PUEBLO, Colo. (Oct. 28, 2021) - The Colorado State University Pueblo football team (5-3, 5-1) will pack its bags for a weekend clash with Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) foe, Fort Lewis College (0-8, 0-7). The game will kick-off at noon on Saturday in Durango, Colo.
The ThunderWolves are riding off a homecoming high that featured a 35-28 win over the oldest RMAC rival, Adams State University. The week eight win saw the Pack improve to 5-3, 5-1 which now places them back into contention for the RMAC title.
THE GAME
The ThunderWolves head into the Week 9 match-up with Fort Lewis riding off a Homecoming high where the Pack defeated Adams State 35-28 to improve to 5-1 in RMAC play.
The Pack enter the match-up with Fort Lewis with a history dating back to the 2008 reboot of the CSU Pueblo football program.
Since 2008, the Pack have managed a 56-18 road record with this year being one of two (2008) with three or more road losses in the same time-frame.
CSU Pueblo has carried a 56-18 record on the road since 2008 and has only dropped three games on the road in a season one time (2008). Currently, the Pack are 2-2 on the road this season.
The Pack and Fort Lewis have faced five common opponents. Each team fell to New Mexico Highlands while the Pack defeated the remaining four teams.
The ThunderWolves enter the eighth week of play in a four-way tie for first place in the conference with crucial match-ups on the horizon which include games against Mines and Western Colorado.
CSU Pueblo is 10-2 against the Skyhawks since 2008 with one of the two losses being during the 2014 National Championship winning season fr the Pack.
Fort Lewis has had a challenging year thus far, starting 0-8 on slate after its most recent loss to Chadron State.
Fort Lewis announced the hiring of Darrius G. Smith as the Skyhawks Head Football Coach in February of 2020, making him the 14th head coach in the program's history.
SERIES NOTES
The ThunderWolves and Skyhawks are meeting for the 13th time since 2008 with the Pack leading the series 10-2.
CSU Pueblo took the last match-up between the two teams 21-13 in Durango.
The Pack have shutout the Skyhawks three separate times (38-0, 39-0, 47-0) and have only surrendered 14 or more points three times in the series.
The ThunderWolves won the first match-up 37-7 back in 2008 at Fort Lewis. The largest margin of victory for the Pack was the 47-0 win back in 2011.
CSU Pueblo has scored no fewer than 21 points in any game with the Skyhawks and have logged at least 35 points on eight different occasions.
LAST TIME OUT
CSU Pueblo got back on track with a win over Adams State during their Homecoming, emerging with the victory 35-28.
In the win over Adams State, the Pack were able to have their most explosive offensive attack as they compiled 523 yards off 7.2 yards per play. Both feats were season highs.
QB Gunnar Lamphere made his triumphant return to the gridiron after missing several games due to multiple injuries.
Lamphere passed for 210 yards to help contribute to a CSU Pueblo season-high 255 total yards in the aire.
RB Michael Roots once again broke out for a dominant day on the ground. Roots compiled season-highs in rushes (23) and rushing yards (159).
Roots also ran for two touchdowns and averaged 6.9 yards per carry. His 54-yard run in the second quarter marked a season-long run.
His 159-yard two touchdown performance marked his third game with two scores and over 100 yards rushing.
WR Nick Williams had an explosive day as well. Williams made five receptions that hit big for the Pack. He compiled 143 yards receiving to mark a career-high while he added a 60-yard touchdown reception to add to his impressive line.
RB Nick Bingham rushed for a career-high in yards and tacked on another touchdown. Bingham ran for a 49-yard touchdown to rush for 63 yards on the day.
Although the Pack rakced up the yards on offense, defense made crucial stops throughout the day.
LB Max Gonzales led the ThunderWolves in the tackle column for the fifth time this season.
The Pack's leading tackler logged 11 wrap-ups on the day and broke up a pass that was nearly intercepted.
DL Trey Botts led the Pack with 2.0 tackles for loss on the afternoon while picking up seven tackles to lead the stout line.
LB Trevor Philio led the Pack's charge on the Grizzlies quarterback as he tallied his 6.5 sack of the year.
DL Ikenna Onwuasoanya also picked up a crucial quarterback sack. Onwuasoanya's sack halted a promising Adams State drive and iced the game for the Pack.
WR Andrew Cook was quiet on the receiving side of the ball but led the Pack in returns. Cook had two punt returns for 50 yards which included a 37-yard run around the Grizzlies kick coverage team.
The ThunderWolves kicked off their season with a defensively dominated 12-6 loss to No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce.
Week two featured a hostile road trip to No. 14 Grand Valley State where the Pack fell to the Lakers 34-14 in front of a rambunctious crowd of 11,000 strong.
