GUNNISON, Colo. (Nov. 13, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo football team (6-5, 6-3) attempted to rally against the Mountaineers but ultimately fell in the final game of the season to No. 14 Western Colorado (10-1, 9-1) 14-7.
 
The ThunderWolves' day kicked off with not much doing on the offensive sides of the ball for either team. The Pack forced a three-and-out in the Mountaineers' first drive and set the tone for the corner.
 
The Pack failed to hit a field goal in the first period of play and thus sent the game scoreless as they moved forward to the second quarter.
 
The Mountaineers broke the stalemate early on in the second quarter with a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. With the quick touchdown, the home team gained momentum and shifted the tides.
 
Following a missed field goal by the ThunderWolves, the Mountaineers drove down the field once more and rushed for the second touchdown of the day with 5:40 to go in the half.
 
Although the Pack were down, the defense refused to relent. The ThunderWolves held strong in the final minutes of the first half and forced the Mountaineers to attempt a long field goal. As time expired, the kick went wide and the margin was 14-0 headed into the break.
 
The third quarter saw a different kind of offense from the Pack. The energized ThunderWolves held the Mountaineers and regained possession. After suffering a penalty and getting pushed back to their own 10 for a 3rd and 22, the Pack showed their electric offense off. Steven Croell connected with Andrew Cook over the middle. Cook kept his feet moving and showed off his speed to outrun the pursuing defenders and sprinted across the goal line.
 
Jared Zoulek hit the extra point attempt and drew the game back to 14-7 with plenty of time left in the third.
 
Back-to-back sacks from Trevor Philio and Dominick Fini kept the ball rolling on the ensuing possession. Unfortunately for the Pack, the Mountaineers defense puffed its chest and returned the favor with a ThunderWolves three-and-out.
 
With 8:33 remaining in the third quarter, the Pack's defense flexed again. Tanner Draper rushed the ball carrier for Western and jarred the ball loose. Julius Carter fell on top of the ball and secured the forced Western Colorado turnover.
 
For the remainder of the drives in the third quarter, a slew of punts dominated the outcomes. 
 
Early in the fourth, Philio sent the Western punt team out again after he recorded his second sack of the contest.
 
Despite the big defensive play from CSU Pueblo, the offense could not break out of the Mountaineers' tight grasp. 
 
The Mountaineers regained possession with 5:26 and attempted to run out the clock. On a fourth down and three punt, the ThunderWolves ran into the Mountaineers' punter and allowed the ball to be put back into Western Colorado's control.
 
The Mountaineers took the final kneel downs and dealed the fate of the game for the ThunderWolves. CSU Pueblo fell 14-7 after a hard-fought game in a hostile environment. Western Colorado clinched a share of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title with the win.
 
This was the first loss to the Mountaineers since the 2008 reboot for CSU Pueblo. 
 
Croell finished with a touchdown pass and 253 yards through the air in his start under center. The 253 yards was a season-high for the freshman quarterback.  
 
Cook led the Pack with 90 yards receiving thanks to the third quarter touchdown reception. Nick Williams totaled 71 yards off eight receptions.
 
The defense was the highlight of the Pack performance, totaling seven quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Max Gonzales led the charge with a career-high two sacks and 10 total tackles. Philio racked up two sacks and tacked on an extra half-tackle for loss.
 
Ikenna Onwuasoanya and Fini each tallied a sack off the defensive line.
 
Philio's two sacks put the senior at 10 on the season to kead the ThunderWolves while Onwuasoanya tallied nine on the season and finished with a team-high 17.5 tackles for loss. Gonzales led the ThunderWolves' season with 88 total tackles.
 
The CSU Pueblo football season ended with the loss Saturday afternoon. The ThunderWolves finish the season 6-5 overall and 6-3 in conference play.