ST. GEORGE, Utah (Sept. 7, 2019) – The No. 9 Colorado State University-Pueblo football team opened the 2019 season with a 36-7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory at Dixie State University.
With the temperature near 100 degrees at kickoff, it didn't take long for the ThunderWolves (1-0, 1-0 RMAC) to heat up, as they opened a 20-0 lead at the half before extending their lead to 26-0 midway through the third quarter. After allowing a score in the late third, the Pack closed the door with a 10-0 fourth quarter to improve to 11-1 in the season opener since 2008.
The Pack totaled 335 yards passing and 244 yards on the ground for 579 yards of offense. The passing yards were the most by the team in a game since 2013. The defense allowed just 210 yards, which included giving up just 59 yards on the ground. The ThunderWolves totaled 28 first downs and allowed just 11, leading to holding the ball for 40:17 of clock time.
Newcomers shined for the offense, as the leading quarterback, running back and wide receiver were making their debut with the ThunderWolves.
Sophomore
Jordan Kitna (Dallas, Texas) entered the game in the second quarter and completed nine passes for 261 yards and rushed for two touchdowns.
On the receiving end, senior
Dionte Sykes (Chandler, Ariz.) grabbed four passes for 172 yards. He had receptions of 46, 50 and 70 yards and with the performance became the first Pack receiver to collect more than 150 yards in a game since Paul Browning brought in 152 yards in a playoff game versus Angelo State on Nov. 29, 2014. He tied Browning's 2013 performance of 172 receiving yards in a game for the most receiving yards in a game since the restart in 2008.
Junior
D.J. Penick (Evanston, Ill.) racked up 105 yards on 13 attempts and scored a touchdown to lead the run game.
Sophomore
Gunnar Lamphere (Aurora, Colo.) started at quarterback and completed 6-of-9 passes for 74 yards.
There were familiar faces leading the Pack defense, as senior
Kyle Rosenbrock (Brush, Colo.) led the team with nine tackles (four solo), which included a tackle and a half for loss (-7 yards) and a sack (-5 yards). Senior
Jackson Wibbels (DE, Colorado Springs, Colo.) gathered seven tackles (four solo) and senior
James Maxie (OLB, Parker, Colo.) added six tackles (four solo). Senior corner
Emery Taylor (Aurora, Colo.) had the one CSU-Pueblo turnover with an interception in the first quarter.
Junior kicker
Mitchell Carter (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts (18, 22, 36) and added three extra points for a total of 12 points.
Carter knocked through an 18-yard field goal following the Taylor pick to give the Pack a 3-0 lead in the first. A 17-point second quarter pushed the Pack to the 20-0 halftime lead. Sophomore
Marcus Lindsay (Aurora, Colo.) scored the first touchdown of the 2019 season when he found the end zone from six yards out. A Kitna one-yard run midway through the frame capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive, then with two minutes left Carter hit from 22 yards out to put the road team at 20 points.
Kitna rushed for a 10-yard score in the third and that finished off a 12-play, 92-yard drive. DSU scored with 1:54 left in the third, but the Pack responded with a Carter 36-yard field goal just five seconds into the fourth. Penick closed the scoring halfway through the fourth with a six-yard rush.
Five of the team's scoring plays were of seven plays or more and traveled 60 or more yards. Three drives were of 80 yards or more.
The ThunderWolves will take the momentum of the opener victory to Chadron State College, Sept. 14. The RMAC game is set for a 7 p.m. start.
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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.