Week three featured the Pack's first victory of the season over with a 19-16 win over RMAC foe, Black Hills State. The Yellow Jackets nearly completed a 16-point comeback, but the Pack staved off the attempt by controlling the final five minutes of the game.
In week four the Pack offense came alive and put up 474 total yards of offense. The 474 yards were the most gained since the 2019 season and were capped off by a 49-7 domineering win.
In another thrilling contest, the Pack completed a minor seven-point comeback over Colorado Mesa while compiling a defensively dominated second half. The comeback featured the ThunderWolves grinding out a double overtime victory over the Mavericks.
The Pack dominated the Eagles from the second quarter on in week six. The ThunderWolves compiled over 400 yards of offense which featured a 28-point third quarter.
The Pack fell in week seven to New Mexico Highlands after a hard hitting second half comeback attempt was thwarted. The Pack scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and had their final drive halted with just 40 seconds to play as they came up just short in a 28-21 RMAC loss.
Last week featured the ThunderWolves getting back on track after a 35-28 win over Adams State off a 523-yard offensive performance.
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
Fort Lewis has struggled in the 2021 campaign, as the Skyhawks have not been able to find their way into the win column thus far.
The Skyhawks have not been unable to get it going offensively so far as they average only six points per game.
Fort Lewis' most recent loss was at Chadron State. The Eagles had their way in a 60-7 dominating victory at their Homecoming.
The Skyhawks hold onto the ball well and do not commit a lot of turnovers on offense. Fort Lewis sits tied for 71st in turnovers committed this year.
Fort Lewis announced the hiring of Darrius G. Smith as the Skyhawks Head Football Coach in February of 2020, making him the 14th head coach in the program's history.
THE POLLS
The Pack entered the season No. 12 in the D2Football.com and the AFCA polls. The ThunderWolves are one of two RMAC teams with a top 25 ranking in either poll to begin the season.
CSU Pueblo finished 2018 ranked No. 7 in the AFCA and D2Football.com polls.
In the second week of the AFCA Coaches' Poll, CSU Pueblo dropped to No. 19 following the heartbreaking loss to No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce and are received votes following the traveling loss to GVSU and the wins over Black Hills State, South Dakota Mines, Colorado Mesa, and Chadron State.
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 122-30 all-time record.
Since 2008, CSU Pueblo is undefeated when scoring 36 or more points (64-0) and when allowing 10 points or less (47-0).
Since 2008, the ThunderWolves are 65-12 (.838) at the ThunderBowl.
The Pack 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.
CSU Pueblo had a league-best +23 turnover margin in 2019. The next best team was at +7. Their 1.92 turnover margin per game was good for 1st nationally, while the 35 takeaways was tied for 1st in Division II heading into the Pack's final game.
The Pack have accumulated five defensive touchdowns so far on the season to rank second in the nation in a tie with Bowie State.
The Pack played in five different states this season. The ThunderWolves traveled to Michigan, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico.
The ThunderWolves have now racked up one D2Ftooball.com Player of the Week, RMAC Player of the Week, and two NFFCC Player of the Week honors. LB Trevor Philio pulled in the NFFCC Player of the Week following his dominating defensive play against Colorado Mesa. RB Michael Roots recieved the other NFFCC honor after his stellar rushing attack against Adams State. P Justin Dwinell earned the D2Football.com and RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. This marks his fifth career RMAC honor and second D2Football.com honor.
CSU PUEBLO POSITION NOTABLES
OFFENSE
QB Gunnar Lamphere made his triumphant return to the starting lineup last week as the junior fought off a lingering injury and passed for 210 yards and a touchdown.
In his stead, QBs Steven Croell and Devin Williams rotated under center duties throughout the weeks Lamphere had been absent. Williams leads the Pack with 720 yards passing and 6 Touchdowns while Croell has put together a season with 540 passing yards and five touchdowns.
Williams owns the two longest passes on the season as he completed an 83-yard pass to WR Andrew Cook in the win at South Dakota Mines and then another 54-yarder to WR Max Fine against Chadron.
In the loss the Highlands, Williams threw for a Pack season-high in yards (252), attempts (52), and completions (28).
RB Michael Roots was able to have a breakout game against South Dakota Mines. Roots compiled 145 yards off 14 carries with a game-long 53-yard rush. The senior transfer compiled two touchdown rushes in the victory to tally his first scores as a CSU Pueblo running back.
Following his breakout performance against South Dakota Mines, Roots led the way against Colorado Mesa with an 80-yard performance on the ground. He also ran for two touchdowns and 136 yards against Chadron State.
Roots has since rushed for a season-high 159 yards in the win over Adams State and put together two more two-touchdown performances. The Central Washington transfer leads the Pack with 724 yards on the ground off 123 total rushes.
