PUEBLO, Colo. (Oct. 23, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo football team (5-3, 5-1) bounced back Saturday afternoon with a 35-28 win over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) foe Adams State University at the ThunderWolves' Homecoming.
 
The Pack's fifth win of the season had both ups and downs but saw CSU Pueblo edge out the Grizzlies with crucial plays in big spots.
 
Early on the in the contest, the ThunderWolves struck first. Gunnar Lamphere made a return to the lineup and instantly made an impact. Lamphere completed a strike to Nick Williams for a 60-yard touchdown pass to put the Pack on top 7-0 just seven minutes into the showdown.
 
Adams State quickly turned the tables on the hosts with a score in the first and then another early in the second quarter to put the Pack in a 14-7 deficit. 
 
After the second Grizzlies touchdown, the Pack responded. In the first play of the ensuing drive, Michael Roots burst through the defensive line and sprinted his way 54 yards downfield before being tackled at the ASU 21. Eight plays later, Roots punched in up the middle to finish off the drive and log his first touchdown of the day. Jared Zoulek drove home the extra point and tied the ballgame back up at 14.
 
In the next series for the offense, the ThunderWolves struck for another long one. After a couple of Roots rushes and a 15-yard completion to Williams from Lamphere, a new name emerged for the Pack. Junior running back Nick Bingham raced and plowed his way through the defense and took it the distance for a 49-yard touchdown run to grab a 21-14 advantage ahead of halftime. The 49-yard rush is the longest of Bingham's career.
 
Coming out of the half, the Grizzlies would not go away. Adams State tallied another score to tie it up at 21-21 for the third time on the day.
 
Once again, the Pack did not wait to attack. It took just three plays to march down 75 yards and break the stalemate. Williams caught another 35-yard pass from Lamphere to setup a 37-yard touchdown rush from Roots. Roots' second touchdown of the day marked the third time the senior transfer had logged multiple touchdowns on the season.
 
Adams State's offense had no answer for multiple Pack linemen pressuring the quarterback and went three-and-out on the next series.
 
CSU Pueblo went looking for some insurance and they found it on the next possession. The Pack held possession for the next 8:10 and methodically marched down the field. After a drive commanded by the starting quarterback, Lamphere, it was backup Devin Williams who jumped in under-center and snuck it in from one yard out on fourth down to give the ThunderWolves a 35-21 lead with 3:25 remaining in the third.
 
Early in the fourth, the Grizzlies inched closer with another score to make it 35-28 in favor of the Pack.
 
It was time for the ThunderWolves defense to live up to their name and come up with big stops. Trevor Philio led the defensive attack with a crucial seven-yard sack on a dangerous Adams State drive to stop the Grizzlies in their tracks.
 
On the next Adams State possession, the Grizzlies committed a costly penalty and then gave up an explosive two-yard loss blown up by Trey Botts. The ThunderWolves held the Grizzlies once more and took over.
 
After Justin Dwinell pinned the Grizzlies inside their own 5-yard line, Adams State tried to piece together one more drive. Late in the drive, Ikenna Onwuasoanya took matters into his own hands and took down the quarterback for a game-clinching seven-yard sack. 
 
The Pack ran out the clock for a 35-28 RMAC win to move to 5-3 on the season and 5-1 in RMAC play to move back into a tie for first place in the league.
 
The ThunderWolves dangerous offense struck for a season-high 513 yards thanks to 268 yards on the ground and 255 yards through the air.
 
Lamphere's comeback saw him accumulate 210 yards off 13-27 passing. Lamphere's favorite target was Nick Williams who made five receptions for a career-high 143 yards and a touchdown.
 
Roots once again dominated on the ground with multiple long runs to finish with 159 total yards and two touchdowns. This is Roots' third game of the season with over 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns. His 23 rushes are the most for him this season. Bingham finished with 63 yards and touchdown to mark his career-best performance.
 
The Pack were led defensively by Philio's and Onwuasoanya's sacks. Botts led the ThunderWolves with two tackles for loss while Eli Pittman, Tanner Draper, Makeah Scippio, Philio, and Onwuasoanya each logged one tackle-for-loss apiece.
 
CSU Pueblo will be back in action as they look to continue their momentum into Durango, Colo.  where they will take on Fort Lewis College at noon.