RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sat. 25, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo football team (2-2, 2-0) won their second straight game in a dominating 49-7 victory over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe South Dakota School of Mines.
 
The ThunderWolves' defense came out in hard-nosed fashion as they halted the Hardrockers' first drive in CSU Pueblo territory, courtesy of a Max Gonzales two-yard tackle-for-loss.
 
In the next South Dakota Mines possession, the Pack kept up the pressure. Tanner Draper then struck for the ThunderWolves as the senior jumped a pass and picked it off at the Hardrockers' 30-yardline. Draper then sprinted his way to the end-zone and put the Pack on the board with an exciting pick-six. Draper's pick-six was the first of his CSU Pueblo collegiate career.
 
CSU Pueblo held a 7-0 advantage after a successful Dean Faithfull PAT. The Pack then forced a quick three-and-out to get the ball back in great field position. 
 
Running back Michael Roots shot past the line the scrimmage and into the secondary to sprint his way into the end-zone on the first play of the drive. The 35-yard touchdown run marked his longest of the season and tied the longest Pack play of the season. The Roots touchdown was his first in a CSU Pueblo uniform.
 
The Pack carried a 14-0 advantage into the second quarter. Just two minutes into the quarter, the Hardrockers closed the gap with a touchdown of their own.
 
South Dakota Mines and CSU Pueblo remained separated by the slim 14-7 margin. Roots then exploded once again. The Pack took over for their next drive at their own 12, but Roots sprinted 53 yards on the first play to flip the field on the Hardrockers. The ThunderWolves inched their way down the final 33 yards before Roots pounded his way into the end-zone for his second score of the afternoon.
 
Heading into the halftime break, the Pack held a 21-7 advantage off the backs off Roots' and Draper's touchdown.
 
Coming back from the half, the Pack kept their foot on the gas. In the half's opening drive, Jordan Jones capped off the ThunderWolves' efforts with a 48-yard rush down the sideline to mark his first career touchdown and to expand the CSU Pueblo lead to 28-7.
 
Sam Warren and Wilde Germano kept the defensive efforts going with an interception apiece in the third quarter.
 
Following Germano's interception, Steven Croell and the Pack offense struck once more. Croell tossed a 30-yard touchdown to Jensen Feggins to extend the Hardrockers' deficit to 35-7. This pass marked Croell's fourth touchdown toss of the season and Feggins' first score of 2021.
 
As time was winding down in the third, the big quarter continued for the Pack as Trevor Philio recovered a fumble and ran it back for another defensive touchdown.
 
The fourth quarter saw more stifling defense from the Pack as they kept the Hardrockers at bay. At the 5:35 mark, the ThunderWolves struck once more on offense. Devin Williams completed a pass to the speedy wide receiver, Andrew Cook. Cook took it the rest of the way for a season-long 83-yard touchdown.
 
The 49-7 lead for CSU Pueblo stretched to the conclusion of the game to clinch the Pack's most lopsided victory of the season and their second straight RMAC win.
 
Roots led the explosive offensive efforts with two rushing touchdowns on top of 145 yards on the ground off 14 attempts. Croell and Williams each tossed for a touchdown and combined for 200 yards through the air. Cook completed his first career 100-yard game with 103 receiving yards thanks to his 83-yard touchdown reception.
 
Defensively, Makeah Scippio led the way with nine total tackles and a tackle for loss. Keyshawn Gist, Ikenna Onwuasoanya, Patrick Howell, and Trey Botts each racked up one-half sack apiece as the defensive presence was felt throughout the matchup.
 
The Pack's 49-7 win featured the most offensive yards of the season (471) and most interceptions of the season (3).
 
CSU Pueblo looks onto its next challenge as the team looks to defend its home turf against Colorado Mesa University on Oct. 2 at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.