WR Nick Williams leads all Pack receivers after he tallied up 10 catches in the past two weeks. Williams now leads the Pack with 32 receptions and 371 receiving yards. In the win over Colorado Mesa, Williams completed a 14-yard touchdown pass the WR Nigel Mitchell to tie up the ballgame late in the game. Then, in double overtime, Williams received a 17-yard pass from Croell. Williams fought his way into the end zone and completed the game-winning touchdown.
Williams caught for a career-high 143 yards in the win against Adams State with much thanks to a 60-yard receiving TD.
WR Max Fine continues to be one of the favorite targets for the Pack, leading the team with 20 catches and 258 yards receiving on top of two touchdowns.
The junior also has racked up 10.4 yards per return on special teams off 14 total returns to rank 28th in the nation for all punt returners.
DEFENSE
The Pack have owned 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.
LB Patrick Howell turned in another touchdown for the Pack three weeks ago at Chadron State as the linebacker snagged a pass out of the air and ran it back for a 25 yard touchdown.
LB Trevor Philio has wreaked havoc for opposing offenses all year. Philio is tied for the Pack with 11 tackles for loss and leads the team with 6.5 sacks.
DL Ikenna Onwuasoanya highlighted the defensive efforts for the Pack against Texas A&M-Commerce as he finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and added on a sack to his line score.
Onwuasoanya headlined his Pack debut with seven tackles. The senior transfer now has 11.0 tackles for loss. He also sits at 34 total tackles on the season.
The defense in week one shut down the Texas A&M-Commerce offense and prevented the Lions from marching down the field. The Lions were only able to muster up 214 total yards on 64 plays.
The stifling defense by the Pack limited the two high powered offenses of No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce and No. 14 Grand Valley State to low passing efficiencies and limited yardage.
The Pack rank 30th in the nation in Scoring Defense at 19.4 points per game and sit 32nd in Defensive Pass Efficiency.
S Cory McLellan nabbed the Pack's first interception for a touchdown on the season in the loss to Grand Valley State. McLellan's pick-six almost shifted the tide against the Lakers, but not enough to overturn the final result.
S Tanner Draper tallied his first career pick six in week 5 vs. South Dakota Mines, where he ran back an interception for a 30-yard return
Since 2008, the Pack have totaled 47 interception returns for a touchdown. The most in a season is eight, occurring in 2019. The ThunderWolves produced five in 2010, 2014 and 2017 and now sit at three for the current season.
The ThunderWolves had eight interceptions for touchdowns in 2019 to set the program record. CSU Pueblo totaled three in one game against Adams State. With 13 defensive touchdowns since the beginning of 2019, the Pack are first nationally.
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 fewer 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.
DB Sam Warren has 39 tackles on the season to lead all defensive backs. He also has tallied two pass break-ups and two interceptions to round out his defensive stat-line.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Dean Faithfull is ranked second in the RMAC for field goal percentage and sits 34th in the nation (.700). He kicked two field goals as the only points for the Pack in the loss to Texas A&M-Commerce and has since tacked on seven more to bring the total to nine. Faithfull knocked through a 29-yard FG and a 33-yard FG against the Lions.
Faithfull joins the Pack in 2021 after returning to collegiate athletics after a long hiatus since his time as a soccer player at Florida Tech. Faithfull graduated from Florida Tech in 2010 after playing four years with the Panthers as a defender.
Redshirt sophomore punter Justin Dwinell took over punting duties in 2019 and placed 29 punts inside the 20. He averaged 41.0 yards per kick to rank third 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.
The sophomore punter sits at fifth in the nation for total punting as he averages 43.7 yards per punt. He also leads the RMAC in the same category.
Dwinell ranks fifth in the nation with an average net punt of 38.56 yards per punt as the sophomore leads the RMAC in the same category.
Dwinell clinched his fifth career RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week honor and second career D2Football.com Player of the Week honor with the performance against Colorado Mesa. The punter kicked for a season-high 374 yards off seven attempts while landing four punts inside the 20 and logging four punts over 50 yards.
In week two, the punter stood out as a key player on special teams, logging eight punts for over 350 yards and tallying two punts over 50 yards.
Once again against Black Hills State, Dwinell shined. He logged five punts for over 200 yards while pinning the Yellow Jackets inside their own 20-yard line twice.
Dwinell excelled in his four punt appearances against South Dakota Mines as he logged his fourth consecutive game with at least two punts in side the 20 and another over 50 yards.
He had a touchdown in the 2019 season after picking up a fumbled snap on a punt attempt, Dwinell returned it 80 yards for a touchdown against CMU.
Dwinell had four RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week awards and two D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week honors in the 2019 season.
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