DURANGO, Colo. (Oct. 30, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo football team broke records and made a statement in a 73-0 win over Fort Lewis College Saturday afternoon. The win marked program-bests of points and scoring margin in the first shut out of the 2021 slate.
 
The Pack put up a CSU Pueblo record, 53 points in the first half off eight touchdowns. The 40 points in the second quarter marks the most points in a quarter since the 2008 reboot of the CSU Pueblo football program.
 
Nigel Mitchell and Gunnar Lamphere made statements early in the game. Lamphere completed a 36-yard pass to Nick Williams to kick things off on the first play of the game. Mitchell pulled in a 50-yard touchdown just five minutes into the contest to put the Pack up early. In just four minutes, Mitchell did it again, but this time it was a 5-yard rush to put up the ThunderWolves 13-0.
 
On the Pack's first drive of the second quarter, Williams finished off the series with a 29-yard reception from Lamphere. After forcing a three-and-out, the Pack offense struck again for a 21-yard touchdown. Nick Bingham was credited with the hard-nosed run, as the junior broke multiple tackles and struck for his second rushing touchdown of the season.
 
After the Pack defense forced a fumble recovered by Max Gonzales, it only took two plays for the offense to attack for more points. Michael Roots took the ball 31 yards for another ThunderWolves touchdown after he broke tackles and turned on his untouchable speed for his seventh rushing touchdown of the season. Following the Roots touchdown, the Pack found themselves ahead 33-0.
 
The CSU Pueblo defense once again held the Skyhawks to a three-and-out series to force a punt. Andrew Cook received the punt on his own 27-yard line and turned on his track-star speed. Cook weaved through the defense and crossed the goal line for a touchdown after a smooth 73-yard punt return.  
 
With 4:07 remaining, fresh faces came on for the Pack on offense. John Mumphery took over in the backfield and rushed 58 yards for his first touchdown score of his CSU Pueblo career. Mumphery's 58-yard touchdown is one of the longest rushing touchdowns of the season for the Pack and also extended the score to 47-0.
 
Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, the Pack were not done scoring. This time it was the defense. Ikenna Onwuasoanya rushed the Fort Lewis quarterback and hurried a throw to the ball-hawking Max Gonzales. Gonzales nabbed the pass and took it the other way for a 30-yard pick-six touchdown. This is the Pack's fourth interception for a touchdown this season.
 
Heading into the locker room at the break, multiple records had been set for the Pack. 53 points marks the most scored in a half by a CSU Pueblo team in the history of the program. The 40-point second quarter also marks the most in program history.
 
The second half of play saw less scoring by the ThunderWolves due to the margin achieved in the first half. Long drives by the Pack featured strong rushes and small gains of yards. 
 
After a scoreless seven-minute drive, CSU Pueblo struck for more points in the next series. Mariano Kemp found his way into the score column after he powered his way to a 34-yard touchdown. This was Kemp's first career touchdown as a Pack player.
 
After CSU Pueblo forced another punt, the special teams struck again. This time, Matthew Stephenson received the punt and created space for himself. Stephenson turned on the jets and cut through Skyhawks' coverage for a 69-yard touchdown score. This marked a career-first for the defensive back.
 
The ThunderWolves notched one more touchdown for the scoring column in the fourth quarter. Steven Croell tossed a 38-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Espinoza for the tight end's first career touchdown at CSU Pueblo. The final touchdown was capped off after an extra point made by Justin Dwinell.
 
The Pack walked away from the game with a 73-0 victory. This is the largest win margin by a Pack team since the 2008 reboot and is the most points scored in the same time. 
 
CSU Pueblo saw scores from a slew of players during the dominant play that saw 617 total yards off 300 on the ground and 317 through the air. Each yard-total are season highs. For the first time since 2012, the Pack did not attempt a punt.
 
Mumphery marked a career-high 120 yards off 13 carries and tacked on a touchdown. Kemp compiled a career-high 67 yards and a touchdown while Bingham finished with 52 yards and Roots tallied 48, each notching a score. 
 
Williams caught for 133 yards off six receptions while adding on a touchdown, all in the first half. Mitchell's 50-yard reception for a touchdown marks his season-long.
 
Lamphere passed for 260 yards and two touchdowns off 11-20 passing in the first half alone. The 260 yards passing mark a career high for the junior quarterback.
 
Defensively, 22 different players tallied a tackle while four notched at least one quarterback sack. Onwuasoanya racked up 2.5 sacks on the day to bring his season-total to 6.0. Dominick Fini, Kenneth Lofton, and Eli Pittman each brought down the Skyhawks quarterback while Makeah Scippio assisted one of Onwuasoanya's sacks.
 
Gonzales' 30-yard interception returned for a touchdown marked his first of his career and helped the Pack's scoring cause.
 
The two punt returns for touchdowns are also firsts since the 2008 reboot for the ThunderWolves.

The Pack will be in action at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. as the ThunderWolves take on No. 14 Colorado School of Mines for Senior Day.