PUEBLO, Colo. (March 25, 2021) - The 2014 Colorado State University Pueblo NCAA Division II National Championship Football Team will be enshrined as the 2021 Class of the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
The 2021 Class will only feature the 2014 football team, as the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame Committee felt it was important to give this special and high achieving accomplishment all the focus of the 2021 induction ceremony. 
 
The 2014 football team will be inducted during Homecoming Weekend, set for Oct. 22-24. A team banquet is set for Friday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. in the Occhiato Student Center Ballroom. The team will also be recognized during the Homecoming football game Oct. 23. Kickoff against Adams State University is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Also during Homecoming Weekend, the 2020 CSU Pueblo Hall of Fame Class will be recognized during the Hall of Fame Banquet in the morning of the 23rd. 
 
The 2014 team became the first NCAA Division II National Champion and earned just the second team national championship in school history. Led by Head Coach John Wristen, the ThunderWolves went 14-1 overall and 8-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play for a program record in wins and the program's fourth straight league championship. The Pack won their final nine games of the season and posted a perfect 8-0 record at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl. Following the season, five seniors were invited to rookie mini-camp by teams from the National Football League. 
 
CSU Pueblo hosted the first three NCAA Division II Playoff games in 2014, which included the national semifinal against University of West Georgia. Featured on ESPN3, the Pack won 10-7 to advance to the title game in Kansas City, Kansas. The only touchdown in the national championship came in the second quarter when Chris Bonner connected with Paul Browning to give the ThunderWolves a 10-0 lead at the half. The CSU Pueblo defense would hold the No. 1 Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks scoreless in the game, as the Pack were crowned NCAA Division II National Champions with a 13-0 victory. The shutout was the fifth in NCAA Division II Championship history and the first since 1997. 
 
Wristen was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by five publications, including the American Football Coaches Association. Eleven members of the Pack gathered All-American honors, while 15 were selected to an all-region team and 18 were named All-RMAC.
 
The CSU Pueblo defense finished the season ranked first nationally in scoring (12.8 ppg), turnovers gained (43), interceptions (29) and defensive scores (7). The ThunderWolves also led the nation in punt returns (18.91 ypr). The Pack were top five nationally in net punting (3rd, 38.1 ypp), blocked punts (3rd, 5), sacks per game (4th, 3.8 spg) and turnover margin (4th, 1.6). 
 
Individually, Stephen Dickens led the nation in punt returns (19.5 ypr), Cameron McDondle was third in rushing yards (2,014 yards, 9th with 134.3 ypg, 15th with 16 rushing TDs), Ken Kester was fourth in punting (44.1 ypp), Darius Allen was 12th in sacks per game (1.03) and Chris Bonner was 15th in passing touchdowns (30). 
 
All-Americans
Darius Allen, DE
Tony Campton, NG
Scotland Coyle, OL
Stephan Dickens, CB
Gary Dixon, OL
Kieran Duncan, WR 
Ken Kester, P
Jarrod Lacy, S
Zach Martinez, OL 
Cameron McDondle, RB
C.J. Roberts, CB
 
All-Region
Darius Allen, DE
Chris Bonner, QB
Seth Brown, OLB
Tony Campton, NG
Scotland Coyle, OL
Stephan Dickens, CB
Gary Dixon, OL
Kieran Duncan, WR 
Morgan Fox, DE
Ken Kester, P
Jarrod Lacy, S
Zach Martinez, OL 
Cameron McDondle, RB
Grant Neal, FB
C.J. Roberts, CB
 
All-RMAC
Darius Allen, DE, Defensive Player of the Year
Josh Bredl, DL
Seth Brown, OLB
Tony Campton, NG
Scotland Coyle, OL
Stephan Dickens, CB, Special Teams Player of the Year
Gary Dixon, OL
Kieran Duncan, WR 
Ben Estica, OLB
Morgan Fox, DE
Ken Kester, P
Jarrod Lacy, S
Zach Martinez, OL 
Cameron McDondle, RB
Greg O'Donnell, K
LaRon Tarkington, S
Trent Thompson, TE
C.J. Roberts, CB
 
John Wristen, Coach of the Year
 
 -- PACK --