6 on extra points. 

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 117-26 all-time record. The .818 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 62-12 (.838) 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 6-0 at home since the loss. 

• The Pack have 18 scoring drives of 75 yards or more, which includes a 12-play, 92-yard drive in the opener at Dixie State.  

• In the last 31 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 this season, 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 30:00 time of possession this season, the team ranks 5th in the RMAC.

• The ThunderWolves are 5th in the RMAC for fewest penalties per game (7.0) and 4th in fewest penalty yards per game (67.9). 

• With only four interceptions thrown, the Pack are 1st in the conference and T-6th in Division II. On the other side of the ball, the ThunderWolves have 28 interceptions this season (24 in the last eight games) to rank 1st in Division II. The ThunderWolves have at least two picks in each of the last eight games. 

• CSU-Pueblo has a league-best +23 turnover margin. The next best team was at +7. Their 1.92 turnover margin per game is good for 1st nationally, while the 35 takeaways is tied for 1st 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) and will add another Saturday with their road playoff game in Minnesota. 

• 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 760 rushing yards to rank 4th in the RMAC. He has nine rushing scores to rank T-5th in the league. He averages 5.5 yards per carry to rank 2nd 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 1,893 passing yards to rank 4th in the RMAC. He has 14.3 yards per completion to rank 2nd in the RMAC and 24th in Division II. Kitna's 8.9 yards per pass attempt leads the RMAC and is 14th in DII. His 154.0 passing efficiency ranks 2nd in the RMAC and 19th nationally.

• Kitna is 132-for-213 (61.97%) for 13 touchdowns. His 2,030 yards of total offense is 4th in the league. 

• QB Gunnar Lamphere adds 443 yards on 43-for-81 (53.1%) passing with a touchdown.

• The team's 59.5 completion percentage is 2nd in the RMAC. The Pack's 139.14 team passing efficiency is good for 3rd in the league.

• With 176.0 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 five games he owns 397 receiving yards on 17 receptions (23.4 ypc). 

• WR Nick Williams recorded a career game in the playoff opener against Augustana, as the sophomore brought in 10 receptions for 148 yards. He added 37 yards on the ground, which included a 35-yard rushing touchdown. He has a team-best 670 yards (10th in the RMAC) and four touchdowns on 41 receptions. He adds 84 yards rushing with a score.

• The 100-yard game against Augustana was the third of the season. He 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. 

• CSU-Pueblo ranks 4th in the league in sacks allowed at 1.83 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 28 interceptions (24 in the last eight games) the Pack lead Division II. The ThunderWolves lead the RMAC and rank 6th in DII with a team passing efficiency defense rating of 95.8.

• 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. 

• Four players are tied with the team lead at four interceptions: DB Amu Aukusitino, LB Luke Conilogue, CB Marcus Lawrence and CB Emery Taylor. Lawrence and Taylor each adds nine pass breakups to tied for the 2nd most on the team. 

• DB Tevin Donnell is T-4th in the RMAC with a team-best 13 break-ups. His 15 passes defended is T-5th.   

• RECORD BREAKER: CB Emery Taylor has 20 career interceptions to surpass Stephan Dickens (2010-14), who 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 26 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. Last week, Augustana rushed for just 14 yards. 

• The Pack are 1st nationally in rushing defense at 57.0 yards per game.

• By allowing 275.2 yards per game the defense sits 2nd in the RMAC at 12th in Division II. The 13.3 points per game allowed is 1st in the league and 3rd nationally.

• The Pack lead the nation in sacks with 3.92 per game. CSU-Pueblo ranks 3rd in the conference and 18th nationally in team tackles for loss (8.4 TFL per game). 

• OLB James Maxie leads the team, ranks 2nd in the RMAC and T22nd nationally with 104 tackles (44 solo). He is 2nd on the team with 16.5 tackles for loss (-73 yards) and 3rd with 8.5 sacks (-53 yards). Maxie ranks 4th in the RMAC and 40th nationally with 1.4 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 was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. He has 74 tackles (28 solo) with 19 tackles for loss (-88 yards) to rank 3rd in the conference and T-12th nationally. His 9.5 sacks (-70 yards) is a team-best and sits T-3rd in the league and T-14th nationally. With 1.6 tackles for loss per game, Wibbels is 3rd in the RMAC and 23rd in Division II.

• ILB Kyle Rosenbrock adds 85 tackles (30 solo). His 11.5 tackles for loss (-42 yards) is 3rd on the team and T-13th 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 9.0 sacks (-73 yards) and 13.5 tackles for loss (-83 yards) with 63 total tackles (26 solo). His sack total is 6th in the RMAC.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• K Mitchell Carter is 11-for-22 on field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards (Nov. 9). Eight of his misses have come from beyond 40 yards. He is 47-for-50 on extra points for 80 points, which leads the team and ranks 4th in the conference. His 11 field goals is T-3rd most in the RMAC.

• Redshirt-freshman punter Justin Dwinell has taken over punting duties and has placed 29 punts inside the 20. He averages 41.0 yards per kick to rank 3rd in the RMAC and 23rd 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 40 punts and totaled 447 yards to average 11.2 yards per return, which leads the RMAC for average and is 1st 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 447 total punt return yards is good for 2nd 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.

- 30 -

As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.